Present for my company

My boss has done a lot for me, and so has most of my superiors, I wanted to know what would be a good present for them? I've been a lot of trouble since I arrived in the country, so I want it to be something special for the group. I was thinking as part of the present to bake a special cake from scratch...what else could I give them? What do Japanese companies expect?

That's not a bad idea. They'll appreciate it.
FIY, we usually buy boxed cookies of gift-use, but don't make cakes for co-workers.
Around 3PM is a good time to present it. (general tea time)
You'd better make only baked ones with no cream, because they don't always eat it just then.
(sorry for bad english)

The ladies would love the cake, but a lot of Japanese males don't prefer sweet things to begin with, and still, if it's homemade they'd feel obligated to eat it. You might want to consider making tiny cookies instead. That way, all they'll be obligated for is a tiny bite, they can ask for more if they like it and still they will know you put some effort in trying to show appreciation.

Or of course, if there aren't too many people, you can put them indivisually in lovely wrapping so that they would be free to take them home to their families.

I know my boss LOVES cake...that's why I thought cake would be a good idea. For the most part we have most women in the office, but we have a mix of Japanese and foreign workers...that's why I wasn't sure...but since I was in Japan I wanted to stick to what people are expecting.

Your company has many kinds of ppl (J and others) so they'd not mind to eat hand-made stuffs. I guess they'd be accustomed to. (however you'd better confirm the company's custom of co-workers.)

Uco said in this point, general Japanese hesitate to present and accept such a thing. We'd be worried about its taste or their favorite.
It's more common in Western ppl to have hand-made stuffs at their birthday or celebration. But Japanese doesn't.

Though J-men usually pretend to not love sweets, I think there're a lot of sweets-lover men in Japan. (my father IS!)

But still, you'd better make it individually wrapped. They can bring it to their home if they can't eat it then with some reason.
If you're confident to make a good cake, please do it!

It shouldn't be too bad though. I have made this cake several times for Japanese people (and they always ask for okawari!), and since I'm an ALT I can just leave the cake there and leave. I don't work in the office, so they can throw it away if they don't like it without feeling bad about it.

M wrote;
"Uco said in this point, general Japanese hesitate to present and accept such a thing."

Well, thank you for the comment, but I didn't say that. Anyway, I have nothing against what Veronica is saying.

Uco, it seems I did misreading.

To Veronica: I'm sorry but I don't know what ALT is.

Anyway, you can do it, and they'd be appreciate it because they're at least your co-workers.
Even if it's not hand-made, they can throw it away. To think about how they'll do with it is a nonsense.

In Q&A forum like this, we only can suggest each self's opinion. What you should do is making up your mind by yourself in the end. My opinion is just an advice and a general information.

And you're sure to make a good cake for your nice boss. OK? Good luck ;)

Thank You!

and ALT is an assistance language teacher.