Today is Valentine's Day. However, in Japan it's done a little differently to other countries that go in for this kind of thing.

Here, Valentine's Day is card-free but choc-heavy. What's more, they split Valentine's Day in half, straight down the middle. So today is for the ladies, and next month (White Day, 14th March) is for the boys. Yes that's right, today, women give choc to other women. The boys should keep their distance and not get involved. It's just not worth it.

Valentine's Day could be safely renamed Girls Eating As Much Choc As Possible Day, and no one would bat an eyelid.

For the past few weeks, supermarkets and department stores have been selling vast quantities of the choc to choc-loving ladies up and down the country. And the choice is impressive - there's dark choc, milk choc, mint choc, green tea choc, karaoke choc (shaped like a microphone), Horie choc (it's not 100% choc, although on the package it says it is), oba-san choc (slightly stale tasting), taxi choc (comes with free white gloves), sumo choc (guaranteed to make you really fat), and choc choc (tastes like choc).

Go into any cafe, office or restaurant today and you'll see countless women exchanging choc with other women. There may well be squeals of delight, a little bowing perhaps, or even a limp shake of a steady hand. Some women may even drool. Oh yes, in Japan Valentine's Day is all about love - love of THE CHOC.

Valentine's Day is the one day of the year where Japanese women can wallow in their chocoholic habit, free from feelings of guilt and shame. Look around you. They're wolfing it down, positively scoffing on the choc. But allow them their fun, for tomorrow is another day, the choc will be gone, and the supermarkets and department stores will be setting up for next month's Boys' Biscuit Day!


Horn - a choc well-suited to Valentine's Day

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 at 11:14 am. You can skip to the end and leave a response.