Valentine’s Day is around the corner. In Japan, it has been common for woman to present chocolate to men they like. Many Valentine’s fairs have been held at department stores, and more than 80 brands of chocolate are available there. The floor is full of women looking for chocolate.
How many chocolate boxes they buy? One for someone special? That’s not enough. Many women buy so-called “obligation chocolate” for co-workers and friends, and recently, more and more women buy chocolate for female friends and themselves. Valentine’s Day is now becoming one of the major events in Japan.
According to a survey by a department store, women buy 5.4 boxes of “obligation chocolate” on average, and the average amount of money being spent on those is about 1,091 yen per person, though 2,424 yen for someone special and 1,962 yen for themselves.
Meanwhile, the survey also mentions the amount of presents in return for chocolate. (Japan has the custom of White Day that men give women presents on March 14th.) Women are expecting presents as much as 9,779 yen from someone special and 1,842 yen from co-workers and friends! Valentine’s Day can be tough for men…
