Why no White day in other countries?

White day is basically like Valentines day for guys in Japan and some other East Asian countries. To me that sounds pretty cool. Valentines day comes off very one sided in the West, why? Thought it was meant for people to show their appreciation for one another, but all i usually see in the media is advertisements like buying girls diamonds or earnings etc.

I don't see it as one sided. Though if you were to ask me of any commercials about gifts for men, I don't remember any, other than "wear this lingerie that he'll love".

Besides white day, young people even celebrate our traditional "Valentines Day"...Two dates: March 3 and July 7 in lunar calendar..... One-sided...same...

Valentines day in the west has it's roots in the middle ages actually. It was named after two, possibly three St. Valentines. St Valentines of Rome, St. Valentines of Turney. The third may have been martyred in Africa, but there is little to no information about him. It wasn't until the 14th century where the day lost it's distinction between the Saints and started to take on a romantic connotation. Up until then, it was linked to sacrifice, not romance. Then good old Geoffrey Chaucer came, wrote a poem called the Parliament of Fowls, with the line "For this is St. Valentines day, when every bird comet to choose a mate." (Or something along those lines, I can't remember the exact words.) It was written to honor Richard II's engagement to Ann of Bohemia. The tradition of sending valentines was started in the 15th century after the battle of Agincourt. Charles, the Duke of Orleans was captured and held in the tower of London. He sent his wife a gift since he couldn't be there, and he famously signed it "My very sweet Valentine." And so the act was popularized and memed (Ah yes, to be able to use that word in it's proper context), and the tradition of men sending gifts to their beloved was established... And then flash forward to modern day, where corporations have usurped all of our holidays, of course they're going to want to get you to buy your girl's affection with that expensive new diamond ring. Because that kinda affection is easy to market. But ya know, back then, charity was seen as a masculine and honorable trait. Now we're egalitarian. And women can send men valentines. I've received chocolates before on this day from a female. Do we need a second holiday anymore? ...Okay, probably. Holidays are fun.

@Chocopyro Thank you for the background info. We don't need an entirely new holiday but i just its cool how Japan respects the effort put into it by the guys and answer back with at least some chocolates. With some of these gimmicky ads i feel the meaning of Valentines is kind of misunderstood, it shouldn't reside in the gift but at least the act of giving a gift.

So young and naive. White day might be fine for ultra innocent teenagers, but are chocolates really what you’re wanting? And I mean honestly. You can buy yourself chocolates anytime you want if that’s it... But no... What you really want is that one present only a woman can give... and that’s exactly what you’ll get if you show your girl you really love her on Valentine’s day. Why would you want to wait until White Day for her to show you she loves you back? The advertisements are one sided because guys are emotional idiot sometimes and need the reminders, and women don’t need help with how to say thank you or show affection. Guys really only want the one thing. It’s not a mystery what that is and they don’t need commercials to advertise for it. But victoria secrets got that covered all the same. You’re talking about respecting a guy’s effort? Women show us their affection and appreciation for that year around. If you want to talk about what Valentines Day is about? It’s a reminder to be affectionate and show your appreciation to your lover. Guys are the ones notorious for forgetting that, not girls. That’s probably why it seems one sided to you. So my question is to you... What is it you really want back from Valentines Day? Is it really chocolates on White Day?

It is cool, but things wont change here any time soon. The current model is too embedded into our culture to change. Jewelers and retailers in general love to bank off love. It wouldn't be as profitable if chocolate was the only thing being sold, compared to overpriced rocks and minerals. Giving something hand made is charming and shows how much you care about the person. Hand made gifts mean a lot more to me than store bought crap I can buy myself. Contrary to what Wesley-sensei said, you can't buy hand made chocolates from a girl who likes you, that's priceless. Due to the current condition of western culture, we could really use this. These days many men seem afraid to approach women, since it's so easy to get slapped with claims of harassment. Especially in the work place, and the workplace is the only decent way to meet someone once you leave school. So it'd be great for women to take at least one day out of the year to make their feelings clear and known to the person they have a crush on. After all, it's the guy's responsibility to do that every other day of the year. Generally speaking women tend to be very subtle and avoid making their feelings for someone known while wanting men to pick up on subtle hints, hints some guys might be too dense to pick up on. This plays in favor primary to single people of course, and as we all know western culture treats singles like a cancer (there was even a bachelor tax at one point in some states). If you're already in a relationship this wouldn't pay off as well. That said, there's no reason why people already in a relationship can't go on dates or partake in romantic events, or anything they want really. But for those who have no one, rather than telling them to suck it up and eat shit, why not toss em a bone and make it easier to get together with the person that likes them?