ホワイトデー

A holiday unique to Japan (and some other East Asian countries). Created by the confectionery industry in the late 1970s as a counterpart to Valentine's Day. On March 14th, men who received chocolate on Valentine's Day are expected to give return gifts.

Common collocations

• ホワイトデーのお返(かえ)し: White Day return gift
• ホワイトデーに贈(おく)る: to give on White Day
• 三倍返(さんばいがえ)し: returning three times the value
• ホワイトデーのプレゼント: White Day present

Cultural note

Traditional return gifts include cookies, candy, marshmallows, or accessories. There is an unwritten expectation that the return gift should be of equal or greater value than the chocolate received. In workplace contexts, men often give group gifts in return for 義理(ぎり)チョコ received. The concept of 倍返(ばいがえ)し (returning double or triple the value) adds social pressure to the occasion.

Related words

• バレンタインデー: Valentine's Day (February 14th) — when women give chocolate to men