Valentine’s Day in Japan
by whoever sat at computer 8 

Everyone’s heard of Valentine’s Day, but not everyone has heard of Valentine’s Day in Japan, and it’s something I heard about very recently, and found it interesting enough that I wanted to share it.

In Japan, it’s a common tradition for girls to make chocolates for the guy they like, homemade chocolates to be exact. This is because it isn’t seen as true love unless the chocolates are made from scratch, not store-bought. This tradition specifically applies to girls. When a guy gives chocolates to the girls, it can be seen as “reverse-chocolate” because typically, the girl is the one giving out chocolates. As is probably implied, handing chocolates over to your crush on Valentine’s Day is often akin to declaring your love, although “obligation” chocolates are also acceptable for friends or family, and no one will get the wrong idea.

There is also the matter of a day corresponding to February 14^th, and that day is March 14^th, exactly one month after Valentine’s Day, which is named, “White Day”. On White Day, the guys who received chocolates on Valentine’s day have the opportunity to give chocolates to the girls they like. When you think about it, White Day is kind of the chance to say “I like you back”. I really like the idea of it, and it would be nice if it was practiced here in America as well.