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Tag Archives: Valentines Day

About Unique Japanese Valentine’s Day Posted by on Jan 27, 2022

What is the biggest event in February (二月 nigatsu)?  Setsubun (節分), which falls on February 3?  For the entire nation, it may be.  Setsubun means to divide seasons (季節 kisetsu), dividing the winter and the spring (2/4). On Setsubun, people throw roasted soybeans at Oni, a demon (鬼), shouting ” Out with the demons. In…

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Japanese Culture: Barentaindee (バレンタインデー) Posted by on Feb 9, 2009

Barentaindee (バレンタインデー) is the way Japanese people pronounce ‘Valentine’s Day’.  It’s customary for Japanese people to give chocolates as a present on Valentine’s Day.  In fact, it’s not only customary, in some ways it’s obligatory.  Among co-workers, chocolates called giri choco (義理チョコ) are commonly distributed be female OLs (オーエル) to male co-workers.  At this point…

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