Valentine’s Day
In Japan Valentine’s Day is unique from the West’s celebration. Women to give chocolate to the men. The men will return this during White Day, (March 14th) so it’s as if the holiday is in two parts.
Valentine’s was introduced in the 1930′s to market to foreigners (this is similar to how Halloween and Christmas were brought to Japan.) It didn’t become popular with native Japanese until the 1950′s when more companies began to do this. Because of traditional modesty, many women (and men) were discouraged from outright displaying their feelings, and Valentine’s was used as a day to encourage this behavior and let women make the first move–by buying chocolate.
Valentine’s is one of Japan’s most romantic days, second to probably Christmas. Christmas is the time where couples in relationships are spoiled with expensive gifts, while Valentine’s is when couples and to-be couples show their appreciation.
Type of Chocolate
The traditional way that gift giving has worked is is:
Valentine’s Day: women —-> men
White Day: women <—- men
In modern days this is not always the case. Some men give to women, though women are still the majority of the givers. Either way, the chocolate companies don’t mind! In late January and February, department stores are full chocolate displays to encourage people to buy more and more, but it can quickly get expensive.
Chocolates are sorted into types depending on who you want to give it to and why. This helps avoid mixed messages that might result in crushed confidence for the men.
Giri choco (obligation chocolate) is for relationships where it is considered polite to give out as a way to say thank you. Obligation chocolates are given to teachers, coworkers, or bosses.
There is also cho giri choco (super obligation chocolate.) This type of chocolate is like… you don’t want to give chocolate to this person but you do anyway, because it would be rude not to.
Tomo choco (friendship chocolate) is chocolate exchanged within groups of friends. These are small treats, like giri choco, but because it’s not out of obligation, girls are happy to give them out. Some girls give them to all their friends, male or female, while others just give them to their female friends.
Gyaku Choco (opposite chocolate) is when the men either exchange chocolate in return or make the first move on Valentine’s. Since it was introduced, Valentine’s was meant for women to confess their love to men, without much thought to the men until White Day was thought up. But some Japanese men have become impatient with this. Gyaku choco can either be giri and honmei choco.
Honmei choco (true chocolate) are the chocolates given when a woman wants to confess her love for a special person. These are the chocolates where women spend the most money on, to try and make the gift as impressive as possible.
Chocolate Making
Many people believe that handmade chocolate has a more romantic message because of the effort that was put in to making the chocolate instead of buying, and because of this stores also carry kits. Hand-making chocolate can also be cheaper. Which type of chocolate a person would prefer depends on them, and the relationship those two people have.
Video Links
Japanagos (ジャパナゴス) - Valentine’s Day in Japan - Why the girls do the giving☆
