So in Japan, Valentine's Day is a day when women give chocolates to men. This makes sense as Japanese men have about the same chances of actually going out and buying chocolate (or even knowing what it is) as a walrus has of appreciating samba music.

First of all, many Japanese men have this male, macho attitude of "oh, I don't eat sweets." Naoto went through that phase. I cured him.

So all of us Western women go through a negotiation process every year that goes like this:

She says "you remember it's valentine's day soon, don't you"

He says "yeah, but in Japan women give chocolates"

She says "yeah, but I'm from (insert western country here)"

He says "yeah, but we're in Japan."

She says (with look of severe consequences that will ensue if chocolate is not given on her face) "do you love me?"

This is the first year I haven't had to negotiate with Naoto. He just gave me flowers and godiva truffles spontaneously. I don't know, just call him a dancing walrus.