Happy Valentine’s Day & White Day?
March 2nd, 2010
Ohisashiburidesu!
Sorry for not posting a video in so long, it’s been a very busy few weeks. I hope all of you are doing well.
In this episode, I discuss how the Japanese celebrate Valentine’s Day. It’s a little different than you might be used to. Plus, I introduce a holiday called White Day and what it’s all about.
Kanpai!
Kevin
I really liked this episode
First of all, I had got a very little bit of knowledge about valentines day and white day traditions from the anime Fruits Basket (english name). The video definately helped explain the concepts further. I found myself going “Oh!! That’s what they were trying to show!”
Quick question- if girls are giving giri-choko and tomo-choko, how does a guy know if the chocolate is being given out of pity or that she likes him? it doesn’t seem in japanese nature to confess, but that may just be the speculations of a naive American
Anyways, informative video as always
Nice office, Kevin! Looks so cheerful and bright!
Looks like you are settling into your new home and life in Sushiland.
The New Speekit Language Program is great! Fun and educational, tool! Good onya, Aaron and Kevin!
Great video, informative and entertaining, as usual, Kevin! I do not know about other parts of Japan, but Giri-Choco on Valentine`s Day and reciprocal White Day in March have lost some popularity in many offices that once practiced it in the Kansai area. Female staff disliked being obligated to give their office males choco as much as the males disliked being obligated to give white choco to the office women a month later. So, some companies now refrain from that practice. But, Giri-Choco is still practiced in many offices in Japan.
Nice Valentine`s gifts from your Sweetheart and Mother-in-law.
That particular pudding is so rich and tasty! おいしい!
It is my custom to have a Choco & Fruit フォンデュ (fondue) Party at my home for friends, female/males, Valentine`s Day Week, and again using white-choco in March for White Day フォンデュ. たのしい!
Happy White Day! ホワイトデイ おたのしみに!
タロー
hehehe!
This is awesome! Doesn’t South Korea celebrate this too? They also have a holiday on April 14th called Black day where all the singles who didn’t get or give gifts on Valentine’s or white day.. get together to celebrate or mope in being single over a bowl of white noodles with black sauce, Jajangmyeon.
This year will be the first day I don’t have to eat Jajangmyeon, thank god! Finally! :p
Awesome, Jamie! Thanks for sharing that Korean cultural tidbit! おもしろい!
Difficult to imagine taking Valentine`s and White Day a step further as you said they do on Black Day in Korea. Go figure! Surprised the Japanese confectionary companies haven`t caught on to that idea, too! Maybe white rice topped with sweet black beans? おめでとう! Congratulations for not having to celebrate Black Day this year! Good onya, mate! Cupid has been busy recently!？
@Jamie
Hmmm. Arigatou. I actually learned about this holiday (white day) in a Jdorama show and I thought that was sooo cool that I would go ahead and buy a month after V.Day choko except I’ve never really recieved choko on V.Day but Giri-Choko is something I didn’t know about so now I’m going to do that!!! Intresting how different we countries are but how we’re so alike???
@dani Great question! I think the Japanese make it pretty obvious if it’s giri-choco or not. Not only in terms of how the give the chocolates, but what kind of chocolates they give. If the chocolates are hand-made or very special, there’s a good chance there’s feelings involved. Also, if a guy sees a bunch of other guys receive similar chocolates, he could probably tell it was meant to be giri-choco. Hope this helps!
@Taro Starbuck Thanks for the compliments on Speekit and all of the additional details. Always much appreciated!
@Jamie Thanks for mentioning Black Day! I’ve heard about this holiday and think it’s very interesting. And yes, I hear that Korea and Taiwan also celebrate White Day.
@Gordon That’s a great idea! I think its important to introduce little bits of foreign culture into your life to keep thinks exciting. Thanks for sharing!
Very interesting episode. I have more fun learing about different cultures, both the similarities and differences than just about anything else.
I also had seen this concept in several manga and anime titles. One in particular (Vampire Nights) only showed the girls giving tomo-choco but they didn’t mention White day(there were even a few guys that didn’t receive anything.) I have also seen versions of guys giving a special handmade gift to a girl (xxxHolic did this.) Would that have been White day?
Out of curiosity just how much giri-choco is really handed out, or is it more reserved for schools? (Taro Starbuck, thanks for the office insight.) In the US, elementary age kids swap what would be considered giri-choco, but that goes away once they are 12 or so, and only selected gifts (to both male and female friends) are given.
Happy V-day!!!
Love your vids.