noun
thank-you gift; return gift
A gift given in return for a favor, attendance at a funeral, or other social obligation. Not a casual present; it carries a sense of reciprocal courtesy.
葬儀の返礼品として、お茶のセットを贈った。
We sent a tea set as a thank-you gift for attending the funeral.
お世話になった方
It took time to choose a return gift for the person who helped us.
noun
hometown tax return gift
Specifically refers to the gift sent by a local government to a taxpayer who has made a donation under the ふるさと納税 (hometown tax) program. Often a local specialty product.
See also: ふるさと納税
ふるさと納税の返礼品に、地元の牛肉を選んだ。
I chose local beef as the return gift for my hometown tax donation.
この町の返礼品は、新鮮な海産物が人気です。
Fresh seafood is popular as a return gift from this town.
The hometown tax system itself, not the gift. 返礼品 is the item received in return for the donation.
Compound of 返礼 (へんれい, 'return courtesy') and 品 (ひん, 'article'). The term is modern and closely associated with the ふるさと納税 system, but the concept of a reciprocal gift is older.