There were 2 movies that came out last year with oral sex on a woman, one from a guy and one from another girl, but the fact that I know this just further demonstrates how out of the ordinary such a thing is.

I know Valentine’s Day in Japan was started by chocolate makers. My theory on the origin of the women->men thing is that it was probably because it would be rough to convince guys to start giving women gifts out of affection unless it was already some kind of recognized duty. Guys without a partner are likely too shy and those with one tend not to do such sappy things. But women are happy to do that kind of thing. For example, high school girls will often show that they like a guy by making a bento for him (and for VDay many girls will insist that handmade chocolate treats are the only way to go.)

However, you can definitely convince guys that they need to reciprocate when given gifts. Thus White Day works.

As usual, it’s all marketing. ;)

An exaggerated description of a real trend.

Of course, the possibility of non-emasculation may not have entered into the mind of the person setting up the display. However, the color tone chosen – the shiso or ume color – doesn’t scream “feminine”! (at least to me) It does however, draw upon the relationship between that color and Japanese tradition, which is IMHO even more of a clever feat than one might initially assume. (However, I could just be reading way too much into it. The person may well have just re-used a display base from a previous holiday.)

Of course, too, me looking at the picture in question and thinking, “Where’s she getting ‘pink’ from?” is possibly another example of culturally derived color recognition. (I’m assuming here that you were referring to the 3rd photo.)

The same goes with giving other omiage – or “souvenirs” – after a manager or boss goes on a business trip. My dad and the other upper management would always buy X number of the exact same souvenir (perhaps different color or types) to distribute to all the lower-level female and (if not perceived as possibly being a gendered item) male workers. This was not required, but expected of a caring member of the upper management. The gifts were not to be too expensive, nor too cheap (although that is always difficult to measure). However, the most important this is that they were all the same – or nearly enough.

The culture of gift-giving in Japan isn’t the same as that in the US, and it shouldn’t be thought of as being so. Failing to see these fundamental underlying differences will lead to misinterpretation of culture and actions.

This varies widely, even within the same company. Right now, no one in the group I’m in celebrates anyone’s birthdays, but we all do go to a nice lunch once a month. In other departments, people in the group pitch in a few bucks a piece for birthday cakes. And in other places, it’s like the German custom–people bring in treats on their birthday to share with everyone.

Me, I generally take my birthday as a vacation day, if it doesn’t happen to fall on the weekend.

(Now that I’m single, though, I’m glad I can ignore all the bs.)