If you are waiting for your boyfriend or husband to shower you with gifts on Valentine’s Day in Japan, then prepare to be disappointed. In this part of the world where women are usually reserved and shy of being forefront with their feelings, Valentine is the one day they can freely express their love. This expression of love comes in many forms, and similar to western culture, the giving of cho colates is also one of the most important ways Japanese women relay their emotions. However, chocolate in Japan do not always represent the same feelings for everyone. In fact, a Japanese woman must give different types of chocolates to different men in her life. The “giri-choko” which literally means the “obligation chocolate” is given to men of whom the woman has no romantic interest in, such as her boss, father, brother, etc. Just like its name, it represents the woman’s obligation to pay respect to the important men in her life. Moreover, the “Cho-giri choko”, which means the “super-obligatory chocolate” is a cheaper chocolate that the woman gives to men that she is not particularly fond of, such as an unfriendly acquaintance or colleague. However, a woman finally gives the “honmei choko”, meaning the “favorite feeling chocolate”, to her lover, husband, or boyfriend.
JAPAN