Valentine’s Day in Japan: A Sweet and Surprising Tradition

Did you know that Valentine’s Day in Japan (バレンタイン) is quite different from how it’s celebrated in most other countries? While flowers, cards, and gifts like jewelry are common elsewhere, in Japan, it’s all about one thing: chocolate!

But here’s the twist—on February 14, it’s usually girls who give chocolate, and boys who receive it. That’s right! Girls give chocolates to their crushes, friends, classmates, teachers, and even co-workers. This isn’t just about romance—it’s a social tradition!

There are actually different types of chocolate girls give, depending on the meaning:

• Giri-choco (義理チョコ) – “obligation chocolate” given to friends, classmates, or colleagues

• Honmei-choco (本命チョコ) – “true feeling chocolate” given to someone they really like

• Tomo-choco (友チョコ) – “friendship chocolate” shared between girls as a fun gesture

And what about the boys? They return the favor exactly one month later, on March 14, a day known as White Day (ホワイトデー, Howaito Dē). On White Day, boys give chocolates or small gifts to the girls who gave them chocolate on Valentine’s Day—sometimes with something extra if the feelings are mutual!

This unique custom turns Valentine’s Day into a double celebration, with kindness, friendship, and a little bit of excitement in the air.

If you want to get a better sense of how big chocolate is in Japan during this season, you can check out a fun commercial from Meiji, Japan’s most famous chocolate maker.

And if your child is learning Japanese, this is the perfect time to teach related vocabulary like chocolate (チョコレート), friend (ともだち), or gift (プレゼント)—and even explore writing Valentine’s messages in Japanese!

Want more fun ways to connect your child to Japanese culture?

Try Dinolingo’s Japanese learning program for kids ages 2–14. With interactive videos, songs, games, worksheets, and cultural themes like holidays and traditions, Dinolingo makes language learning not only effective but joyful. Available on web, iOS, and Android, and full of offline resources, it’s a great way to explore Japan’s unique traditions from home!