Do you know how Valentine’s Day is like in Japan? It is very different and unique in Japan, and it might be surprising for you! I would introduce the history of Valentine’s Day in Japan, and also interesting facts – who gives what to whom? and the meaning of what gives them, etc.
Valentine’s day in Japanese way
After “Oshougatsu” = New year, you can find special selling spaces for Valentine’s day everywhere in japan.
Girls to Boys
In japan, Valentine’s day is the day that girls give something (mainly chocolate) to boys.
This is one of things that i ignore 😝
My childfood
As far as i can remember, i started giving something to boys when i was around 5.My mom bought some chocolates and let me give those to boys who lived in my neighborhood and played with me at park.After entering to elementary school, i bought chocolates by myself.Then I started to make truffle chocolate, cookies, cupcakes, and so on for that until i got 20 years old.
Unrelated to Christian event
As you know, most of Japanese people don’t really care for “connection” between events and religions.
History of Valentines day in Japan
How and why did it start like that?
There was nothing like Valentine’s day in Japan before.
At the popular theory, Morozoff which is chocolate company had started promotion for Valentine’s day in 1936.
Although it took long time to instill Valentine’s day into people.
In 1958 – after WW2, people from outside of japan celebrated Valentine’s day as they did in their countries, however japanese people didn’t imitate that.
In addition, big department stores tried to make it “regular event”, it was an strategy of selling a ton of things on that day. However, it was not ending up with success.
There was no rule like “women gives chocolate to men” or “white day”(refer to the below in this article).
Since 1970 – Japanese economic was not bad, it instilled because students (the late of elementary to high school) started giving it. And it finally expanded.
Some kinds of “Choco”s
There are various kinds of Chocos in Japan.
Let’s take a look 😉
Honmei choco
Women give Honmei chocolate to the loved one.
If you get this heartfelt chocolate, she likes you.
Tomo choco
Tomo is come from “Tomodachi” = friend(s).
At my elementary school, girls made 50 packages of chocolates and gave it to each other.
It was supposed between girls, but girls give something to male friends as “Tomo choco” these days.
Giri choco
“Giri” means duty, so women give chocolates to someone like their bosses, co-workers, and so on obligatory.
It is kind of thankyou-gift.
Gyaku choco
Gyaku means “opposite(way)”, so we call “Gyaku choco” that men give chocolates to women.
How to figure?
How can guys figure which one is “honmei”, “Tomo-choco” or “Giri Choco”?
Something from your girlfriend (literally, GIRLFRIEND who is in relationship with you), it should be “Honmei choco”.
If it is from a girl whom you are dating, it could be “Honmei choco” but also might be “Tomo choco”.
Your female friends could give you “Tomo choco” or “Giri choco”, and you might get “Giri choco” at your working place.
Even though you get some from your friends or coworkers, it might be something special if it looks different from what others get 😉
White day – March 14th
So, girls do something on Valentines day, and guys do something in return on White day – 14th of March.
History of White day
“White day” was also built up on Commercial purposes.
In 1977, Japanese sweet company “Ishimura Manseido” started “marshmallow day” in return to Valentine’s day.
And that company cooperated with other sweet companies and named it “White day”.
What to give her(them) back?
Currently, it is not common to give marshmallow back.
If you get something on Valentine’s day – whatever kinds of Choco(s), you need to give her(them) back.
It is fine that you give something back as same worth as you got, especially for “Giri choco”.
Although, you’d better do something special if you like her 🙂
Lately, some companies and people try to change “Japanese style Valentine’s day” due to the movement of equality of gender and so on.
In my opinion, it is one of opportunities that everyone could easily show their appreciation and love to someone 😉
Although, as i wrote earlier, i ignore this event in Japanese way.
For me, it’s should be in western way 😘🍓🍫🌹
xxx
