Japanese Valentine’s Day

What do you do on Valentine’s day? Do you visit a special restaurant with someone important to you? Do you give a card to your significant other?
Japanese Valentine’s day is different! When you visit Japan and stay longer, you need to be careful!

From woman to men

In Japanese Valentine’s Day, women give a chocolate to men, not other things just chocolate. Men don’t give anything at this time.

And we have different kinds meaning of the chocolate at Valentine’s Day.
One is called “Honmei choco ほんめいチョコ” in Japanese. It means a chocolate for someone to love. You give Honmei choco to just one person who you love. You give Honmei choco to a man who you want to go out with from now on or your boyfriend or husband.
Another is a courtesy chocolate, we called it “Giri choco ぎりチョコ” in Japanese. It means a chocolate that you give to your friends, your coworker or anyone with your appreciation. So woman needs to prepare many courtesy chocolates.

Chocolate

There are so many chocolates at the supermarkets, convenience stores or any shops in the Valentine season in Japan. Like a small package for courtesy chocolates, a high-end chocolate for Honmei choco, and a big package to share with your family.

White Day

This is a important things. Men who received the chocolates, they need to give women gifts in return for the Valentine day’s chocolate even the chocolate was a courtesy chocolate in 14th of March. It’s called White Day in Japan. Usually Men give some cookies to women.

One of the Japanese chocolate for the general public

There are many kinds of chocolates in time of Valentine’s Day sales battles. I’m going to share one of the seasonal chocolate from LOTTE.

Marrons Glaces from LOTTE contains some brandy. The filling is made from Italian chestnuts.

Once you bite it, the thick and creamy filling comes out.

Like these not expensive chocolates, there are a lot of chocolates for yourself in the supermarkets in the season of Valentine’s Day.

Summary

In February, there are many heart shapes illuminations around town in Japan for Valentine’s Day of course huge amount of chocolates too. You can try many kinds of chocolates! Just be careful when you stay in Japan at the Valentin’s Day, the custom of Valentine’s Day is different.