March 5, 2004
March 14th is coming-up. It's called 'White Day' in Japan. In order to explain White Day, I sort of have to explain how Valentine's Day works...
On Valentine's day, the women have to give milk chocolates to men. Mostly they give candy to male coworkers. These are usually called 'Giri chocolates' (obligation chocolates). And a lot of them think it's an irritation, I guess.
I went shopping with my girlfriend when she bought Valentine candies for her coworkers. She was very choosy, she wanted to get just the right kinds. She opted for several yellowish candy-cane shaped containers of M&M-like thingies. I got the impression that it wasn't really something most Japanese women enjoy doing. They just feel like they have to.
In fact, I got some chocolates from my female coworkers. on that day. It was very nice of them. And I don't even like chocolate that much.
Valentine's day was a totally imported holiday for Japan. It was an artificial introduction from abroad. A conspiracy by the international chocolate cartel, no doubt. They're always causing problems, aren't they? The swine!
White Day is a Japanese invention: a March counterpart for Valentines day. It's the day when the men who got milk chocolate give presents back to the women as a 'thank you'. (They don't have to be chocolate-- and usually the presents are slightly more expensive.)
Well, they don't have to give anything. But it's only polite to return the favor.
I began to wonder-- if this type of custom were introduced in North America? How would people react? How would it go?
Think of it-- women being obligated to give something to men first? The horror!
American chicks would hate that! They'd despise it! They'd wail in protest. 'Unfair!' they'd scream. It would totally demolish their version of how the universe ought to be organized.
Why the hell should they be obligated to do anything they don't want to? It'd be a burden. The whole concept would have to be done-away with.
They would say: milk chocolate is so much better than whatever lousy, yucky gifts they got in return-- men have everything good and women have everything bad!
Hell, the feminists would claim it's a form of oppression!
The milk chocolates represent the sweet goodness that women are forced to give to their oppressors. And the return gifts representrape and patriarchal domination. Or some shit like that.
That's really what feminists would claim. If you don't think so, you're fooling yourself.
White Day probably wouldn't last beyond the first year. Or if it did, women would demand 2 pieces of candy for every piece the men got. If you don't think so, you're fooling yourself.
At any rate-- I gave some chocolates to my girlfriend on Valentine's day. And she gave me chocolates, too. And I guess I'm obligated to get something on White Day for my coworkers. I'd better get them something good.
Oh, in case I didn't mention it before: Haruna and I might be heading-down to Okinawa in August. We both really want to do it, but our planning is on the back burner until mid-April or so. March is the beginning of the business year, so Haruna has her hands full at work.
Additionally, I included my latest update down below. Politely Refusing Rieko's Passion, Part I.
Check it out. You can observe how I talk too much...