Valentine's Day loses its sweetness for Japan men

TOKYO - Ever since Valentine's Day took off in Japan some four decades ago, the holiday has been celebrated with a twist: women buy chocolates and gifts for men, including bosses and colleagues as well as lovers and spouses, instead of the other way round.

These days, a growing number of Japanese women are taking the Cupid out of Valentine's Day altogether by exchanging carefully selected or hand-crafted sweets and gifts with female friends.

"I go to buy good chocolates with my close friends to enjoy together," said 26-year-old Ai Shibata, who works at an advertising company and was buying chocolates for herself and colleagues at a busy subway station in central Tokyo.