Tetsu hates Valentine's Day. In Japan it has been made into a business opportunity and the department stores, supermarkets and convenience stores all set apart a special corner to sell elaborate displays of CHOCOLATE. I did happen to be at a department store yesterday and walked past tiers of empty chocolate shelves and ladies lined up with their arms filled with small boxes of chocolates. And where to these chocolates go? To the men at the office, to delivery boys and male co-workers. I heard on the radio that the average amount a woman pays for chocolates on Valentine's Day in Japan is about $500. RIDICULOUS!!! All this is called "obligation chocolate" and that is why Tetsu hates Valentine's Day. Either the ladies in his office feel they are obligated to buy the men chocolates (and the men must return to obligation with a token present next month) OR the office ladies snub the custom and Tetsu gets no chocolates... as was the case yesterday.
"You are MY husband! I would not allow any other woman to give you chocolate and they know it! The only chocolate you are allowed to eat is MINE!"
Hopefully that makes Tetsu feel better about not being popular with the office ladies.
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Oh dear... and while on the subject of love (we were... not just obligation). Japanese are not big about expressing love.
I remember coming to Japan and discussing love vocabulary with some Japanese students.
"Suki." Which translates as "I like you."
"Suki? Like in 'Curry rice ga suki.' 'I like curry rice.' What about a stronger emotion?"
"Dai-suki." I like you a lot.
"What about LOVE-LOVE?"
"Well, there is "Aishiteru." It means 'I love you." but we don't use that. 'Dai-suki." is about it."
Our family has gotten along just fine with "dai-suki".
When Takumi first met his girlfriend he did write to me and make the interesting observation that he didn't have a good English "lovey-dovey" vocabulary. I thought that was hilarious. He sure didn't learn the word "lovey-dovey" from me! I guess Bianca felt she needed a bit more expression of love than just "hey... I like you as much as I like curry rice."
Tetsu-sama, DAI-SUKI!!
(Valentine message from me to Tetsu.... I also made him peanut butter cookies with heart shaped chocolates.)
8 comments:
I remember someone telling me once that the Japanese had no word for love. Reading your post I wonder if that was correct. But Japanese valentines day fuss and bother is just too expensive and too OTT (Over The Top)!
When I came to Japan 50 years ago, couples didn't even hold hands! The woman walked a few paces behind her husband. Kissing in public? You gotta be kidding! "dai suki" was as passionate as it got!
Prices soar, for one special day. Here in NZ, a bouquet of 24 red roses, nicely arranged, NZ $ 350.00 One man said he paid his water bill account, and left the roses in the shop!!!but demand means the prices go up accordingly. Lovely biscuits and message for Tetsu!!! Cheers from Jean
Your chocolate cookies are so cute, Tanya! Belated Valentine wishes to you :)
$500 on chocolates! Heavens. NOT-suki, I say.
My darling husband finally followed my wishes and stopped buying me roses for Valentine's Day--they are too expensive, have no smell, and die in a few days. He did, however, get me a mushy card. Our anniversary is this month so that is why we don't "do" Valentine's Day.
Takumi's confession is hilarious indeed!
How cute! I did hear on the radio yesterday that in Japan it is the women who give the chocolate to the men. That was just about the time My Honey was pulling into the florist to buy me some roses. ;) We had the sweets as dessert when he took me out to dinner. Well, since we have a joint checking account, we surely took EACH OTHER out to dinner.
Huge hugs,
Lois
Happy Belated Valentine's to both of you! Oh..........the cookies look delicious!
Miss you guys!
Yummy looking cookies! My husband and I enjoy Valentine's Day Japanese style. lol. I buy him lots of chocolates for Valentine's Day and then he buys me even more on White Day. It works out well for me. ;)
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