Blog 3

In regards to the Japanese style of doing Valentines day and White Day, I would have to say that I think it is actually pretty neat in a way. I still prefer the American way of doing things (well at least when I have an actual Valentine to spend the day with that is) because I like the mutual feeling and exchange that occurs on that day. By having just one day when the women give and then another where the men give, it just seems to loose a little bit of romantic spark. But then a gain, I'm sure there are people out there who love it and can do things to make both days special. The idea of the two types of chocolate, the love chocolate and the obligatory chocolate might seem strange to some people but I see it as pretty much in the same vein as when you where in grade school and you got Valentines from the entire class, including those 5 or 6 kids who you just hate. That seems to parallel obligatory chocolate close enough, and they never got any actual candy from me, just a crappy 10 cent card. I guess that make me feel powerful for some strange reason.
About the idea that the Japanese exchange gifts on so many occasion not because gratitude or friendliness but instead because of being brainwashed by the propaganda of big business and consumerism I would say that's par for the course anywhere you go with everybody, not just Japan. Look at America, your constantly bombarded with ads telling you to buy your loved ones twenty thousand dollar diamond necklaces and a brand new Lexus for Christmas. Now I've never meet someone who's given a Lexus as a gift, but there are undoubtedly people who have. It's the basic goal of the advertising to convince you to buy their product for your self and others, so they can make money. And we all go out and buy gifts for the people in our lives, but do we do it for the sole purpose of being brainwashed by the all powerful specter of capitalism. No, I'd like to think that we do it because we generally care about the people who will receive the gift. Yes certain holidays and other events now have the concept of giving some kind of gift associated with them, but I'd like to think that me and all the other guys who gave their girlfriends chocolate on Valentine's Day did so out of love and not because we are mindless shopping zombies. Yes I'm sure there are people who do it solely because they want to get something a month later on White Day, but on the whole I don't see it as that much more of a departure from just the way the rest of the world is.
What would I do if I was in Japan on these days. I would fully engage in the festivities and culture, if I got chocolate, I would without a doubt buy some to give back to the girl who gave it to me.