Hello, again. This is BabyJ😊.
The topic today is “girichoko,” obligatory chocloate giving practice in Japan.
Valentine’s Day in Japan
While Valentine’s Day is originally the day to exchange gifts between romantic partners, in Japan, it is the day for women to give gifts to men as a token of their affection or love.
We also give Girichoko (obligatory chocolates) to men as a token of just friendship or appreciation for their daily favors to us.
Obligatory Annual Event at Work
At the section where I worked before, there was a practice that one person in charge for Valentine’s Day collected 1,000-1,500 yen from each of the female workers in order to prepare chocolates for all the male workers in our section.
For several years since I joined that section, I had been wondering why she collected so much money to prepare a box of fancy chocolates for each one of them, while they gave us only a tiny bag of candies in return on White Day (The day for men to return the gifts back to the women).
It’s not worth the expense.
So one year, I sent her an email saying “I’m sorry, I am not going to join this any more. “
She replied saying “Thank you for your opinion. Don’t worry about it.”
I Cannot Say “No.” as Everyone Follows
A couple of days later, I asked one of other colleagues, in the restroom, if she joined the chocolate practice.
She replied “Yes, I did.” So, I told her that I wouldn’t, as it’s too expensive and not worth the expense.
She was so surprises and happy to hear what I said.
She said “Oh!! Actually I didn’t want to join but I did, because I thought everyone else joined. I don’t want to be the only the one who doesn’t join.” “Since you’re not going to join, I will tell the person in charge that I won’t join, either.”
She immediately went to the person in charge and cancelled her participation.
Mysterious Sudden Change of the Practice
At the end of the day, I received mail from the person in charge saying that she changed the rule and decided to collect only 500 yen to buy a big box of chocolates instead.”
So I said, “I will join then.”
Follow Your True Mind
I was surprised and I woner, what changed her mind.
Was it my complaint and the other person’s cancellation that made her reconsider the practice?
Everyone just paid 1,000-1,500 yen every year to her probably just because no one had ever said anything about it and everyone just followed.
I myself think that it is very stressful to do what you don’t think is right.
It’s best to follow your true mind. You are not going to lose anything by saying “No.”
