Valentine’s Day in Japan ― Date, History, and Details

Valentine’s Day in Japan

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Let's dive deeper into learning more about the history of Valentine’s Day in Japan and why people celebrate or observe it.

History of Valentine’s Day in Japan and How to Celebrate/ Observe It

Valentine’s Day in Japan is a day when people express their love for one another by giving gifts, usually chocolate. The most common type of gift is honmei-choco, which is given to a person with whom the giver is romantically involved. Giri-choco, on the other hand, is given to someone the giver is not romantically involved with, such as a friend or co-worker.

There is also a tradition of women giving men chocolates on Valentine’s Day. This is known as jyunboku-choko, and is given to men who the woman feels grateful to, such as a father, brother, or teacher.

Valentine’s Day in Japan is a relatively new holiday, having only been introduced in the 1950s. It has since become one of the most popular holidays in the country.