Got a Confession to Make? Valentine's Day in Japan
By Paul McManus


OK, when I say   confession I don't
mean anything like, "I cheated
in the test," or   "Forgive
me father for I have sinned. Kokuhaku,
or   confession as the Japanese would
say, refers to the custom of using  
Valentine's Day as a chance to give
chocolates to a person that they have a  
crush on and wish to inform of the fact.

   No, Valentine's Day is not an
indigenous holiday. But yes, the Japanese
do celebrate it. In fact, they not only have
Valentine's Day once a year, they  
celebrate it twice a year. One time on
February 14th along with everyoneelse,
and and the second time on March 14th. Since it wouldn't be fitting to   have two separate days with the same name, the March 14th event is called   "White Day." Like other things that the Japanese adopt from foreign   countries and make their own, Valentine's Day too is a bit different.

   In other countries, Valentine's Day is a day for a man and a woman involved   in a romantic relationship to express their love for one another. Usually   this takes the form of both partners giving each other chocolate or flowers   and perhaps having a romantic dinner together. But in Japan, Valentine's Day   is a time when Japanese women give chocolate to their boyfriends, husbands,   friends, and coworkers and receive nothing in return. There are two types of   chocolate given: "rabu chokko", or love chocolate, and "giri   chokko", or obligation chocolate. As the name suggests, rabu chokko is   given to a romantic partner, the object of one's affections, or a close   friend. Giri chokko, on the other hand, is usually given to coworkers or   others that one feels some sort of obligation to. This reflects the fact that   as often is the case with Japan, gift giving is more often a duty than a   spontaneous act of heartfelt generosity.

   If your thinking that Japanese women get a butt rap, just wait. Many Japanese   women believe in the concept of baigaeshi;, or two-fold return of   a gift. In other words, if a Japanese woman has given you a present on   Valentine's Day, often she expects you to repay her two-fold or more when   White Day rolls along. Chocolate is always accepted, but if you ask some what   they really want in return it is expensive brand name items such as handbags   or jewelry. When I inquired to the female student that informed me of this   tradition, she justified it by saying that women are always happier than men   to receive presents. I tried to protest saying that I am always happy when I   receive something but my protests fell on deaf ears. Many Japanese people are   keen on brand name items and chocolate is no exception. But if a woman really   likes you then often she will give you both her sweat and time and make you   some sort of chocolate treat.
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