Stupid Cupid

Valentine’s Day was last week. Officially, it was my first Valentine’s Day in Japan, since I was conveniently traipsing through Cambodian jungles at the time of my study abroad. That ought to tell you something about what I view as romantic…

V-Day in Japan is a bit different than in the west. Perhaps it’s because this is still a patriarchal society, or because the Japanese are not predisposed to overt gestures of love- who knows? Anyway, it is customary for ladies to bake or make sweet treats for their men on Valentine’s Day.

To an extent, this goes on in the workplace with 義理/Giri/Obligation chocolates. You can usually tell who the popular stud in the office is based on the number of colorful little bags on his desk.

W-sensei

At Iwatsuki, it was the ever-adorable W-sensei. Not surprising, considering he’s the youngest guy in the staffroom.

So, due to this whole “Guys get chocolate, ladies make chocolate” scenario, I wasn’t honestly expecting anything. From the love of my heart, not due to obligation, I made two pans of chocolate chip brownies with dried cherries added in. They were a hit, and I was finally able to prove to my coworkers that, yes, I can cook! And they were kind enough to remind me that I will indeed make a good housewife one day….(sigh).

My students, on the other hand, apparently like me at least half as much as I like them; before the day was over, I had a small mountain of sweets on my desk. More than W-sensei. Take that!

Let's have some om-noms!

Ladies get their own chocolate back-sometimes out of love, sometimes out of obligation- on March 14^th, White Day. White Day is a strictly Japanese invention, and when I first heard about it, I was a bit perplexed. Why not just keep Valentine’s Day and make it for both sexes? It’s practically become that in the US anyway, although the lads do bear a bit more of the expectations….Poor dears.

Oh, wait, what do I mind? Chocolate chocolate chocolate chocolate!