Valentine's Day in Japan

Valentine's Day (February 14) is the day women give men chocolates or gifts. Attractively packaged chocolates are widely sold at stores in Japan before Valentine's Day. Japanese women are usually too shy to express their love, so Valentine's Day was thought to be a great opportunity to let women express their feelings.

Women give chocolates (either homemade or store bought) to their loved ones. A "true-love" chocolate is called Honmei-choko.

Chocolate is also given to their bosses, co-workers, or male friends (whom they have no romantic interest in) just as a sign of friendship or gratitude. This is called Giri-choko which means chocolate given because of obligations. The concept of "giri" is very Japanese. It's a mutual obligation that the Japanese follow when dealing with other people. If someone does you a favour, you feel obligated to do something for that person in return.

 A new custom on Valentine's Day is called Gyaku-choko (reverse chocolate). Men give women chocolates on Valentine's Day. Also, Tomo-choko (friendship chocolate) is popular among Japanese girls. They give their friends chocolate on Valentine's Day. 

Men who received chocolates/gifts on Valentine's Day are supposed to return gifts to women on White Day (March 14), a day unique to Japan. Gifts for White Day are usually sweets, i.e. candies or cookies.

Screenshots are from the anime series Super GALS!

Screenshots are from the anime series Fruits Basket

New Year's in Japan

New Year (shogatsu or oshogatsu) is the most important holiday of the year.

Years are traditionally viewed as completely separate, with each new year providing a fresh start. All duties are supposed to be completed by the end of the year, while bonenkai parties ("year forgetting parties") are held with the purpose of leaving the old year's worries and troubles behind.


Homes and entrance gates are decorated with ornaments made of pine, bamboo and plum trees, and clothes and houses are cleaned.

On New Year's eve, toshikoshi soba (buckwheat noodles), symbolizing longevity, are served.Various kinds of special dishes are served during shogatsu. They include osechi ryori, otoso (sweetened rice wine) and ozoni (a soup with mochi).

January 1 is started by viewing the new year's first sunrise (hatsu-hinode), and traditionally believed to be representative for the whole year that has just commenced. Therefore, the day is supposed be full of joy and free of stress and anger, while everything should be clean and no work should be done.


It is a tradition to visit a shrine or temple during shogatsu (hatsumode). Many people visit a shrine after midnight on December 31 or sometime during the day on January 1. If the weather is good, people often dress up or wear kimono.

Adults give money to children on New Year' Day. It is called "otoshi-dama" or the "new year treasure." The amount of money given depends on the age of the child but is usually the same if there is more than one child so that no one feels slighted. It is not uncommon for amounts greater than 10,000¥($100) to be given.

There are many "good luck" charms associated with the New Year. Cranes and turtles are symbols of longevity and happiness. Houses are decorated with origami cranes to bring peace and happiness to the New Year.

Stores sell sealed "lucky bags" filled with unknown contents to customers, which feature items valued at much more than the price of the bag. These fukubukuro grab bags are so popular, you can see lines of customers waiting to buy them at department stores. 

All screenshots are from the anime series "GALS!"