White Day?

Whoops.

Today (March 14th) is White Day, and I didn't bring anything to school to give to the students who gave me stuff on Valentine's Day.

What the heck am I talking about? I'm glad you asked.

Valentine's Day in Japan is a day for women to give chocolate to men. Men do not give chocolate to anybody. It's a one-way thing.

White Day is the men's turn. They give back gifts to everyone who gave them one. In some sick and twisted mathematical process, the men are required to give back a gift that is THREE TIMES the value of the gift received.

Ouch.

White Day is a brilliant study in the power of commercialism. It was CREATED by a confectionery company of some kind as a way to sell more candy. That's all. It was invented so that some guy could line his pockets come mid-March.

Pure genius.

For more on White Day, check out this page. I'd tell you more, but I have to go do some White Day shopping.