{"id":7470,"date":"2019-02-13T05:06:05","date_gmt":"2019-02-13T05:06:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.styledeals.co.uk\/blog\/valentines-day-japan-falling-out-of-love-with-obligation-chocolates\/"},"modified":"2019-02-13T05:06:05","modified_gmt":"2019-02-13T05:06:05","slug":"valentines-day-japan-falling-out-of-love-with-obligation-chocolates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.styledeals.co.uk\/blog\/valentines-day-japan-falling-out-of-love-with-obligation-chocolates\/","title":{"rendered":"Valentine’s Day: Japan falling out of love with ‘obligation chocolates’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Around the world, people use chocolate treats to express sweet nothings on Valentine’s Day.<\/p>\n

But in Japan, it’s a little more complicated. On Valentine’s Day, only women give chocolate, and not just to their partners, but to their male colleagues too.<\/p>\n

Critics say the practice sucks all the fun out of Valentine’s Day and instead turns it into a dreary duty where women risk offending co-workers if they leave someone out. <\/p>\n

Others say “giri choco”, which translates to “obligation chocolate” is a little misunderstood, and besides, it’s slowly fading as women opt to give chocolate to their friends instead. <\/p>\n

‘Obligation chocolate’<\/h2>\n

Of course, giving chocolate on Valentine’s Day can also be a romantic gesture. Women will often give “honmei choco” or “true feelings chocolate” to their partners. <\/p>\n

But giri choco is more about expressing appreciation to male colleagues. <\/p>\n

A 2017 survey by multinational firm 3M found that nearly 40% of female respondents planned to give giri choco to a co-worker. <\/p>\n

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For most, it was a simple thank you “for general help and support”. Others felt it helped promote a smoother workplace, while a small minority felt it would be awkward not to take part. <\/p>\n

Not so sweet<\/h2>\n

Chocolate journalist Ayumi Ichikawa says many women have no problem with giri choco. After all, Japan has a gift-giving culture, so it doesn’t seem out of place. <\/p>\n

“It’s part of our tradition to give presents to people who ‘help us’… and we have a habit of giving friends and acquaintances gifts every now and then to show our gratitude for ‘looking after us’… without any sense of romantic love.” <\/p>\n

But others are troubled by the custom.<\/p>\n

“Some consider the ritual burdensome, feeling you must do this, so the chocolate becomes a duty,” Ms Ichikawa says. <\/p>\n