Jessica Mackenzie Designs: 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.