With Valentine's Day just around the corner, romance is in the air this month and many might already be planning fancy dinners, red roses, and delicious chocolates for their loved ones. Western countries are not the only ones to celebrate this lovely holiday. Valentine's Day is also a holiday in Japan that offers excitement and possibly love confessions!
As one would imagine, chocolate is a fundamental part of Valentine's Day, however, on Valentine's Day in Japan, only girls give chocolates to boys. Girls might even use this day to confess their feelings to a special someone and might spend long hours the night before Valentine's making homemade chocolates to give. Of course, stores all across Japan sell luxury chocolates that are very popular for gift-giving as well. Valentine's Day and the tradition of gifting chocolate is especially prominent among students in Japan but it is not uncommon for women in company settings as well to come together to give their male coworkers chocolates as a thank you.
There are three types of chocolate giving in Japan, the first of course is chocolate personally made or bought for a crush or significant other and is referred to as simply Valentine choco (バレンタインチョコ). When giving chocolates, female students might prepare chocolates for everyone in their class which include giri choco (義理チョコ ) and tomo choco（友チョコ). Giri choco, or obligatory chocolate, is given by girls to boys as a nice gesture rather than having any romantic meaning. Many girls will also give tomo choco to their female classmates as a symbol of friendship.
Whether you have a significant other in Japan or not, both Valentine's Day and White Day are memorable days for many and offer unique experiences in restaurants, shrines, and more!