I *Heart* Chocolate

It’s that time of year when Japanese women contemplate what to get for the men in their life. So what do they give? CHOCOLATE!

Valentine’s Day is yet another occasion to sell, sell, sell. Jumping on V-Day fever, chocolate shops get inventive with their creations. Think animal-shaped cakes, multi-colored ganache cubes, and creamy morsels sprinkled with matcha green tea powder. Even if you’re not a fan of cacao, your taste buds will force you to take a bite

For those extra-special men, most women forgo store-bought treats and work their magic in the kitchen, melting chocolate chips over a double-pot boiler and cooling it in a heart-shaped frame. I saw a flyer on Don Quijote’s site that offers deals on hand-mixers, fondue sets, chocolate fountains and food scales. Just looking at it made me want to get in on the action and whip up a bowl of velvety ganache. Though I’d probably eat it myself instead of giving it away. ^^

A box of homemade chocolates is far more precious than store chocolates because it takes time and effort to make. “Kokoro wo komete” (‘from the heart’) is the phrase often used. A while back, I was playing this one dating sim for Nintendo DS, Tokimeki Memorial, where I could either buy the boy I liked a box of chocolates or make it. If I made it myself, I was nearly guaranteed he’d ask me out. Haha! My stylus pen got a good workout stirring that virtual bowl of chocolate! \(^o^)/

Himawari

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Couples That Wear Undies Together Stay Together…

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Embelline, a Japanese company specialized in body shape underwear and bridal lingerie, has introduced Love-Pan(http://www.embelline.co.jp/lovepants/index.html), a pair of unisex underpants that couples can wear and enjoy the intimacy of sharing the identical look, discretely.

They are betting on some couples’ secret desire to wear the identical pieces of clothing without advertising it to the whole world. Love-Pan was test-marketed during the Christmas season of 2007 in limited regions in Japan and was enthusiastically received by both genders, says Embelline.

They are rolling out a limited edition of 1,000 pairs (his & hers) for 5,500 yen for this Valentine season. If you ever wanted to sport a “pair-look” but felt too inhibited to do so, I think now is your chance…

Btw, in case someone’s wondering why the name, Love-Pan, it is Love-Pantsu, a Japanese word for underpants. You may think it’s something you can eat by the sound of it!!! (The word, Pan, can also mean bread.)

Togé Togé

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Thinking of doing business in Japan? We can make it easy for you!
japanizmo, a Los Angeles based company, provides practical solutions for U.S. ? Japan business projects. Our experienced Japanese staff will support all phases of your business project to seize business opportunities and turn your vision into a reality. >> Learn more
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