Hopefully everyone was able to enjoy their Valentine's Day last weekend. Compared to the US, Valentine's Day in Japan is quite different and moreover, a lot more serious. In Japan, it is *usually only the woman who gives out chocolate to the person they love, and the day is considered to be a great opportunity to express romantic feelings and start out a relationship. Chocolate-giving can be either “Giri-choco” (which is the chocolate distributed as gratitude or friendship such to bosses, friends or family) or “Honmei-choco” (the serious chocolate only given to the person the women truly loves or have romantic interests). Men who received gifts on Valentine’s Day are expected to return gifts to the women the following month on “White Day”, which is 3/14. This day is a Japanese creation and cannot be seen elsewhere. So, when you receive either a “Giri-choco” or a “Honmei-choco” in Japan, make sure you make appropriate return gifts on White Day!
