Obligatory Chocolate Practice at Work

Hello, again. This is BabyJ😊.

The topic today is "girichoko," obligatory chocloate giving practice in Japan. 

Valentine’s Day in Japan

While Valentine’s Day is originally the day to exchange gifts between romantic partners, in Japan, it is the day for women to give gifts to men as a token of their affection or love.

We also give Girichoko (obligatory chocolates) to men as a token of just friendship or appreciation for their daily favors to us.

Obligatory Annual Event at Work

At the place where I work, there is a practice that one person in charge for Valentine’s Day collects 1,000-1,500 yen from each of the female workers in order to prepare chocolates for all the male workers in our section. 

For the past several years since I joined this section, I have been wondering why she collects so much money to prepare a box of fancy chocolates for each one of them, while they give us only a tiny bag of candies in return on White Day (The day for men to return the gifts back to the women). It’s not worth the expense.

So this year, I sent her an email saying “I'm sorry, I am not going to join this any more. “

She replied saying “Thank you for your opinion. Don’t worry about it.”

I Cannot Say “No.” as Everyone Follows

A couple of days later, I asked one of other colleagues, in the restroom, if she joined the chocolate practice.

She replied “Yes, I did.” So, I told her that I won’t, as it is too expensive and not worth the expense.

She was so surprises and happy to hear what I said. She said “Oh!! Actually I didn’t want to join but I did, because I thought everyone else joined. I don’t want to be the only the one who doesn't join.” “Since you're not going to join, I will tell the person in charge that I won’t join, either.”

She immediately went to the person in charge and cancelled her participation.

Mysterious Sudden Change of the Practice

At the end of the day, I received mail from the person in charge saying that she changed the rule and decided to collect only 500 yen to buy a big box of chocolates instead.”

So I must say, “I will join then.”

Follow Your True Mind

I was surprised and I woner, what changed her mind. Was it my complaint and the other person’s cancellation that made her reconsider the practice?

Everyone just pays 1,000-1,500 yen every year to her probably just because no one has ever said anything about it and everyone just follows.

I myself think that it is very stressful to do what you don’t think is right. It’s best to follow your true mind. You are not going to lose anything by saying “No.”

Nice to Meet You

Love English and Intercultural Communication

Hello, nice to meet you😌.

My name is Junko BabyJ Lewis. Please call me “BabyJ.”

Since Junior High School, I've loved English and intercultural communications. I went to college in Boston, Massachusetts, and went on to a couple of universities in Japan afterwards, where I majored in comparative culture and Japanese Studies.

Experiences Associating with Foreigners

I have had over thirty years of experiences associating with foreigners in Japan and abroad, in my works at several international organizations and companies, and also through marriage. My ex-husband is an African American gospel singer in Tokyo.

<More Background>

Through these experiences, I have had opportunities to look at Japan and Japanese people, from the eyes of foreigners. 

Japanese People's Behavior

While providing bilingual services (interpretation, translation, counseling etc.) to foreigners in Japan, I am also working for one of the Japanese leading companies in Tokyo. That company happens to be very Japanese and very conservative.

My responsibility for this company includes recruitment of human recourses from overseas. 

I often encounter the situation where everything is handled in a very Japanese way. It makes me think that the way Japanese people think and behave may be confusing for some non-Japanese people.

Purpose of Writing 

There are a lot of websites available for foreigners, that provide useful information such as food, travel, jobs, and etc. Most of the time, such information is provided by foreigners themselves.

However, I thought that, as a native of Japan, I could  introduce how and why Japanese people think and behave the way they do, and also I could provide the unique aspect of Japanese society and culture.

By doing so, I can offer interesting stories to foreigners, and also it’s also a good opportunity for insight to myself as well.

Once again, it is nice to meet you😊!