Valentines day 2025 at Spring School

Hello Springers! How are you?
February is over! Our February was pink, full of hearts and chocolates! Did you enjoy Valentine's month?

I believe that all Springers had the opportunity to learn a little more about the subject in their classes!

Following our tradition of celebrating Valentine's Day, we had several activities involving the theme in the classroom, not to mention the conversation club and the kaiwa class that this month also addressed the theme by bringing customs and curiosities!

But more than learning about the topic, it is interesting to experience it! Yes, we cannot forget that, especially for Japanese students, we are in a country where this date is celebrated in a special way.

In the land of the rising sun, the exchange of chocolates has its particularities and categories, such as honmei choco, which is handmade chocolate given to the interested boy, and guiri choco, which is given as a gesture of gratitude to colleagues.

More than just chocolate, the way in which this treat is delivered also counts, especially among teenagers, and is often portrayed in dramas and anime.

In kaiwa class we brought excerpts from the “karakai jyozuno Takaguisan” jishaban version (anime version with real actors).

The anime portrays the life of teenagers at school and has an episode that addresses this topic, showing the expectations and feelings of teenagers on this date, being a special recommendation for Nihongo students.

For those who didn't exchange chocolate but received it, we have another opportunity to experience this culture because in Japan we also celebrate a unique date called White Day!

This date was created so that those who received chocolate on Valentine's Day would have a chance to return the gesture, practicing the OKAESHI culture.

Okaeshi is the Asian tradition of always returning a gesture in gratitude.

Many Nikkei learned this tradition by seeing the okaasans and batchans never returning an empty vessel! Lol…

There is a theory that the name White Day originated from the marshmallow which at the time was one of the most popular gifts to give for Valentine's okaeshi.

So, are you going to embrace the Okaeshi culture and the Valentine's chocolate exchange?

One of the most rewarding parts of living abroad is experiencing a new culture, so why not start with that?

Spring your Life! Teacher Pati.