Valentine's Day In Japan
You've all seen it from anime, manga, and dramas.

The girl gets all nervous and invites a guy after school.

She rounds up all her courage and shoves the chocolate to the guy, and runs away.

Valentine's Day in Japan is slightly different from Western countries.





Females only?


In Western countries, Valentines day is celebrated specifically by lovers.
(Dates, exchanging gifts, etc.)

However in Japan, Valentine’s Day is only celebrated by females. On Valentine’s Day, females only give chocolates to males, and the males merely receives them.

Males who have received chocolates from Females on Valentine’s Day will “return the favour” by giving them chocolates (usually white chocolate) back on White Day (March 14th).




Types of Chocolate

Giri Choco- “obligation” chocolates. The chocolate given to men such as bosses, colleagues or male friends that women have no romantic interest in, just for friendship or gratitude. These chocolates are usually store bought.

Tomo Choco- Chocolate given to female colleagues, similar to the Giri Choco


Honmei Choco- Guys, these are the chocolates you want ;). These are chocolate given not because of a courtesy, but because they actually like you. These chocolates are usually homemade.


The concept of "giri" is very Japanese. It is a mutual obligation that the Japanese follow when dealing with other people. If someone does you a favour, then you feel obligated to do something for that person.

[Note] Gifts do not have to be just chocolate. It can be any item containing chocolate such as chocolate cookies, cakes, tarts, etc.