Giri Choco: On Valentine's Day, Japanese Women 'Traditionally' Give Chocolate To Male Coworkers

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Women buy boxes of chocolates as gifts before Valentine's Day at a Tokyo department store. (YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP via Getty Images)

If you're in Japan around February 14, you'll find retailers selling beautifully packaged chocolates just as you would in other parts of the world. These Japanese chocolates, however, may serve a different purpose from typical Valentine's Day gifts. They may be giri choco, chocolates that women purchase for business associates or other men for whom they have no romantic feelings. Let's look at how giri choco started and how it is viewed today.