Pop Japan

Japanese dating practices share some similarities compared to other countries where valentines are observed. Although there are some slight differences or modifications such as gift-giving, manners, and styles. 

Valentines is a day when women express love for their men

During Valentine's Day, it’s men who show their interest to women but in Japan, it's women who show their interest to men or boyfriends. They may buy gifts such as Giri-choco or things for men. Giri-choco or obligation chocolate is a gift given out of the debt of gratitude and not necessarily out of romantic interest. A woman may give it to their bosses, work colleagues, other men and family members.

If a woman has a romantic interest in a man who could be her suitor, boyfriend, and husband, she will give Honmei-choco - a sweet treat made up of cookies and chocolate. She may buy it ready-made from sweet and confectionery stores or make DIY at home.

Honmei choco recipe

Image by Pizebear from Pixabay

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of Coconut thread

• 1 cup of Cacao powder

• 1 cup of Candied sprinkles

• 1 cup of Dried coconut threads

• 1 cup of chopped dates, walnuts and almonds

Materials

• Paper chocolate cups

• Small gift box

• Cases for truffles

Process

1. In a saucepan, melt the butter.

2. Add the cacao and mix until smooth.

3. Add condensed milk with sweetener and increase the heat.

4. Stir constantly until it achieves a smooth, glossy and pudding-like texture and consistency.

5. Remove from heat and the vanilla syrup.

6. Pour into the mixing bowl and add chopped walnuts, almonds and dates.

7. Refrigerate for about 4 hours.

8. Mould into heart-shaped truffle cases.

9. Place in a gift box.

Men and Women meet at Konkatsu parties

Konkatsu party is a social event held in restaurants, resorts and hotels or upscale places. It’s meant as an opportunity to bring single people together. It’s dubbed as spouse hunting party where men and women meet in different setups such as one on one, fill up some forms. Konkatsu organizers post ads with criteria for participants. Here’s a Konkatsu party ad from exeo-japan.co.jp/ex_party/index.html. Here’s a workflow of the party.

1. Party reception - Here you will tell your name and present your identification docs such as passport, license, number card, resident registry and insurance card. 

2. Filling out a profile card - Profile card includes blank spaces to fill in your age, name, occupation, height, address, blood type, qualities you look for the opposite sex, hobbies, skills, family info, favourite food, personality, and days of work.

3. Speed dating and talk time - This is where men and women talk to each other.

4. Approach time - This is a stage of grading a man/woman whom you like or don’t like.

5. Second conversation time - This is the second stage of one on one conversation.

6. Filling up a voting card - A time of evaluating a person whom you talked to.

7. Final voting - In this final stage, the moderator announces the couple or matched male and female participants.

March is a white day when men give gifts to women

On Valentine’s day, it’s women who give gifts but on March 14 it’s men who give gifts that are two to three times more valuable than the gifts they received on February 14. Giving a gift of equal value means the man is ending the relationship and not giving a gift means he is superior.

The white day began in 1977 when Ishimura Manseido of a confectionary company in Fukuoka marketed and sold marshmallows for men on March 14. Then, it became the Marshmallow day. Soon after, the National Confectionery Industry Association started the White Day that exhorts men to return the favour to women. Gifts given include lingerie, chocolates, accessories, jewels, and clothing. South Korea and Taiwan also celebrate the White day.

White chocolate coated popcorn

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp oil

• 2 oz Chocolate white

• 6 tbsp popcorn

• 10 oz dark chocolate

Process

1. Cover a cookie sheet with wax paper.

2. Oil the saucepan and heat until hot.

3. Add the popcorn and cover.

4. Cook until it pops and then shake it.

5. In a separate bowl melt the chocolates in the microwave.

6. Pour the dark and white chocolates onto the popcorn.

7. Stir until all are covered.

8. Pour the choco covered popcorn onto the cookie sheet.

9. Let it cool in room temperature.

Japan has a declining marriage rate

Since world war 2, the Japanese marriage rate declined as more men and women become single. The causes of the phenomenon are women who choose careers or work over marriage and the long hours of work where men devote their hours to the company instead of looking for marriage. Women also become single as they want a single life devoid of responsibilities such as signing up for daycare centres, pregnancy, taking care of children and tutoring sessions for the child. Tied to the declining marriage rate is the birth rate. 

When there are no couples - there will be no babies. Men who choose to become single cite reasons - wanting to spend the money for themselves and economic concerns that getting married means foregoing their spending freedom - budget for a wedding, babies and wives who just want to be a housewife and avoiding women who choose money as their factor for choosing boyfriends. 

Other men and women stay single because they may have difficulty finding life partners, becoming too choosy and being unprepared for married life.

The Japanese government was alarmed by the declining marriage rate that local governments sponsored matchmaking seminars and tours. They offered 12 months of leaves for parents, more childcare services, subsidies for low -income couples, encouraging dating agencies and fiance hunting parties.

Dating apps are getting popular in Japan

The popularity of smartphones brought more users to dating apps. Dating applications are programs or software that allows the phone user to find and talk to a person. He/she may exchange contacts and photos. Popular apps in Japan include:

• Tinder - A mobile and web app that allows you to find possible singles through a location. The app uses your GPS locality to find nearby partners and lets you swipe right if you’re interested and swipe left if not. The free version lets you do limited likes but premium gives unlimited likes and the ability to see who liked you.

• Pairs - An app that uses the Facebook profile for signing up that eliminates fake profiles.

• Tapple - This caters for long-term relationships and casual dating. Sending messages is paid for men while it’s free for women.

• Omiai - Using this app requires you to use Facebook for easy access and prevent scams and fake profiles.