![]() Honmei choco or Special chocolates for your love Although you might not give something as “cutesy” to a co-worker, it does give you an example of the kind of thing that would be expected as a giri choco – a small chocolate treat or other kind of sweet (always boxed or wrapped). While it's primarily a day for men to receive gifts in Japan, my international kindy kids decided to give me something too – a kind of merging of the Western concept of Valentine's Day being for both men and women, and the Japanese idea of giving to the people in your life you want to give thanks to. There is also the rather unfortunate term cho giri choco or “super obligatory chocolates” given to those we really don't want to give chocolates to, but if you're giving something to everyone else…well, it would be very un-Japanese not to! Valentine's Day giri choco from my kindergarten students. So as not to get any wires crossed, giri choco are usually quite run-of-the-mill and not of very high value. Examples could be your male boss, co-workers, teachers, relatives or friends. As the name suggests, these are given to those to whom we are obligated to give Valentine's Day candy. Giri choco or Obligation chocolateįirst there are the giri choco (義理チョコ) or “obligation chocolates”. The Japanese, therefore, have different terms for varying levels of gift-giving. The amount of money and effort you put into your treats reflects the nature of your relationship. Valentine's Day in Japan is a day to acknowledge all the men in your life, even platonic relationships and that guy who sits a few desks down from you. And, secondly, it's not an exclusively romantic holiday. Visit here to book your stay.You might be surprised to learn that Valentine's Day in Japan is celebrated rather differently than in much of the rest of the world.įirstly, it's a day when only women give gifts to men, usually in the form of chocolates or cookies. This year Valentine’s Day falls on a Wednesday so we are opening the kitchen on February 14 to celebrate. Shizuka Ryokan serves a traditional omakase banquet dinner every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday. ![]() Black Day on April 14 is a day where people who didn’t receive any marshmallows can eat a steaming bowl of jjajyangmyeon, or ‘black noodles’. ![]() And if you are single don’t fret: In South Korea there is a day for that. ![]() You might be asking: What about gay relationships? It seems that some couples have a tradition where one person gives chocolates on Valentine’s Day and the other returns the favour on White Day. The new ruby chocolate is being marketed as the ideal romantic gift in the lead up to Valentine’s Day. Ruby chocolate is the first new natural colour, following dark, milk, and white, for chocolate since white chocolate was invented in the 1930s. The Sublime Ruby Kitkat was created after Swiss cacao processor Barry Callebaut invented ‘ruby’ chocolate late last year. launched the Sublime Ruby Kitkat, a naturally pink chocolate, created by pâtissier Yasumasa Takagi. These days, men give both white and dark chocolate, as well as cookies, jewellery, white lingerie, flowers and marshmallows. (Interestingly in South Korea Chupa Chup lollypops are the most popular White Day candy). White Day spread to South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau and China. The slogan was: ‘Answer her love on White Day.’ This evolved into White Day in 1978 when the National Confectionary Industry Association came up with a genius marketing ploy: an ‘answer day’ to Valentine’s. How did this White Day tradition happen? Well, in 1977, a candy company in Fukuoka declared March 14 Marshmallow Day (マシュマロデー Mashumaro Dē). Traditional White Day gifts include cookies, jewellery, white chocolate, white lingerie, and… marshmallows! On White Day the men who received chocolates on February 14 are expected to return the favour threefold ( sanbai gaeshi (三倍返し, ‘triple the return’) by giving gifts. White Day (ホワイトデー) is celebrated one month later on March 14. Japanese women often hand make the honmei-choco in the belief that shop-bought chocolate doesn’t cut it when it comes to true love. On the other hand, honmei-choco (本命チョコ, ‘chocolate of love’) is given to a boyfriend, lover, or husband. Giri translates as ‘obligation’, and has no romantic connotation. Giri-choco (義理チョコ, ‘courtesy chocolate’) is intended for friends, colleagues, bosses, and close male friends. In Japan men don’t have to worry about shopping for jewellery or flowers in February because Valentine’s Day is celebrated differently there for the Japanese, Valentine’s is a day when women shower men with chocolates. Did you forget to buy your lovely lady some flowers last Valentine’s Day? Shizuka Ryokan forgives you you were probably just following Japanese tradition.
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