Unlike the typical exchange of gifts between couples, February 14 in Japan sees women taking the initiative to express their feelings through chocolate. “Giri-choco”, meaning “mandatory chocolate”, are tokens of appreciation given to male friends, colleagues and even bosses. These affordable treats recognize social bonds and strengthen connections within communities. But for those with deeper feelings, “honmei-choco” or “true feeling chocolate” is gifted. These personalized gifts convey heartfelt affection to potential or existing romantic partners.
Whether it’s a gesture of love or just politeness, this tradition has left men wondering how to return the favor. White Day was then created to balance the scales of love!
The “White Day” tradition.
“White Day” was first introduced by the National Confectionery Industry Association in Japan as a “response day” to Valentine’s Day. The idea? Simple, but brilliant. A month after Valentine’s Day (March 14), men are encouraged to return the favor to the women who gave them chocolates, but here’s the twist – the return gift is supposed to be three times more valuable!
Why three times, you ask? Well, it’s all part of the custom of ‘sanbai gaeshi’, which translates to ‘tripling the return’. It symbolizes a man’s appreciation and affection.
Typical gifts are not limited to white chocolates. Men often go for marshmallows, jewelry, underwear, and even white clothes. The choice of gift can be a subtle indicator of a man’s feelings. For example, if he gives a simple marshmallow as a gift, it might mean that he doesn’t like you that much. On the other hand, a lavish gift could signal serious intentions.
But it’s not all about romantic love. Similar to Valentine’s Day in Japan, White Day is also about expressing gratitude. It extends beyond couples to friends, family and colleagues. This inclusiveness adds a wonderful shared feel to the occasion.
White Day has since spread to other East Asian countries such as South Korea and China, each adding their own cultural twists to the celebration. It’s exciting to see how one day it can evolve and adapt across borders
This content was generated with the help of an AI model and verified by the author.