Women splash cash on Valentine chocolates for friends, themselves

Well done Japan, you have officially become pastry whipped!

The custom stretches back to the late 1950s when a firm called Mary Chocolate began advertising Valentine’s Day as “the only day of the year a woman professes her love through presenting chocolate”.

Consumerism at its finest. Sucks. This Mary Chocalate is a brainwasher.

I never understood women giving chocolate to men on valentine's day.

I used to work next to a Godiva store in Canada and the only time of the year they didn't have a line up of women, was on valentine's day. All the guys I know would much prefer receive some kushiyaki or some loving than chocolate. Or even nothing at all, so you don't have to buy a luxury gift on white day, for chocolate you didn't want.

"Sayaka Aizawa, a 29-year-old housewife shopping for sweets at the Matsuzakaya department store in Tokyo, was unaware other countries celebrated the day differently."

Japanese chocolate makers would hate for the Japanese people to realize that in the west there is only one day for giving chocolate.

From where I came from, it’s men who give chocolates and roses to ladies before or on Valentine ’s Day to show token of love and care. But in Japan, ladies are in the drivers’ seat as for buying chocolates on Valentine ’s Day. Anyway, I am not going to complain.since I received two boxes of fine dark ones. :)

Much like Christmas, Valentine's Day is kinda ridiculous in Japan. Both perfect examples of Japan's relentless commercialism destorying tradition.

Sweets have an erotic nature that's undeniable. There's nothing like receiving a gilt-edged cupid's arrow.

Agree with sighclops -- if you want to see PURE commercialism there is nothing like Valentine's (and White Day, of course) and Christmas here, especially with the giri-choco; solely put in place to sell chocolate. You want to do something special for your spouse? (male or female), do something unexpected but that you know he or she likes/loves. Make him/her breakfast in bed if he/she is usually the one who cooks; or buy him/her something they really like, and if that's chocolate, so be it, but if it's something else forget the chocolate.

They might as well skip Velentine's here and go straight for "Shopping yet more overpriced stuff Day. While Valentine's Day is a commercial hullabaloo the world over, it is an insult to anything even resembling romance in Japan. They also don't know why they buy chocolates or what this day is supposed to celebrate. They just shop what they're told to shop, quietly complying because someone said so...

Sayaka Aizawa, a 29-year-old housewife shopping for sweets at the Matsuzakaya department store in Tokyo, was unaware other countries celebrated the day differently.

That sums up Japan pretty well.

A young female teacher more outspoken (to me at any rate) gave giri choco and told me she did so begrudgingly. Love in Japan is all just deto spotto, meaningless materialistic gestures and being able to wear two expensive sets of garb on your wedding day, so you can have the western photo as well as the Japanese one, replete with the 'vicar' who probably does weekdays at Nova. Love in Japan in a nutshell - all fancy fakery and no feeling. Just more 'giri.

Went to Matsuya Ginza with the wife as she "had to" buy chocolates for the brother in law and even nephew??? Oh boy what a mistake there was this chocolates fair, impossible to walk, only excited girls buying buying buying like headless chicken... I can help but to be cynical at this time of the year in Japan. Go Japan, spend your cash! It seems the only way of life for most of you guys.

Let people and countries enjoy it in their own way, chocolates or whatever. My wife got me 2 bottles of English beer ( ¥300 for two from Seiyu ) and a pack of wasabi senbei. I'm not sure if a lecture about the life of St Valentine is what people in Japan, or anywhere else for that matter, want to hear. Have fun.

Godiva is making a killing with their prices. 2500 for a box of chocolates. pfffff

Fukuppy,

Indeed.

There can be moments of lemotuons vaguely love, I suppose, but in the end it all just feels like this is a factory, producing more than feeling. Kinda fukuppy'd place, if you ask me.

Can you tell the Japanese its not Easter to give chocolate to everyone its damn Valentines!

don't women know the only thing us guys want for valentine's is completely free of charge and only requires some alone time??

I don't want your bloody chocolate and you will get nothing from me in March! Thanks!

Love in Japan in a nutshell - all fancy fakery and no feeling. Just more 'giri.

Spot on.

Waste of money, imho.

I don't need a special day to show appreciation towards the one special to me.

"Sayaka Aizawa, a 29-year-old housewife shopping for sweets at the Matsuzakaya department store in Tokyo, was unaware other countries celebrated the day differently."

This is too common a problem in Japan. A surprising amount of people seem "unaware" (oblivious) of how other countries do things, even if what they're celebrating originates from said country. Surprisingly, a lot of people think most of what they're celebrating originated in Japan.

Case in point: I was out with a co-worker after lunch buying a valentines present for my girlfriend and he straight out said, "are you gay?". He then explained to me about white day and I literally thought that it meant buying chocolates for white guys.

well said, slenderman

I for one, personally, like this style. The women must give the man the presents, its great! Its finally a day for the guys!besides women should like to pamper their men. All i have to do is sit back and count the chocos （and cute girls）rolling in!

I for one, personally, like this style. The women must give the man the presents, its great! Its finally a day for the guys!besides women should like to pamper their men. All i have to do is sit back and count the chocos （and cute girls）rolling in!

Well, yeah, but how much is giri and how much is rabu rabu? And do you care? Probably not.

This is too common a problem in Japan. A surprising amount of people seem "unaware" (oblivious) of how other countries do things, even if what they're celebrating originates from said country.

You go as anyone on the street in a western country how valentines day is celebrated in Japan and let us know what their answers are.

Also, I'm not sure why you think this is a problem.

I've learned shopping around this week, Japanese people despite not displaying their inner spiritual feelings on the occasion, take Valentine quite seriously. Very aggressive and rude when it comes to limited purchases.... Some buyers even become highly rude to vendors if their demands are not met. YES, Japan does take Valentine madlike !!! Just wish their show their heartfelt and thoughful love more openly....

Because nothing can convey, "I really love you, sweetheart" quite as well as..."a life-sized chocolate squirrel eating a nut (with a price tag of Y10,500!)" Right...

Prediction: Shameless Japanese companies will soon unveil the all-new and instantly popular, "Happy Selfie Day!" where everyone is encouraged to present lavishly expensive treats to their REALLY favorite individual: themselves, of course!!

No "giri" giving here, I assure you...the self-absorbed tokens of commitment to all things "Me" will be 100% genuine, I guarantee!

Jimizo,

I'm not sure if a lecture about the life of St Valentine is what people in Japan, or anywhere else for that matter, want to hear.

In my experience, the Japanese people don't want to hear anything that doesn't praise whatever they do. Valentine's is a hoax and a scam everywhere but since people are so easily duped in Japan, it becomes even more of a joke here.

This is too common a problem in Japan. A surprising amount of people seem "unaware" (oblivious) of how other countries do things, even if what they're celebrating originates from said country.

How dreadful. I'll keep that in mind as I eat my chocolate tonight.

@Knox I remember similar comments about Halloween in Japan and someone rightly asked how many people in the US know or care about its origins or meaning. Some love to sneer at the blandness of KFC and cake at Christmas but the same attacks on a superficial, materialistic public with expensive presents and hangovers ring out in my home country of the UK every year from the religious and/or traditionalists. I often find Japanese people give a sheepish grin when they talk about Japan celebrating traditions from other cultures. Call it a scam or whatever, but if we have a day which brightens up the pretty miserable month of February ( have you seen the weather today? ) for some with chocolates, wine or sex, or hopefully all three, let people enjoy themselves. I don't know what people are supposed to do on Valentine's Day. Does anybody here know?

the Japanese people don't want to hear anything that doesn't praise whatever they do.

Gee, that pretty much applies to every nationality I know, especially the brits, but you probably don't want to hear that

Jimizo - (both posts) You couldn't be more correct ! A lot of folks have never heard the old adage, " Go ni ireba, go ni shita gae. " ( When in the village, do as the villagers.) i.e., "When in Rome, do as the Romans." OUR own way is not always the ONLY way !

Honey, thanks for the chocolate (go ahead and have one!). Why don't you take all your clothes off while I pour us both a glass of wine.

That would be the best way to celebrate.

Honey, thanks for the chocolate (go ahead and have one!). Why don't you take all your clothes off while I pour us both a glass of wine.

That would be the best way to celebrate.

Hahaha...... How about giri-choco? How best to celebrate? ;-)

Not read log a big choco eater there are a fee makes I go for.

Celebrating in the fashion of back home, sent flowers to all the important women in my life(relatives too). St Valentine was a saint of love and also flowers.

Staying indoors with the GF and I cooked a nice meal.

Women buy nothing for anyone on Valentines Day.. it is a day that the Jewelry cult works the American male to buy crap that she will not appreciate anyway, rings, flowers, chocolates... when in fact what is wrong with just going to a movie and out for nice drinks and dinner and hot sex.

@Kimokekahuna Hawaii

Are you saying that Valentines Day is commercialized overseas also?

What would Saint Valentine think? I wonder if he would have liked chocolate too?

Money money Money Money Money! The god of Japanese Yen Buddhism. happy V Day everyone.

Im actually very excited about today cause my wife bought me beer!

oh lordy. if a person wants to give chocolate on a day that is tilted towards romance, what exactly is wrong with that. IF they do, they do. If they don't they don't. People need to relax a bit and enjoy the day

I never could understand women buying men chocolate on valentines day. Just goes to show you the lack of chivalry and respect they have for their women, combined with their selfishness.

Japan is too westernised for no reason other than to keep up with the West even if it means tramping on their own culture.

Why does japan pretend to make it seem like all the women don't want to be in a relationship? That everyone is single and just staying at home playing video games and reading manga. Why do they lie? but yet the have a population decline….??? Is this not strange? Everywhere I go I see couples. There doesn't seem to be anywhere I go that doesn't have couples together.