Chocolate Adventure

Around the time of 1873 in Japan, chocolate was considered as a luxury item, because the stocks were imported from overseas, so the price was extremely high. Now, chocolate in Japan is not only common, but very popular as well. On the 14th of February in Japan, girls give chocolates to boys as a custom, and the boys who received chocolates are to give chocolates to girls in return on the 14th of March. Therefore, Japanese manufacturers certainly do not miss this opportunity, and many chocolate related events are held during these two months. It is said that chocolate contains some kind of magic which cheers up whoever eats it (This ingredient is known as cacao polyphenolics), maybe that is why people feel so happy when they eat chocolate, and connecting such an emotion to the person to whom you give chocolate is a possible reason why giving chocolates as presents is so important.

On Valentines Day, Japanese boys do not give chocolates or flowers to girls, but the other way round, when girls take this special opportunity to show their feelings. The interesting thing is, there are two different names for the chocolates given to different boys. The chocolates which are given to the boys they like are called “Honmei chocolate”, and Honmei means the person you like the most in Japanese. The chocolate given to male friends are called “Giri chocolate”, and Giri means “ties of friendship”. The two types of chocolates differ both in the cost and intentions. The 14th of March is the unique Japanese Valentines Day, called “White Valentines Day”. On this occasion, boys give flowers, chocolates or sweets to girls in return, and of course, responses to the girls they like and the girls they don’t like will be different.

So now let me introduce some unique chocolate made only in Japan.

「100% Chocolate Cafe.」The special thing about this tag is that different chocolate are provided for each of the 365 days, every new number is a new taste and experience, like an adventure in chocolate.

”Rakuten”, the famous Japanese internet shop and first place in chocolate market. The unusual combination of chocolate and “Matcha” (Traditional Japanese green tea) was said to have a sale of over 30000!

↑「Frantz」A type of chocolate from Koube, the “chocolate tool kit”. Targets are of course the boys who love to play around with cars, and this is also very popular during the Valentine period. Boys who receive these should be very impressed. The chocolate tools can also be bought separately rather than as a kit.

Another design of 100% Chocolate Café is the “message chocolate”. Customers can choose to spell any message they like. I imagine that the “message chocolate” shown in the photo could be given to a boss if some-one was planning to resign or if some-one was being fired during the month of February. When you click into the website, you will see a keyboard. Type in the message that you would like to pass on to your receiver and click on the blue "return" key on the keyboard when you finish, you will then see the completed preview of your chocolate message! Also, apart from the default dark chocolate, you can also choose from white or strawberry flavoured chocolate on the top right corner just above the keyboard!