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giri choco
Giri? Tomo? Gyaku? A guide to Japan’s many different kinds of Valentine’s Day chocolate
- Casey Baseel
Feb 12, 2023 - Tweet
There’s more to Valentine’s chocolate in Japan than the infamous “obligation” type.
- Japan
- (chocolate • COK • giri choco • Japanese language • learning japanese • linguistics • obligation chocolate • SNO • society • sweets • Valentine's • Valentine's Day • valentine's day chocolate)
Is the coronavirus going to kill Japan’s obligation chocolate Valentine’s Day custom?
- Casey Baseel
Feb 8, 2021
For years, women in Japan have given chocolate to male coworkers for Valentine’s Day, but this year is probably going to be different.
- Japan
- (chocolate • COK • culture • food • giri choco • obligation chocolate • society • sweets • Valentine's Day)
In Japan, women give “obligation chocolate” on Valentine’s Day, but do guys even want it?
- Casey Baseel
Feb 14, 2020
Is it worth feeling obligated if the gesture isn’t much obliged?
- Japan
- (chocolate • COK • giri choco • obligation chocolate • society • sweets • Valentine's Day)
President of Japan’s obligation chocolate king sends personal letter to giri choco-hater Godiva
- Casey Baseel
Feb 12, 2019
Things get personal, and sweet, in the latest chapter of the ongoing difference of opinions about a Japanese cultural tradition.
- Japan
- (Black Thunder • chocolate • COK • food • giri choco • Godiva • obligation chocolate • SNOJ • society • sweets • Yuraku Confectionery)
Survey shows Japanese women would love to be getting some chocolate on Valentine’s Day too
- Casey Baseel
Feb 3, 2019
New social movement gives rise to a new word: gyaku choco.
- Japan
- (chocolate • COK • food • giri choco • obligation chocolate • society • sweets • Valentine's Day)
Giri obligation chocolates seen as power harassment, more Japanese companies ban practice
- Oona McGee
Feb 1, 2019
Survey results indicate that Japan’s Valentine’s Day custom of giri choco may soon become a thing of the past.
- Japan
- (chocolate • companies • controversy • giri choco • harassment • Japanese workplace • power harassment • society • Valentine's Day)
Godiva takes swipe at Japan’s obligation chocolate king, Tokyo chocolatier fights fire with smile
- Casey Baseel
Jan 29, 2019
Message from Belgian confectioner is a bolt from the blue, but the makers of Black Thunder are only too happy to play along.
- Japan
- (Black Thunder • chocolate • funny • giri choco • Godiva • honmei choco • obligation chocolate • society • sweets • Valentine's Day)
Tokyo opens entire store dedicated to helping women buy obligation chocolate for Valentine’s
- Casey Baseel
Jan 29, 2019
The king of giri choco is here to help women who have to buy chocolate to give to all the guys they’re not attracted to on Valentine’s Day.
- Japan
- (Black Thunder • chocolate • food • giri choco • giri chocolate • obligation chocolate • society • sweets • Valentine's Day)
Black Thunder shocks fans by suspending giri choco obligation chocolates on Valentine’s Day
- Oona McGee
Jan 11, 2019
A shock announcement from an avid supporter of Japan’s giri-choco tradition.
- Japan
- (Black Thunder • chocolates • giri choco • giri chocolate • obligation chocolate • souvenirs • Valentine's Day)
Japan’s masturbatory aid chocolates help you tell him “We’re just friends” this Valentine’s Day
- Casey Baseel
Jan 11, 2019
Enjoy your night alone, and also some sweets.
- Japan
- (chocolate • crazy • funny • giri choco • giri chocolate • obligation chocolate • sweets • Tenga • Valentine's Day • weird)
Tokyo chocolate maker that stood up to Godiva teams up with McDonald’s for Black Thunder McFlurry
- Casey Baseel
Aug 1, 2018
Defender of Japan’s “obligation chocolate” culture tempts us with another cheap yet awesome dessert.
- Japan
- (Black Thunder • chocolate • fast food • food • giri choco • Godiva • McDonald's • McFlurry • obligation chocolate • sweets)
This Valentine’s Day, tell him you don’t love him with Japanese women’s “chocolate maggot” recipe
- Casey Baseel
Feb 14, 2018
A tasty, clever way to say “We’re just friends” in a country where women give chocolate to both lovers and platonic male acquaintances on February 14.
- Japan
- (chocolate • clever • cooking • food • funny • giri choco • gross • obligation chocolate • sweets • Valentine's Day)
Japanese confectioner has firm rebuttal to Godiva’s anti-obligation chocolate ad in Japan
- Casey Baseel
Feb 13, 2018
With Valentine’s Day approaching, the Tokyo-based candy company says “You do you, and we’ll do us.”
- Japan
- (Black Thunder • chocolate • funny • giri choco • Godiva • obligation chocolate • society • sweets • Valentine's Day)
Survey reveals Japanese men really want home-made chocolate, but are women willing to make it?
- Casey Baseel
Feb 13, 2018
In Japan, women give chocolate to men on Valentine’s Day, but are guys going to get what they really want?
- Japan
- (chocolate • COK • cooking • giri choco • obligation chocolate • relationships • romance • society • sweets • Valentine's Day)
Godiva runs full-page ad asking Japanese women to stop buying so much Valentine’s chocolate
- Casey Baseel
Feb 2, 2018
Belgian confectioner maker says enough is enough with Japan’s practice of women giving male coworkers “obligation chocolate.”
- Japan
- (chocolate • COK • giri choco • Godiva • obligation chocolate • society • sweets • Valentine's Day • weird)
Japanese women explain why they give “obligation chocolate” to male coworkers on Valentine’s Day
- Casey Baseel
Jan 31, 2017
Despite the oppressive-sounding name, many see an upside to the practice.
- Japan
- (business • chocolate • culture • giri choco • society • sweets • Valentine's Day • working in Japan)
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Today
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Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
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