Subscribe to
Posts
Comments
« Tsukiji Restaurant Says Japanese People Only
Photo Hunt - Free, Muriyou »

What people are reading right now ...

Perfect Timing Recent Earthquake In Japan Photo Hunt - Old Fashioned, Jidai Okure Top 5 Websites I Can`t Live Without おきなわの　りょうり - Okinawan Food

Say it with Giri-Choco

Feb 14th, 2008 by Neil

Today is Valentines Day as i know it but in Japan it’s better know for the custom of Giri Choco.

Giri choco (義理チョコ), literally, “obligation chocolate” in Japanese. Giri choco is chocolate given on Valentine’s day to someone whom the giver has no romantic feelings for. This is often given to co-workers, casual acquaintances, Friends etc. This is generally reciprocated on White day.

The custom of Giri Choco is big in Japan, and i mean big. Many companies spend their whole years marketing budget on the promotion of Giri Choco and are rewarded with most of their years profits coming in the week prior to the 14th of February.

According to the Chocolate & Cocoa Association of Japan, of the 406 billion yen in annual sales of chocolate in 2006, approximately 53% was spent during the month leading up to Feb 14. Some confectionery companies spend the bulk of their yearly marketing budget on Valentine’s Day.

Last night on route to dinner i went past an endless number of shops displaying their wares, not always just in the form of traditional chocolate, in hope of a few last minute sales.

Giri Choco

Popularity: 11% [?]

If you like this post then please subscribe to my full feed RSS.

Posted in Japan

Other posts being read right now ...

Signs In Japan JR Yamanote Line - Harajuku Harajuku Ramen Japanese Tattoo Symbols National Foundation Day - Kusatsu Onsen

RSS feed | Trackback URI

15 Comments »

Trackback by www.japansoc.com
2008-02-14 10:22:02

Say it with Giri-Choco | Neil Duckett…

The custom of Giri Choco is big in Japan, and i mean big. Many companies spend their whole years marketing budget on the promotion of Giri Choco and are rewarded with most of their years profits coming in the week prior to the 14th of February….

MyAvatars 0.2
Reply to this comment
Comment by Contamination
2008-02-15 22:59:49

It’s actually quite scary how big it is here. Every department store is filled to the rafters with chocolate. But the majority of the chocolate is very good, none of that cheap mass produced crap I am used to for Easter in Australia.

Life is too short to eat bad chocolate!

MyAvatars 0.2
Reply to this comment
 
 
Comment by Mike
2008-02-14 13:22:18

I wished someone would give me giri-choco… perhaps fondled boobs brand would be best… if you don’t believe it exists check out the “an englishman in osaka” blog!

MyAvatars 0.2
Reply to this comment
Comment by Neil
2008-02-14 13:53:19

I did see that earlier this morning Mike, very amusing indeed!

MyAvatars 0.2
Reply to this comment
 
 
Comment by R.O.
2008-02-14 17:06:08

I got choco from one of my girls that was real decorated in this nice bag. I put it in the fridge, but then another girl who came over opened it up and saw the choco. “Where did you get this?” she inquired. I said “Oh a friend at the office gave it to me”….Man, I knew she wasn’t going to believe that because the bag looked way too nice. Then I offered her some choco…..I’m terrible!

MyAvatars 0.2
Reply to this comment
 
Comment by lina
2008-02-15 01:15:16

I wonder who got the idea to start this custom? But guys, you need to pay back in March, right?

MyAvatars 0.2
Reply to this comment
Comment by Neil
2008-02-15 09:40:34

Who got the idea? A very clever marketing exec i’d say. Yes, guys pay it back on White Day in March, to the expected tune of 3 times the value of the gift from the girl.

MyAvatars 0.2
Reply to this comment
 
 
Pingback by Nekona - новости аниме, манги, игр, j-pop, j-rock и культуры Японии
2008-02-15 01:47:52

[...] надо слов, когда есть гири-тёко, утверждает Neil Duckett, прознав, что сегодня День всех влюбленных. День [...]

MyAvatars 0.2
Reply to this comment
 
Comment by Muesli Junkie Tokyo Japan
2008-02-15 23:09:16

Thank you so much for your visiting. Your Blog is very interesting and impressive ! It is not GIRI messages.

MyAvatars 0.2
Reply to this comment
 
Comment by Mike Huang
2008-02-16 17:26:43

WOW that looks yummie!

-Mike

MyAvatars 0.2
Reply to this comment
 
Comment by lasilasi
2008-02-17 11:21:44

so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute so cute !!!

i miss chocolates in japan =(

MyAvatars 0.2
Reply to this comment
 
Comment by Kezia
2008-02-18 16:34:27

Wow, the giri choco look sweet…Too bad these are not for lover…So what kind of chocolate is given to lover in Japan?…It must be sweeter than these.

MyAvatars 0.2
Reply to this comment
Comment by Neil
2008-02-18 17:30:57

They can be for your lover too i’m sure.

MyAvatars 0.2
Reply to this comment
 
 
Comment by Shanker Bakshi
2008-02-21 04:35:35

That “not to Love” gesture is very lovable.

MyAvatars 0.2
Reply to this comment
 
Pingback by White Day | Neil Duckett
2008-03-16 10:34:17

[...] the converse happens: males who received a “honmei-choco” chocolate of love or “Giri-choco“  chocolate of courtesy on Valentine’s Day are expected to return the favor by giving [...]

MyAvatars 0.2
Reply to this comment
 
Name (required)
E-mail (required - never shown publicly)
URI
Your Comment (smaller size | larger size)
You may use <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong> in your comment.