Today is White Day, celebrated annually (毎年祝われている) in Japan every March 14th. It actually started as "Marshmallow Day" in 1978, created by Ishimura Manseido, a confectionary company (製菓会社) in Fukuoka. The company marketed (売り込んだ) chocolate-filled marshmallows as a way for men to express their gratitude (感謝を表現する) to the women who gave them gifts, either from the heart (心から・本音で) or out of obligation (義務感から・義理で), on Valentine's Day. March 14th was chosen as the best date for women to receive the return treats by Ishimura Manseido's female employees (女性社員) at a company meeting.
By the 1980s, White Day had become extremely popular (非常に人気が高くなった) all over Japan and began to spread to other Asian countries. These days, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and South Korea all celebrate White Day. In fact, South Korea has taken it one step further (さらに発展させた) by creating "Black Day" on April 14th. This is the date when those people who didn't receive anything for Valentine's Day or White Day get together and eat jajangmyeon, a Korean noodle dish in a black bean sauce.
Alas (あーあ), neither White nor Black Day is widely celebrated in the U.S.A. While children in the States often exchange Valentine's Day cards with their classmates, the holiday is mainly for couples. Popular gifts among sweethearts on February 14th include chocolates, jewelry, and flowers.
Black, white, and read all over, I remain
Sincerely yours,
Alan
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