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Japanese women explain why they give 'obligation chocolate' to male co-workers on Valentine’s Day

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By Casey Baseel, RocketNews24

Valentine’s Day in Japan is as much about the chocolate as it is about romance. But just as there are all sorts of romantic feelings, from a simple crush to a love that you feel from the bottom of your heart, so too are there many different classes of Valentine’s day chocolate in Japan.

In terms of volume, most of the chocolate purchased and given for Valentine’s Day is what’s known as "giri choco," literally “obligation chocolate.” "Giri choco" doesn’t carry any significance of romantic love, but is instead given by women to their male co-workers and colleagues as a social nicety.

The Japanese division of multinational corporation 3M recently polled Japanese women about their "giri choco" plans, finding that out of 450 respondents, 39.8 percent planned on giving "giri choco" to a co-worker this February. When asked why, the majority, 59.2 percent, said they’d be doing so to show their thanks for the general help and support they’d received from male co-workers throughout the year.

44.7 percent of also said they felt "giri choco" helped promote smoother workplace communication, and 18.4 also cited a simple desire to make the recipient happy as a reason. And down at number four on the list, 7.8 percent said they’d be giving "giri choco" this year simply because their female officemates were, and they felt going doing likewise was the least awkward option.

Regardless of the impetus, the average "giri choco" gift isn’t terribly expensive. 59.2 percent of the "giri choco"-giving respondents said they’ll be spending less than 500 yen ($4.30) per person they plan to give some to, with another 34.1 percent budgeting between 501 to 1,000 yen per gift.

Also, while "giri choco" is commonly given at the office, women aren’t necessarily expected to give some to every male employee of the company, Often the gift-giving range is limited to teammates or people in the same division, and 68.2 percent of the gift-giving respondents will be buying "giri choco" for only one to five people, and only 12.8 percent will be handing out sweets to more than 10 guys.

Sifting through all those numbers means that many women are likely to be spending 2,500 yen or less for their "giri choco" activities, which isn’t a huge outlay. Still, hopefully their male co-workers will remember to return the favor one month later when White Day rolls around.

Source: PR Times

Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Japanese chocolates come to life as ikemen “hot guy” anime characters -- Shabani the gorilla is so handsome he’ll be appearing on sweets in Japan this Valentine’s Day -- Plan way, way ahead with Sailor Moon Valentine’s Day chocolates

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4 Comments
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If I was going to have my picture plastered all over in advertisements, I would have had my teeth whitened first. That dingy yellow look is unattractive

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Or they're just doing it because massive social pressures still chugging along from the bubble era because hey, wouldn't want to be the nail that sticks out, right?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I don't mind receiving giri choco, because on white day they're obliged to take it aaaaaallllllll back... love white day. They give it to me on v-day and I get my own v-day on white day. Love it!!!

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

For two decades, I've never been distributed any “giri choco.” That's really unfortunate. By the way, I think women are no longer give men them to men recently, instead, women often share chocolates with their friends, espacially at school. It's called ''Tomo choco." So, they might show no interest in giving us, espacially men, chocolate gifts...

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

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