Advertisement
Valentines Day Japanese Style
Well, for those lucky in love, Valentine's Day is just
around the corner! And for those unlucky in love, it's just another, if not
the most, dreaded holiday! But for those who detest Valentine's Day, I
encourage you to spend the month of February in Japan. That's right...Japan!
Japanese girls and boys also celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14th, but
it reminds me more of my elementary school and good ol' Sadie Hawkins Day.
You remember that don't you? That was the day that the girls would ask the
boys out....actually, they were allowed to chase us around the school
grounds and got to "keep" whoever they "caught"! I don't remember what
happened when you got caught...I just remembered slowing down for a few of
the girls in my class and praying for speed when a few others were in
pursuit.
Valentine's Day in Japan is the BEST! In Japan, it is traditional for the
girls to give chocolates and other sweets to boys. This is not limited to
boyfriends only, but any boy they choose to give sweets to on that special
day! And in return, the boys give....nothing! You heard me....N-O-T-H-I-N-G!
Boys are just on the receiving end of this LOVELY day! How "sweet" is that?
Of course, don't despair girls, you'll get your chance, too. In fact,
exactly one month later, on March 14th, the Japanese people celebrate White
Day. This is the equivalent to Valentine's Day, but opposite, in that the
boys now must return the favor!
So, for all of those gentlemen who would like to be showered with affection
on Valentine's Day, purchase a ticket overseas.....just be sure you leave
the country within 30 days or you'll need another kind of VISA!
Troy S. Hogg is a former Japanese Exchange Teacher (JET) from the Hiroshima
Prefecture. Married to a beautiful Japanese native, he and his wife are
owners and operators of http://www.tenchi.us, a website dedicated to
providing free and easy Japanese recipes and other Japanese products to help
balance the body, mind, and spirit!
About the Author
Troy S. Hogg is the owner of Tenchi, LLC and Webmaster for www.tenchi.us. He is a former Japanese Exchange Teacher (JET) from Hiroshima, Japan. He currently lives in Missouri, with his beautiful Japanese wife and two bilingual sons
Japanese Culture and Society Links
Japanese Sports 競技 (スポーツ)
Japanese Food 食品 (しょくひん)
Japanese Pop Culture 文化（ぶんか）
- Hello Kitty Phenomena
- Japanese Anime, Japanese Manga
- Japanese Hair Straightening: All You Ever Wanted to Know
- Japanese Karaoke
- Kawaii
Miscellaneous
- Creating a Japanese Garden Theme
- Keeping and Handling Japanese Inro
- Misconception about Ninja
- Japanese Bonsai
- Japanese Geisha
- Japanese Wedding
- Why Do Japanese Have Long Lifespan?
- Decorate with Japanese Art
Japanese Literature Links
- Haiku Poetry
- Japanese Alphabet
- Japanese Language
- Japanese Pronunciation
- Learning Japanese Kanji
- Tanka Poems
Japanese Art Links