Valentine's Day in Japan
...written on 2001-02-20, @ 08:53:34
Tales of Kim's Life in Japan
Tue February 20, 2001
Sorry I missed my usual weekend updates. I caught a bug that left me with no ability or desire to write. Besides that, I almost hate to update with anything if I can't craft what I consider a somewhat meaty masterpiece. This comes from the perfectionist in me. Some of you might know that perfectionism usually comes with an immobilization feature (batteries not included because it's automatic).
So, what do the Japanese do for February 14th, Valentine's Day? Read on.
"Hey, Lana!" I said loudly over the Jusco Department store chocolate candy aisles jam-packed with women, "there are some cheaper chocolates over there."
Lana nodded as she elbowed her way over. We had less than 10 minutes to make our selections, pay for them and ride our bikes like lightning to get back in time for the afternoon meeting.
There were four aisles of nothing but wrapped chocolates. Usually an unwrapped sample of what was behind in the display was left in front, but at this late stage of the game the ladies were grabbing at everything.
I say ladies, because on this day, the custom in Japan is for girls and women to give chocolate to the men in their lives. Not just husbands, fathers or boyfriends, but men who play a significant role.
I learned this last night in one of my classes at Shizusato. I had asked the class to ask me some questions, and per usual there were no volunteers, so I picked one person from each row. After they each asked me a question, I asked for one more volunteer. I was surprised to see one boy's hand shoot up. I indicated that he should ask his question. In a clear voice and near perfect accent, he said, " Tommorrow is Valentine's Day. Will you give me some chocolate?" The class and I roared with laughter. I was so appreciative of his volunteering and posing such an original question, that I said I would give him, "Big Yu", some chocolate.
I clutched "Big Yu's" three tins of "Doraemon and his friends" (popular Japanese cartoon characters) chocolate amidst the other boxes of chocolate in my arms. A trip to the checkout counter and almost $40 later, and Lana and I were out the door speeding to work.
I bought chocolate for Big Yu, Chad, Ivan, Hide, Fred, the Ikeda branch boss,Take-san ( I would be teaching there tonight), Okumura-san, whose father just died recently (see A Death ), some miscellaneous pieces, and some chocolate for Johnny. Most of the chocolate I could disperse without worry of favoritism or rumor, but I wanted to be particularly careful about giving Johnny his chocolate. It turns out that I caught him alone by the drink machine (our favorite place for conversation it seems) and was able to give it to him in private. With that, all of my chocolate had been dispersed. I gave "Big Yu's" chocolate to Hiromi to deliver for me since I wouldn't be going to Shizusato for another two weeks.
So, on Feb 14th, the men are deluged with chocolate from the ladies. Don't think the ladies get left out though, our turn comes a month later, on March 15th, when the men are supposed to return the favor. I hear the poor guys however are supposed to triple the yen amount of the gift. The March 15th holiday is called "White Day".