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| She made this with Daddy! |
It's also one of the busiest nights of the year to go out for dinner. Which is quite possibly the best excuse you can have not to go out for dinner.
Regardless of what you think of the day, it's a very important day for some people.
If you are a guy in Japan, Valentine's Day is quite possibly one of the best days of the year.
Japanese Valentine's Day is the complete opposite of American Valentines day.
It's like a Sadie Hawkin's type of role reversal. The girl is completely responsible for any and all activities on this day. I guess you could call it a cosmic balancing, a Ying and Yang kinda convergence thing.
For Japanese girls, it is stressful. It's time when they spend money on not just gifts for the special Guy in their life, but obligatory chocolates for any guy that may be in her life, especially a superior. The term is "giri-choco", and it literally means obligatory chocolate. Luckily for the ladies, these are typically smaller purchases.
For the guy that is "the one", there is "honmei-chocho" which is a larger chocolate set. This too translates to literally "the one chocolate". Sometimes, he even gets a small additional gift. Although personally, I'd be happy if she got a gift for herself that we could share together...
In Japanese culture, if somebody does something for you, you are pretty much obligated to do something in return back for them. Thus, there was the creation of White Day.
White Day is quite possibly one of the most awesome things Japan has that never got exported to America. That's a shame, and if this blog becomes a thing, I want White Day in America to be one of the things it inspires. Only American White Day would be where the girls do things for the guy's instead.
So What is White Day?
White Day occurs a month later, on March 14th. Basically, it is a return of the obligatory chocolate from the guys. The guys get little gifts like cookies, towels, or even *gasp!* white chocolates for all the girls that gave them chocolate. So, if you were really popular on Valentine's day, it's now your turn to go out and buy lots of gifts. Ying and Yang, dude, Ying and Yang.
It's also a time to indicate to the girl that may have given you that special chocolate that the feelings are mutual, and the relationship is going to continue. Or Not.
Either way, it's a holiday that was created by the chocolate companies to sell more candy in Japan. For realz. KA-CHING!
What does Gaijin Daddy do for Valentine's Day?
Short answer: Nothing!
And no, it's not because we go by Japanese rules in our house. No Siree!
It's because at our house, we don't like stress and pointless hustle and bustle.
Think about it: Who goes out to dinner on Valentine's night?
Still thinking?
Answer: EVERYBODY.
So, your wait staff is overworked, tired, and unable to really take care of you because literally every table is taken, but only has two people (Small tips). Plus, there is a line out the door; they want to get you out so they can get in the next couple (and more tips), pronto.
It doesn't matter if you made your reservation weeks, or even months in advance at some fancy place. The problem will be the same.
Solution: Do your Valentine's day on ANY OTHER DAY! This isn't some cheesy ploy to be cutesy or romantic. Trust me, Gaijin Daddy can't win.
Do your Valentine's Day earlier in the week. Or Later. Just don't do it on the same day everybody else is in the mad rush to do it as well.
What's that? Your favorite restaurant is having some special promotion on that day only? What do you do?! Call the manager. Tell them about how you love their restaurant, how special it is to your relationship, and that you can not make it on Valentine's Day due to your dog graduating obedience school or some other important life event that neither you nor your partner can skip. But, you promised your sweetheart that you would go to this restaurant.
If the manager is able to, they'll often gladly let you give them your money a day later for the special Chocolate Strawberries, Wine & Steak deal that is one night only. Of course, you won't be able to have them do a one day only buffet for just you. Unless your ultra rich. If that's the case, then why are you even complaining?!
If they can't accommodate you, then go somewhere else and enjoy yourselves. And stop going to that other place that you thought was your friend.
By going on a different night, you are not only getting better service, but you are actually getting a chance to relax with your partner together. The wait staff will actually care a little bit more about you, and not just your tip.
If you are going earlier in the week and are making reservations, be sure to mention that this is your valentine's day outing together. You just might get a special cake or some other dessert thrown in for the two of you.
So, moral of the story: Japanese Valentine's day Is Awesome (If you are a Guy), and Don't EVER go out on Valentine's Day. It's not worth the hassle.
Any other tips? leave them below.
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