Valentine's Day--the Japanese way

As promised, I will tell you all about Valentine's Day in Japan. Yuya was kind enough to tell us all about it (read: he was very vague, but we pulled the information out of him eventually). In Japan, Valentine's Day is a time for girls to give chocolate and gifts. Guys don't give anything on this day--they only receive. Girls give chocolate to co-workers and friends, much like we might do in the states. If they were actually interested in a guy, they would buy him an expensive box of chocolates or a scarf. Yes, a scarf (which we also found out Japanese call them mufflers...and I laughed at this A LOT). Yuya said, "If a girl makes you a scarf, she must like you a lot." After we stopped laughing we begged him to tell us if he had ever received a scarf on Valentine's Day. Again, he shared some vague details, but Japanese people are very private, so I won't tell his personal life on here.
Now, all you girls by now are probably thinking the same thing Liz, Lauren and I were...This doesn't seem very fair. Ha-well, don't fret. Exactly one month later on March 14th, it is White Day. This is the day for guys to return gifts to the girls. Of course the reason these 2 holidays work so well in Japan is because of the way Japanese people always feel obligated to return gifts when they are given one. Candy makers and department stores in Japan made up 'White Day' knowing the Japanese men felt obligated to give gifts back to the women.
Several of our guy friends have joked with us, reminding us to get them chocolate for Valentine's Day. Lauren and I think it's hilarious, so we're going to have fun with it. And of course we fully expect to get some chocolate back--haha.
However, we won't be making any scarves...