ok cupid
Valentines Day in Japan is quite different than it is back home.
For starters, men don't do any kind of gift-giving. None. Not at all! Instead, it's all down to the women. This particular festival is all about chocolate...and lots of it.
Valentines Day arrived in Japan back in the fifties. A confectioner in Tokyo was having trouble shifting a large quantity of chocolate. He decided to put a sign outside his store saying something along the lines of "Valentines Day: The one day in the year when a woman can show a man how much she cares". In stoic Japan, where feelings are often kept beneath the surface, women totally bought into the whole idea. He sold out of chocolates that day, and his clever tactic has been adopted by retail outlets throughout the entire country ever since.
So yes. Chocolate. Grabbing a quick box of Roses just wouldn't cut it over here. Instead, many women toil for weeks making hand-made chocolates! Have a wander into any supermarket or conbini and you'll see all sorts ingredients - chunks of Belgian chocolate for melting down, white chocolate, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, chocolate shavings, edible decorations etc. You can also buy beautiful ornate boxes to put the chocolates in and paper cases with which to wrap them up. There are also all sorts of crazy-looking tools and molds to help you make these delightful treats.
On this particular day, women are obliged to give chocolate not only to their special someone, but also to almost any bloke they come into contact with, be it at home or at work. (The horror!)
Chocolate given to these random men (co-workers, bosses, male friends..) is called giri-choco, meaning obligation chocolate. It's okay to buy this chocolate. It costs between 100 and 300 yen. Chocolate given to a special man (boyfriend, husband, father, brother..)from a woman is called honmei-choco, meaning prospective winner chocolate. This is the stuff that's usually home-made, or else really expensive.
Here's a selection of the delectable treats for men this Valentines Day. These are not actually made in Japan, so they're probably available in Ireland too. These are made from "Gourmet Chocolate" and don't come cheap. The smallest one costs about 840 yen, which is about 6.50 of your Euro dollars.
Belgian Chocolate Tap
Belgian Chocolate Hammer
Belgian Chocolate Lightbulb
Belgian Chocolate Spanner
There was also a chocolate pliers, but I forgot to photograph that. :)
I hope someone gives me a chocolate iron or hairdryer next Christmas!
For starters, men don't do any kind of gift-giving. None. Not at all! Instead, it's all down to the women. This particular festival is all about chocolate...and lots of it.
Valentines Day arrived in Japan back in the fifties. A confectioner in Tokyo was having trouble shifting a large quantity of chocolate. He decided to put a sign outside his store saying something along the lines of "Valentines Day: The one day in the year when a woman can show a man how much she cares". In stoic Japan, where feelings are often kept beneath the surface, women totally bought into the whole idea. He sold out of chocolates that day, and his clever tactic has been adopted by retail outlets throughout the entire country ever since.
So yes. Chocolate. Grabbing a quick box of Roses just wouldn't cut it over here. Instead, many women toil for weeks making hand-made chocolates! Have a wander into any supermarket or conbini and you'll see all sorts ingredients - chunks of Belgian chocolate for melting down, white chocolate, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, chocolate shavings, edible decorations etc. You can also buy beautiful ornate boxes to put the chocolates in and paper cases with which to wrap them up. There are also all sorts of crazy-looking tools and molds to help you make these delightful treats.
On this particular day, women are obliged to give chocolate not only to their special someone, but also to almost any bloke they come into contact with, be it at home or at work. (The horror!)
Chocolate given to these random men (co-workers, bosses, male friends..) is called giri-choco, meaning obligation chocolate. It's okay to buy this chocolate. It costs between 100 and 300 yen. Chocolate given to a special man (boyfriend, husband, father, brother..)from a woman is called honmei-choco, meaning prospective winner chocolate. This is the stuff that's usually home-made, or else really expensive.
Here's a selection of the delectable treats for men this Valentines Day. These are not actually made in Japan, so they're probably available in Ireland too. These are made from "Gourmet Chocolate" and don't come cheap. The smallest one costs about 840 yen, which is about 6.50 of your Euro dollars.
Belgian Chocolate Tap
Belgian Chocolate Hammer
Belgian Chocolate Lightbulb
Belgian Chocolate Spanner
There was also a chocolate pliers, but I forgot to photograph that. :)
I hope someone gives me a chocolate iron or hairdryer next Christmas!