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I have a question for girls. When you think about Valentine's Day in your countries, what you would imagine? I suppose it might be a romantic date with flowers and candies, or receiving chocolates and other gifts, right? It is the day for confessing your love.
How about Japan? Valentine’s Day in Japan is celebrated in a very unique style. It is the women who present gifts to men. This is a totally Japanese Custom, and have broken all the girls’ dream of getting a surprise on Valentine's Day.
The most popular gift in Japan is chocolate. For the reason why do many Japanese women present chocolate to men, it is said that just a successful promotion idea. Since chocolate company started to promote the idea of giving boxes of chocolate as Valentine’s gifts, this style has been kept as a strong tradition.
The most interesting thing is there are two types of chocolates,“Giri-choco” and “Honmei-choco”. Giri (義理・ぎり) in Japanese means an obligation, so “Giri-choco”is given to men friends, colleagues, bosses, and close male friends. There is no romance involved. “Honmei-choco” is given to a boyfriend, lover, or husband with true love.
“Giri-choco” will be seen large displays in all the department stores, but many of the Japanese women prepare the “Honmei-choco” by handmade. They think if only buy the ready-made chocolates at shops, it is not true love. So, here is a tip for men! If you receive a handmade chocolate from Japanese girl, you should look around whether she give to others or not. If not, congregations! She is indicating that “you are my honmei (favorite guy)”.
It seems very sad that girls in japan is not given to surprise on Valentine’s Day, do not worry!A day on March 14th named “White Day” is prepared for women. Men return gifts to women who gifted them chocolates on Valentine’s Day. In the day, department stores will give men a lot of gift choices, men have no excuse to forget this special day!
(Photos by L.H)
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