2007-03-02 00:07:18 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Asia Pacific ➔ Japan
Valentine's Day was brought to Japan in the 1950s. The reason that only women give chocolates is because of a translation error from the Japanese chocolate company. They got the impression that in Europe, only women gave chocolates, so that's how they advertised the holiday in Japan.
The error has sort of been corrected with the creation of White Day on March 14, where men are supposed to give chocolates to women.
It is NOT because Japanese men are too shy to give chocolates!
2007-03-02 03:23:46 · answer #1 · answered by Rabbityama 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pretty much both Valentine's Day & White Day are simply commercial days.
Valentine's Day in Japan - Japanese girls give chocolates to men (or cookies). It's gotten to the stage where it's an obligation to give chocolates to pretty much EVERYONE you know, so companies have cashed in on this, making little gift sets that go for about 500yen (around $5) or less called 'giri-giri choco' (quite literally 'Obligation Chocolate'). There's no real emotion behind these gifts, they're just expected.
For the real love of her life, she can pay over $100 US for a box of chocolates... some go as far as expensive brand name goods!
The catch for guys is, that a month later - White day - you're expected to buy a gift for whoever bought one for you! AND... you're meant to spend double the worth (of the gift she bought!).
Both just excuses for commercial excess now...
2007-03-05 19:44:59 · answer #2 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have to say because they are weird? I didn't know that the "norm" was for men to give chocolate to women on Valentines Day. I always thought that women was suppose to give chocolate to men and always wonder how insensitive women in the United States was.
There is White day in Japan where the men gives white chocolate back to the ladies though. Don't think they have this in the United States.
2007-03-03 04:26:43 · answer #3 · answered by Jumpy 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They give chocolate here too.
In Japan, Valentine's day is kind of just a holiday that is promoted by candy industries to sell chocolate. Women are the ones who give chocolate in Japan, and they give it to everyone, from people they want to give it to like lovers, family and friends, to people they hate, like their bosses.
A month later, they have White Day, when it is men's turn to give chocolate.
2007-03-02 17:44:35 · answer #4 · answered by Lili 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It started as a marketing technique created by a chocolate company. It targeted the women to buy chocolate for men they have feelings for. The company knew that men would be too shy to buy women chocolate. They were correct and very successful.
2007-03-02 08:19:50 · answer #5 · answered by Mickey22_jp 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
why? is it a crime?
2007-03-02 08:11:38 · answer #6 · answered by Lei 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋