On February 14th , a Japanese-style Valentine’s day

Today I explain about a Japanese-style Valentine’s Day.

Hello! I am Madoka
.
Thank you very much for coming my page.

I am very happy to have this chance to inform you about Japan.

My English and sentences probably have mistakes, please be fast and loose. ( ^v^)/

Valentine’s day will come soon. It is on February 14th.

You can see many decorations and gift for valentine’s day in towns of Japan.

By the way, what is your originality ?

Do you have a Valentine’s day in your country ?

Originally It is a cerebration day for lovers in Christianity.

But Japan is a Buddhist country.

Don’t you wonder why Japanese cerebrate the valentine’s day ?

……………….( ^ w ^; )

I am sorry we don’t cerebrate it, we enjoy it as a lover’s event .

There is no religious meaning for us.

Today I explain about a Japanese-style Valentine’s Day.

 

1, When/Why does Japanese start to enjoy the valentine’s Day ?

In 1932, Morozoff Ltd., which is a confectionary in Kobe, Japan, introduced a style of valentine’s day in Westin countries.

In 1935, they put an advertisement of chocolates in the newspaper.

The catchphrase was “ Would you send chocolate to your loved one, and express your love in Valentine’s day ? “.

And later they began promoting the giving of heart-shaped chocolates.

But in this time. this custom didn’t spread all over Japan.

In 1958. Isetan department shop started its own Valentine’s Day Sale.

And other Japanese confectionaries joined to promote the giving of chocolate.

These promotion made this custom popularized.

As the results, chocolates sales significantly increased in Valentine’s day period.

Since it, women give chocolates to men who is lover, father ,classmates ,teachers and co-workers.

It is said that the Japanese style custom of only women giving chocolate to men may have originated from a translation error.

Japanese style Valentine’s Day is not connected to religion.

But it is a good chance for confectioners to get big sales.

So there are active business competitions in this period.

 

2, What does Japanese do on valentine’s day ?

AS I told, only women give gifts, especially chocolates, to men.

There are 2 kinds of chocolates.

One is a “Honmei “ chocolate for their boyfriend/husband/someone they are attracted to.

“Honmei” chocolate  means ” I love you.“

The another is a “Giri” Chocolate for friends/father/co-workers.

“Giri” Chocolate means ” Thank you.“

According to Research Bank’s data, the average price paid for a “Giri” chocolate was from 500 – 1000 yen.

In case of “Honmei” chocolate, the average price was 2000- 3000yen.

And men who received gifts in Valentine’s day retune gifts on March.14th.

We call the day of March.14th “white-day”.

Again it becomes a big chance for confectioners.

 

Thank you very much for reading my article.

Madoka.