Happy Valentine’s Day!

We’re going to take a look at how Valentine’s Day is celebrated in Japan. This the most profitable time of year for chocolate companies as women are “expected” to give giri choco (obligation) chocolates to male colleagues, friends, and acquaintances. Since all women must give giri chocolates, they end up going to department stores and buying as many as 25 or even many more boxes of chocolates depending on how many people she knows. These are the type of chocolates that most Japanese women dread giving due to the obligation.

On the other hand, since the Japanese are sometimes shy to express their feelings to one another, Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to confess one’s feelings to the one she loves. And for this special man, she will either make chocolates or a special cake for her loved one which is called honmei choco (non-obligatory) chocolates. Any guy that receives honmei choco knows that the giver has just opened up her heart and expressed her feelings to him.

I hope you have some honmei choco to give (or receive) today!