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Giving Thanks and Sweets at Innovative

Today, we bring you another blog post from Motoko, JapanesePod101.com lesson creator, host and Office Party Planner! Motoko will be sharing more bilingual posts on our blog, so check back often and leave a comment!

Hi all! Motoko here.

It’s been a while since my last post! But today, I’d like to talk about one of the most popular events in Japan. It’s the day that we say “I love you” and “thanks” to the people we spend the most time with.

This day is Valentine’s Day, on February 14th. It originally came from European culture, didn’t it? And people usually give presents or flowers to the one they love on that day. I’m guessing that in your country, it’s the men who give presents to their partners. But in Japan, ladies give chocolate to men! It’s the only chance each year when ladies can declare their love to the men they love. They usually make or buy chocolates and give them to the men.

Recently, however, most people have been giving chocolates to their colleagues and friends. On Valentine’s Day at Innovative Language, the ladies brought sweets they had made or bought to the office. Also, Peter gave boxes of chocolate to each of our team members. The men and ladies in the office all enjoyed these sweets together. Though no one declared their love, it was a day for us to say “thanks for everything!” to each other.

So if Valentine’s Day is for men, did the men of Innovative Language do anything in return? Well, in Japan, this happens on White Day, which falls on March 14th. This is an event that is well known in Japan and also in South Korea. The men who received presents on Valentine’s Day return the favor to the lady they got the chocolate from. Some return the declaration of love to the lady too! And some give sweets and snacks to their friends in return. At the Innovative office, most of the men brought boxes of sweets for the ladies. The boxes said “Happy White Day! Only for Girls!!” (Unlike on Valentine’s Day!) The guys looked sad about this because they love chocolate!

What happens in your country on Valentine’s Day and White Day?

(Feb – Mar, 2013)

Innovativeでの日ごろのありがとうのやりとり

こんにちは。もとこです。新しいブログをかいていませんでした。今日は日本で人気のある行事を紹介します。「大好き」や「ありがとう」を言う日です。

一つは2月14日のバレンタインデー。もともとヨーロッパのイベントですよね。好きな人にプレゼントや花をあげる日です。みなさんの国では男の人がプレゼントを用意すると思います。でも、日本では女の人がチョコレートを用意します。一年に一度だけ、バレンタインデーに女の人が好きな男の人に愛の告白をします。たいてい、手作りのチョコレートをわたします。

でも、最近では同僚や友達にもわたします。イノベーティブでは、女性社員が手作りのお菓子やお店のお菓子をオフィスにもってきます。ピーターさんがみんなへのチョコレートを買います。そしてみんなで食べます。愛の告白はありませんが、「いつもありがとう」「これからもいっしょに仕事をしましょう!」という気持ちをつたえる日です。

一方、男性社員はどうするでしょう。3月14日はホワイトデー。日本と韓国にもある行事です。男の人が女の人にバレンタインデーのおかえしをする日です。愛の告白の返事をする人もいます。「いつもありがとう」といってお菓子を友達にあげる人もいます。イノベーティブでは男性社員がお菓子を用意します。”Happy White day! Only for girls!!”とメッセージを書きます。(男性社員は食べることができないので、悲しそうでした。)

みなさんの国ではバレンタインデーやホワイトデーに何をしますか。

(2013年2,3月)