Valentine's Day (Revisited)

It’s Saint Valentine’s Day! Today, all across Japan, ladies will be giving obligatory gifts [gifts they feel they should give] to all their male friends – family members, classmates, TEACHERS, co-workers, and so on. (Did I mention TEACHERS?!)

In Western countries, the custom is almost completely opposite. Traditionally, men give a romantic gift – flowers, jewellery, lingerie, perfume, or chocolate – to their special girlfriend. Recently, couples often exchange gifts over a romantic dinner. In many ways, Saint Valentine’s Day in the West is a lot like Christmas Eve in Japan.

Saint Valentine’s Day was first promoted in Japan by chocolate companies. After many unsuccessful attempts to motivate men to buy chocolates for their lady friends, the chocolate companies targeted the ladies instead, creating a unique [special/one of a kind], Japan-only version of the popular international holiday. “White Day “ is a Japanese creation, celebrated nowhere else in the world.

Enjoy your Saint Valentine’s Day – but be careful not to eat too many chocolates!

But who is Saint Valentine? Click here if you want to find out more!

(This is a "reprint" of last year's entry. Sorry!)

Zero-Calorie Valentine’s Gifts

One of our (many!) New Year’s resolutions this year is to lose weight. That’s why we celebrated Saint Valentine’s Day by giving each other zero-calorie Valentine’s Day gifts…

Lots of love! No calories!

Mayumi gave me “Until I Find You,” the latest novel by John Irving, one of my favourite writers. He’s a great writer! Many of his books have been made into movies…

(Click on the title to find out the movie’s Japanese name and read more about it in Japanese)

The Hotel New Hampshire

The World According to Garp

The Cider House Rules

A Prayer for Owen Meany [the movie’s title is Simon Birch]

A Widow for One Year [the movie’s title is The Door in the Floor]

They are all good movies. The best one is “The World According to Garp.” If you haven’t seen it yet, rent it this weekend!

Garp! Sound's like a fish!