Relax - White Day is not anything to do with racial stereotypes, though it does hint at sexual stereotypes.
Welcome to Japan 101. Today is White Day in Japan. Since I didn't get any Valentine's presents on February 14, I kind of (and did) just forget about the whole March 14 reciprocal holidate.
In Japan, as in many countries, February 14 is Valentines Day - you can read about that day HERE.
But Japan has a different way of celebrating things from the norm. In Japan, men do not give out valentines, but rather they are the recipient of them from women.
However, women get valentines on March 14, a day the Japanese call White Day.
Why 'White' Day? The only answer I got was that 'white' is for purity, which is the 'undying' love and devotion a Japanese man can show a woman at least once a year.
So... why don't Japanese men give out valentines on Valentine's Day? Why create a separate day - except for the obvious marketing and sales benefits?
I was told by both male and female Japanese folk, that it was a way to make things easier for men.
When a man receives a valentine in Japan, he gets to see who it is from - which now makes it easier for him to purchase only the requisite valentines. In this manner, a man need not feel embarrassed at not having got a valentine for a woman who has given him one.
Cool, huh? If you are a man, of course.
Men are forever having to stick their bloody neck out for women - here they don't have to walk up to a woman in a slightly drunken stumble and ask: "Hey, I like you. Do you like me?'
Nope... here in Japan, the men sit back and let the women make a fool out of themselves by making the first move.
Although there's no guarantee for any man that he will receive a valentine, of course. Doesn't everyone love Valentine's Day? It's a great day—a holiday that reminds you that you are alone and no one loves enough to even consider giving you a valentine. (Don't even get me started here!)
But here in Japan - women have to make the first move. This... this I like.
It may explain why all of the women I have slept with here in Japan have asked me out first (no it doesn't - By the way: Aiden - I have 1/2 of something written!). And it's not like I have actually been 'out' with a lot of these women... mostly just 'in' at my apartment.
Now that you know the ins-and-outs of Japan and Valentine's day, all you men should just sit back and let the good times roll. Valentine's day now need not bust your nuts and your wallet. You can save a few ¥en and just buy White Day presents for the women (probably singular) who gave you a Valentine's Day present.
While it sounds like a great idea NOW, this whole White Day thing just sounds like a Made In Japan cop-out.
Cheers
Andrew Joseph
PS: Photo above (of a White Day cake) is from Flickr user mersy ( Masashi Yanagiya).
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