St. Valentine’s Day is coming soon. Japanese have “White Day” on 14th of March just 1 month after St. Valentine’s Day.
You may not understand the meaning of the name. In Japan, girls give boys chocolates on St. Valentine, and boys give girls cookies or marshmallows on “White Day” in acknowledgment of chocolates. In Europe and the US, both girls and boys give presents each other on St. Valentin, so you may feel strange with our custom.
The custom on St. Valentine was taken place by a confectionery shop in Kobe in 1936. The store published chocolate ads on St. Valentine. Today 1/4 of annual consumption in Japan is on the day. On the other hand “White Day” was created by the National Candy Association in 1980 as a part of candy sales promotion. It is acknowledgments of chocolates on 14th of March. Nowadays “White Day” has penetrated into our culture, and everybody knows the event.
In this way, events related to St. Valentine’s Day in Japan were promoted by companies seemingly, but both days are attracted widespread popularity as a day of declaration of love for citizens.
February 4, 2007 at 5:30
“White Day” exists only in Japan. While the invention of offering choclate for St. Valentine’s is acceptable, White day smacks of crass business!
This year, if anyone offers me choclate, I will offer them in turn a mini-bottle of Shizuoka Sake!
Cheers,
Robert-Gilles
February 6, 2007 at 1:51
Yeah! “Sake” is a good idea for equid pro quo.
Shizuoka is one of the greatest breweries. You can also try Niigata Sake, which has deeper taste than Shizuoka Sake.
February 8, 2007 at 7:29
True, but I live in Shizuoka, so I drink sake made in Shizuoka!
Check my blog at shizuokasake.wordpress.com!
On the other hand I always drink local sake when I travel through Japan. If they don’t have any local sake like in Yakushima, then I have Shochu. By the way Mitake Shochu from Yakushima is a beauty. I also like Tantakatan Shiso Shochu from Hokkaido!
Cheers,
Robert-Gilles
February 15, 2007 at 10:11
its not only in japan in korea they also do it (white day)… but i guess only in korea and japan because they copied this custom ^^ in china they dont do this and i dont think anyone else…
japanese people is always funny about doing things they always make it their special way they wanna be like special so thats why theyre so funny inventing things actually…
just my thoughts
February 19, 2007 at 4:54
Right! As long as I live in Japan, I don’t feel strange, but once I go outside of Japan for certain duration, I notice someting. Japan is unique. That’s why I love this country.