Valentine’s Day in Japan

Valentine’s day has always been one of my most favorite holidays of the year. Never because I had an amazing boyfriend to share it with, but because I really like the idea of a holiday that celebrates Love, Like, and Lust…contrary to popular belief I really do have a heart. Normally, I love to make hundreds of Valentines and pass them out to all of my friends and acquaintances…I mean, I really believe that everybody should get a valentine. Well Valentine’s Day is slightly different in Japan. Here, the women give chocolate to all of the men in their lives (i.e. co-workers) this is called giri chocoleto, which basically means obligatory chocolate. For the really special man in a girl’s life, chocolates are to be melted into different shapes (hearts and bears are popular), wrapped in pink boxes, and given to the beloved. Men usually don’t do anything for the women….although on March 14th (White day), guys are suppose to reciprocate the valentine chocolates given by the girls.

I actually had a really great Valentine’s day. Not only did I get some great cards in the mail, but some of my fellow teachers got me Valentine’s chocolate boxes (chocolate covered mochi…my new favorite), a bunch of my students made me delicious cookies, and my new boyfriend (Kiwi-boy) sent me the most beautiful bouquet of tulips and got me the Tintin swatch of my dreams. How lucky am I? The teachers at my school still can’t get over the fact that a boy actually sent me flowers on Valentine’s day….that is so unheard of in Japan. I just laughed and explained that on my side of the planet, its pretty common.