Ah, the anti-sentimental, consumerism-celebrating, Big Candy driven wonder of that classic Japanese giri-choco. Obligation chocolate, for those who are scratching your heads. Chocolate that is given due to obligation, not a desire to express fondness. Chocolate that makes the giver feel safe – as though they’ve satisfied their low-level societal duty, and makes the receiver feel depressed – as though they are pitied for being unattractive. It’s a tradition that seems unlikely to stop in Japan.
Those of you who’ve been in Japan during Valentine’s Day in years past may have received, or even given, giri-choco. The comic you see to the left was found in my local city’s news pamphlet. Hats off to Mr. Yamamoto, the artist. Sorry about the print – it’s nearly impossible to read, I know. I tried! It just doesn’t scan well. But fear not! I shall reproduce the text entirely here.
Frame 1
The sign on the wall behind the old man says 営業一課 – eigyou ikka, or Business Division. This frame is odd, because the woman on the left speaks first. She says 「残ったチョコは誰の」or “nokotta chyoko wa dare no.” It means “Whose chocolate is this leftover one?” The woman on the right replies 「アッ 課長さんの」or “Ah – kachyousan no” which means “Oh! It’s the boss’s.”
Frame 2
The section chief has 「エッ」written in bold next to him. It’s more of a guttural sound than a word, so I guess that’s why it’s not in the speech bubble. (It’s not like the “Oh!” from the last frame.) The sound is pronounced like you might say “Ehh?!” and communicates surprise or shock, uncertainty, and perhaps a lack of grace when accepting a gift. The section chief then says 「僕に！いいの」or “boku ni! ii no,” which means “For me! Is that really alright?” This might be thought of as 建前, tatemae, or the Japanese concept of “public face.” He’s expressing humble gratitude for receiving this gift.
Frame 3
Now we get to see the section chief’s 本音, honne, or “private feelings.”「義理チョコで」he mumbles. Giri-choco de means “But it’s obligation chocolate.” He’s let down that nobody gave him genuine chocolates. He is fully aware that the only reason he was recognized was due to an obligation that the office ladies not leave him out. It’s like being told you were picked last for kickball. You weren’t picked – the team just got stuck with you. He continues by saying “icchya~ warui ga yasusou na chyoko de…“「言っちゃ〜 悪いが 安そうなチョコで…」It means “I’ll say it. It’s bad (of me to say), but it’s cheap-looking chocolate too.” This implies that even if he has come to terms with receiving nothing but obligation chocolate, he still feels shafted because the giri-choco he did get was crappy.
Frame 4
「おまけに連名ときてる」or “omake ni renmei to kiteru” means “And it’s a joint gift, to boot!” This reveals that it’s the only box of giri-choco he’ll be getting this year, because it’s a joint gift from all of the office ladies. Uber-shafted.
I’ve been there, buddy. Most guys have. Ha ha. Don’t worry about it! Enjoy the cheap chocolate! At the end of the day, you came home with candy you wouldn’t otherwise have. And in that sense, it’s a good day. Sure, you’re a pitiable, unattractive older dude. Sure, giri-choco brings that to the foremost point of your consciousness. Sure, it’s not even good. But hey, at least gyaku-choco hasn’t caught on fully yet! Ha ha ha. (Gyaku-choco, or “reverse chocolate,” is a new marketing ploy to get men to buy chocolates for women on Valentine’s Day AND buy something else on White Day. Suckers. For a great article about gyaku-choco, see Shibuya246’s blog post, and while you’re at it – go Soc It for hipping me to it.)
Deas Customary Drivel, Humor, 日本語
Video responses with you attempting this tongue twister are highly encouraged!
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