Sadie Hawkins Day?

Last week, the news people were talking about Valentine's Day here in Japan. It's a big thing, starting really in January as far as the stores are concerned. But the idea is that women give chocolate to the men. Exclusively. We have giri chocolate, which is duty or obligation chocolate, usually from secretaries to bosses or similar relationships. And, of course, all the romantic chocolate exchanges, with boyfriends, husbands, and similar interests.

Supposedly, the men will reciprocate on White Day, March 14, a month later.

However, this year there have been two growing trends on Valentine's Day. First, some women are getting chocolate for other women! Second, some women are buying chocolates for themselves. There have even been chocolate parties, where women could get all the chocolate that they wanted to eat for a fixed price. These originally were sampling parties, aimed at convincing the women to buy for the men, but they have shifted into what amounts to chocolate banquets.

I think what this shows is that the stores were right, women like to eat chocolate. However, we're still sorting out just who is most likely to buy the right kind of chocolate to satisfy. Asking women to give away all the chocolate, and depend on men remembering to return the favor a month later... that's asking an awful lot.

I wonder how many men bought themselves a chocolate present?