chocolate from Japanese girl -- NOT Valentines day...significance?

[mondocurry]

hi out there,

just some wonderings from someone who is often puzzled about relationships...recieved some chocolate stuff from a Japanese girl friend (no, not girlfriend, even though i hope that might some day be the case!) and i am just wondering if this has any cultural significance or meaning different than in the West, when it is not on Valentines Day (i am familiar with Japanese custom on that day).

from my US perspective, it is a little strange generally for guys to get chocolate as a gift from a girl...as least i think it is. although, on a Japanese friend who is a guy's birthday, i noticed another friend (who is Japanese girl) give him a kind of fancy chocolate at his party.

so, just wondering if there is any meaning to that...maybe it is just wishful thinking (sighhhhh...)

thanks!

MC

[Nagoyankee]

It's hard to say what she meant by the gift because we don't know exactly what kind of a relationship the two of you have.

Even on Valentine's Day, the average Japanese girl gives chocolate to several guys. If she really likes one of them, then he will get the more expensive (or nicely hand-made) kind. The other guys might get what she bought at the 100-yen shop. The latter kind is named 'Giri-choco', meaning 'duty chocolate' or 'obligation chocolate' in case you didn't know the term.

Apart from Valentine's Day, some Japanese do use chocolate for gifts to anyone. They do so because not too many people dislike chocolate. So it's a safe gift to give.

I realize I'm not being of much help, but no one could tell from what you just described.