Valentine's Day in Japan! | 楽しい日本語 Tanoshii Nihongo

Valentine’s Day in Japan!

Posted on February 15, 2009 by ハヴネス

It’s a holiday, and I’m taking a break from an article I’ve been working on for my other blogs in order to have some fun. It’s Valentine’s Day, and I thought I’d let everyone know how it works in Japan, because it’s not like it is here in America.

Firstly, only women give chocolates in Japan. Traditionally speaking, women were supposed to be shy and all around not very good at communicating their feelings, thus Valentine’s Day was a perfect way to help them out. Women give out chocolates on Valentine’s Day not only to their friends and lover, but also to pretty much any man they know.

When the giving of chocolate is obligatory, as is the case when a woman gives chocolates to her boss, coworker, etc., it is called giri-choko (ぎりーちょこ). This means that if you’re visiting Japan and a girl you may kind of sort of know gives you some chocolate, don’t think it means your advances have worked! She might just feel obligated to do so. The Japanese feel that if someone does them a favor, then they are bound to do something for them, and Valentine’s Day is often used as a way to show gratitude. Men return gifts to the women on a day called White Day (March 14th).

Also, the Japanese don’t send cards to each other. This is a purely Western thing, but that’s okay with me, as I prefer food over cards any day. Think about it, the cards will just get tossed out, lost, or stashed away in an abyss somewhere.

To liven this post up, let me give you a few examples of Valentine’s Day in anime, starting with Ah! My Goddess.

Ah, Belldandy’s made a Valentine chocolate for Keiichi. Too bad it seems that spelling is her greatest fault… she’s so perfect in every other way. But, hey, it never says that Belldandy is a spelling wiz! At least, not to my knowledge.

Basically, this episode of the anime has Belldandy scrambling to get a Valentine for Keiichi. She has no idea what Valentine’s Day is until Megumi (Keiichi’s sister) tells her about it and says that Keiichi will probably be expecting something. I could be wrong, but I think Belldandy had actually missed Valentine’s Day and thought she had hurt Keiichi’s feelings. I don’t remember the episode well, but I think it may actually take place on White Day instead. Argh! I need to rewatch it!

I don’t have a scan for this one, but Ouran High School Host Club manga has a Valentine’s Day issue during which Honey-sempai winds up with a cavity. Valentine’s Day is his favorite day, and he expects chocolate from all the girls. Tamaki tries to get Haruhi to give him chocolates, but Haruhi is her usual self and barely takes notice of the holiday. The only person she intends to give chocolate to (when she remembers) is her father, and only because he makes a fuss about it if she doesn’t.

I can’t really recall any other instances that I remember well, but there you have it. It’s Valentine’s Day in Japan!

おめでとう！

Be Sociable, Share!