In Japan, Valentine's Day gives women chance to treat themselves

More and more women in Japan are abandoning the tradition of giving obligatory chocolates to male coworkers on Valentine's Day, instead using the occasion to treat themselves.The trend reflects shifting societal norms and consumer attitudes in the country, creating new opportunities and challenges for the chocolate industry.A week before Feb. 14, the seventh floor of Tokyo's Ginza Mitsukoshi department store was packed with women peering into showcases at the exotic chocolates on offer.Hitomi Nakada, a shopper in her 40s who was visiting with a friend, says she buys herself something every …READ FULL ARTICLE