Doug M
February 9th, 2006, 01:06 PM
I received a most-welcomed article from a close lady friend which is now published on Japan-101 and appropriately titled, Valentine's Day in Japan (http://www.japan-101.com/culture/valentines_day.htm).
In the US we share many customs, values, and holidays with Japan but on February 14th we part ways. For Valentine's Day, it's the women who pursue the men with gifts, and on White Day (a unique holiday for Japan) Japanese bosses may give lingerie to their employees? I know it doesn't happen everywhere, but it does happen.
Honestly, can you imagine a CEO or VP in the US giving lingerie to female employees? He'd be sued faster than you can say... well faster than you can say anything.
At the risk of sparking a sexism debate, I have to say that I enjoy the clear division of sexes in Japan and the manner in which it's incorporated into even the business environment. The US and Japan truly see this issue differently.
EDIT: I also wonder... If I went to high school in Japan, would I have been one of the boys carrying bags of chocolate home or would I go home with none? I like to think that I would need to rent a truck to carry it home but in all likelyhood, it would fit in my school bag... or worse.
In the US we share many customs, values, and holidays with Japan but on February 14th we part ways. For Valentine's Day, it's the women who pursue the men with gifts, and on White Day (a unique holiday for Japan) Japanese bosses may give lingerie to their employees? I know it doesn't happen everywhere, but it does happen.
Honestly, can you imagine a CEO or VP in the US giving lingerie to female employees? He'd be sued faster than you can say... well faster than you can say anything.
At the risk of sparking a sexism debate, I have to say that I enjoy the clear division of sexes in Japan and the manner in which it's incorporated into even the business environment. The US and Japan truly see this issue differently.
EDIT: I also wonder... If I went to high school in Japan, would I have been one of the boys carrying bags of chocolate home or would I go home with none? I like to think that I would need to rent a truck to carry it home but in all likelyhood, it would fit in my school bag... or worse.