Have you seen a mumsettia? They were apparently big sellers during the Christmas holidays this year in the United States. It is a poinsettia in a pot surrounded by white chrysanthemum plants. "It's lovely and very Christmasy," a friend writes. We will probably have them here next year.

Have you noticed how each year the mini-poinsettia get smaller and smaller? The first article I wrote about Japan dealt with the Japanese penchant for making things smaller, a great asset now with tiny chips enlarging the possibility for miniaturized electronic products. The second was on "cuteness." Neither characteristic has changed over the years, except there are now more of both.

I have often marveled at the Japanese ability to create tiny things with their hands: early on, at a factory where women slit the tips of fountain pens, one after the other, each perfectly done, all day with no mistakes; and anyone (then and now) can fold tiny paper cranes, sometimes a thousand of them exactly alike, as a gift for some special blessing or just to keep busy.

Today I would like to mention a few of the companies for services I wrote about last year. Perhaps you missed those columns or would appreciate a reminder. First would be MK Taxi providing hire-car service at regular rates. You can call when you want a taxi at your door at a certain time. There is no need for a company contract before you are permitted to phone. Unfortunately, there are only a few of them, 84 now, but the company plans for more. In Kyoto, where MK service was launched, there are 545. Drivers are very professional, always polite and even get out and open doors. I arranged to have one take me to a formal dinner party at a leading hotel recently. I couldn't have made a more proper arrival -- a large black car with no advertising, a uniformed driver -- it was all there but the trumpets. Hail one when you can. You can recognize them by the heart and lemon logo on top of the cars, or call for those special times when you want your own driver at no extra charge: (03) 5565-5551. English and sometimes other languages too are spoken. Owner Sadao Aoki is also promoting cheaper fares to attract more customers. We need more service companies like this.

In the downstairs arcade of the Imperial Hotel are several shops with long traditions of service and quality. One is Uyeda, known for its fine jewelry and dignified service. Unlike most stores, they will listen with interest if you want repairs or redesigning. The service is the same whether you are buying or looking. Stop in some day and look around. The phone number is (03) 3503-2587.

Across the hall is Odawara, dealer in fine antiques, one of the few places where you can always count on finding the best. There are also some excellent reproductions of favorite old China patterns in serviceable pieces. No one was drinking coffee in Edo days but today's hostesses find cups more serviceable than those designed for green tea. Odawara also can arrange for repairs, sometimes even finding skilled craftsmen who still use almost forgotten techniques like marking the mended place on a piece of China with gold. The phone number is (03) 3591-0052.

However, I must tell you that an associated Odawara company known for packing and moving services has recently closed, a sad loss. Traditionally, people who collect quality Oriental arts call Odawara when it is time to leave. I don't know who they will call now that this service is gone.

Then there is the Azabu Juban Sanwa Bank and Karen Seig, their special representative for foreigners. Karen first came to Japan with her parents and has returned to follow her own career. She will take the work out of transferring auto-payment accounts when you switch to Sanwa, will help you through the most complicated banking procedures and will be sympathetic (laugh with you not at you) when you make appalling errors like stamping your "hanko" upside down on a bank form. For nonbilingual residents who need to keep accounts in Japan when they return to their own countries, it is good to know that banking procedures will be handled with no problems. Call Karen at (03) 3586-3328.

Write to Jean Pearce c/o The Japan Times, Tokyo 108-0023, enclosing a stamped, self-addressed envelope.