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Stephan's French Corner: A Gallic Take on February Amour

By Stephan DuCoup

In February, all you need is love ... and chocolate ... and, if you are still single in Japan, the 14th could be your lucky day! "Oh oui, je t'aime mon cheri!"

If you've just arrived in Japan, you might be wondering why people are so crazy for buying chocolates in February. There are chocolates in kawaii packages EVERYWHERE! This is part of the Japanese tradition of welcoming the love angel, who fires arrows at the loving couples of the future! If your co-workers keep offering you chocolates and asking about your plans on St. Valentine's Day, please get ready for a romantic ride.

But let's be honest: St. Valentine's Day is not St. Patrick's Day. It's not about all-night pub party drinking and singing: it's the ultimate rendez-vous of the year to declare LOVE, true love. Most French or Italian guys don't really care about Valentine's Day because, in our countries, "LOVE" is our daily activity! We never thought of the necessity of creating a single day for "LOVE"!

So how does Valentine's Day work in Japan? First of all, ladies offer chocolate to the guys. Traditionally, they get their heart-shaped chocolates on the food floor of the department store. So If a girl offers you a decorative package of chocolate on St. Valentine's Day, don't miss the chance and go for it! A month later, on March 14th, you should take her to a nice restaurant with a beautiful night view. At the end of the dinner, it's time to give her the great fake diamond ring you bought at the ¥100 shop. (Of course, if you are fully in love with the girl, go ahead and offer her a real one!)

And while she is thanking you so much, with tears in her eyes, softly take her hand, then sing the first notes of a romantic song and give her a big and real French kiss! Yes you can! At the end, if you are very lucky, you will be able to discover the most incredible Japanese invention ... the "love hotel"!

Anyway, whatever happens, with or without chocolate, be happy and enjoy this lovely day! Life without "LOVE" is like a dinner without wine, n'est pas?

Now let's embark on a petit tour du japon to discover this month's incoming French events:

tokyo

There's an exhibition of pictures by French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson running until February 6th at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography.

www.syabi.com/details/kimura.html

Don't miss this big international French cancan costume party, organized by France Tokyo and scheduled for Saturday, February 13th! This one will go on all night long.

www.francetokyo.com

yokohama

Enjoy the 15th contemporary Yokohama dance collection.

www.institut.jp/fr/evenements/9441

kansai

Come for the Kyoto St. Valentine's party, organized by the French institute of Kyoto with France Kansai.

www.ifjkansai.or.jp/modules/contents/index.php?cat_id=4

Don't miss the monthly French meet in Osaka!

www.francekansai.com

nagoya

Starting February 6th at the Nagoya City Art Museum, "Ecole de Paris" is part of a vast exhibition covering the secrets of the museum's collections.

www.art-museum.city.nagoya.jp