Exclusive Varieties for Valentine’s Day! 5 Japanese Chocolate Brands You Have to Try

St. Valentine's Day is observed around the world on February 14 each year as a day to celebrate romantic love. While it is common in Western countries for couples to spend time together and for the male partner to give flowers, cards and presents, such as jewelry, in Japan, it is a day for women to give chocolates to men they are interested in.
Today, there is the custom of not only giving "honmei choco" to a man a woman fancies, but also to give "giri choco" (loyalty chocolate) to people who have been good to you and to exchange "tomo choco" (friend chocolate) with friends. Recently, there are many people who buy fancy "jibun choco" (myself chocolate) as a reward for themselves.
The Valentine's Day season becomes a bit of a fiesta in Japan with supermarkets and convenience stores offering chocolates wrapped specifically for Valentine's Day and department stores holding Valentine's Day fairs with chocolates by famous overseas brands and chocolatiers and organizing related events.

ROYCE' is a chocolate brand from Hokkaido that is hugely popular for its unique line of chocolates, such as the chocolate-covered potato chips, Potatochip Chocolate, and chocolate bars that combine a variety of ingredients with chocolate. If you are selecting a Valentine's Day chocolate at ROYCE', go with its signature Nama Chocolate [Au Lait]. The smooth chocolate made with the perfect balance of high quality fresh cream from Hokkaido and milk chocolate and a hint of alcohol that is added as an accent has a melty texture that will get you hooked.
Price: 778 JPY (incl. tax)

MOROZOFF is a confectioner from Kobe that is credited with igniting the practice of sending chocolates on Valentine's Day. It introduces about 20 different types of Valentine's Day chocolates for a limited time every year. The 2020 recommendation, EAU DE FLEURS, is a line with the perfect balance of aromatic scents and chocolate and is the perfect, elegant reward for yourself. There are three assortments—Floral Bouquet with lustrous, floral aromas; Fruity Citrus with bright citrus aromas; and Oriental Sweet with alluring oriental aromas—so you can choose one that suits your mood.
Price: 702 JPY (incl. tax) and up for a box of 6