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Valentine's Day in Japan

2016.02.14

Random thoughts

On February 14th, in western cultures, men give gifts to their love ones.

It is different in Japan. Women give chocolates to their love ones.

The chocolates for one’s true love (one’s boyfriend / husband / crush) are called “Honmei Choco”.

And there are “Giri-choco” (obligation chocolate) and “Tomo-choco” (friendship chocolate).

　

 

On March 14th, “White day”, ones who received chocolates, they give return gifts such as marshmallow and or anything nice.

 

Do you know how these “Valentine Chocolate” and “White day” started in Japan?

Why do we give each other chocolates?

There are several theories. I’d like to introduce one of them.

February 12th, 1936,

an advertisement of Morozoff Ltd. in Kobe City, Japan said that “Give chocolates on February 14th” in the English-language newspapers which used to be published in Tokyo.

This is the beginning of giving each other chocolates in Japan.

 

In 1992, because of the advertisement of Morozoff Ltd, a love of statue was given to Kobe City by Terni in Italy.

 

In 1958, at Isetan Department Main Store in Shinjuku in Japan, “Mary Chocolate” had the first valentine’s sale in Japanese shopping malls.

However, they could not sell much, they sold only 5 bars of 30 yen chocolates and 5 pieces of 4 yen cards.

 

In 1960, Morinaga & Co., Ltd. in Japan promoted the sales of chocolates through advertisement and media.

 

In 1965, Isetan department store had a valentine's fair.

 

In 1968, Sony Plaza had a valentine fair. In 60s, the chocolates were not given as the main gifts, they were still something extra to give.

 

In 1970, among elementary, junior high and high school girls, giving chocolate to boys became common.

 

In 1977, a Japanese confectioner in Fukuoka Prefecture, Ishimuramanseido Co.,Ltd started the “Marshmallow Day” to promote marshmallows as return gifts for the valentine's gifts.

 

In 1979, other confectioners started calling it “White Day” and it started to become common in Japan.

This is the history of Valentine's Day in Japan.

It is always nice to give and or receive gifts.

 

Did you give anything to someone special on Valentine's Day?

 

 

T.F

Cats in Fukui “Before and After”

2016.02.13

Cats

I think it has been almost three years : two kittens were abandoned in my neighborhood.
One was male and orange tabby, the other was female and tortoiseshell.
If I contact public health center, they will be taken and killed soon or later.
I wish I could take them but I had a cat already.
So I called my mother to ask to take them, and she said “Okay. I can keep them.
They are siblings, so don’t separate them. Bring both together.”
Since then, my mother’s hectic days of cat-sitting had begun for her
whom lived alone quietly until then.

【Before】 This is when the orange tabby had been abandoned.
If you are stared at with such little eyes…?

【After】 Now he grew so big like this.
He always eats much and weighs 6.6 kgs!!
But his character is gentle and friendly, also he never bites or scratches. (H.S)

The center of Fukui City is now under construction

2016.02.12

Life in Fukui

Now in Fukui City, it is under construction all over the place : redevelopment the areas in front of Fukui Station, reconstruction of a traditional gate at the site of Fukui Castle and the city central park next to it. You might see their new faces all together in spring.

 

By the way, this is often seen at road construction sites.

 

安全たぬき

 

This is called ”Barricade tube” and put ones not to allow people and cars to enter the place. The character type like the photo had already developed ten years ago in 2006.

 

The common ones that you see is animal ones and also the type of "Hokuriku Shinkansen" can be seen sometimes.

 

The one in the photo above is called "Safe raccoon dog" which is the products of Yagikuma Co., Ltd. in Fukui City.

 

They also have the product called "KY Message Barricade - Hang in there - ", which was produced for recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake and has been donated part of the profits from the sales as an aid to Tohoku region.

　　　

I think that it is a wonderful idea because it not only conveys messages but also provides a constant support practically.

 

T.S

Japanese local wine made from wild grapes of Fukui

2016.02.10

Gourmet


Wild grapes are grown in the cold mountains.
They contain much polyphenol especially.
Hakusan Winery in Ono City, Fukui Prefecture produces the wild grape wine.
The wine has a sweet-and-sour taste but also you can feel the strength of wild species.
I like that, too.
It also would be nice to have hot wine on a cold winter’s night
as it makes warm your body from inside. (H.S)

Japanese Lottery Machine, Garapon

2016.02.09

Festivals and events

As I wrote in our previous blogs,

we visited the New Year’s fair in Katsuyama City, Fukui Prefecture.

 

Many people lined up in front of a Japanese lottery machine called “Garapon”.

“Gara” refers to the sound which makes during turning

the handle of the machine with many lottery balls inside.　

“Pon” is a situation which describes a lottery ball comes out.

 

Prizes were various such as candies, cup noodles and so on.

I received one of the winning balls!!
I got a cup noodle and it was my favorite one, too.

 

This type of lottery machine were originally invented by a hatter,
Mr. Arai Takuya for his customer at his hat shop in Tokyo.

He used to use a square hat box.

And he wanted it to make more sound during turning the box

so he kept trying to improve the box.

Finally, he changed the shape of it to how it looks now.

 

Its official name of the lottery machine is named after the hatter, Mr. Arai,

“Arai-shiki Kaiten Chusen-ki” (Arai system wheel lottery machine).

It is a patented product for Tokyo Lottery Machine Laboratory.

 

T.F

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