Happy Summer Valentine's Day
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What Is Happy Summer Valentine's Day?
August 14th is "Happy Summer Valentine's Day" in Japan. It was established by Takeshi Konomi, creator of the hit manga "The Prince of Tennis" and "The New Prince of Tennis," serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump and Jump SQ., and was certified and registered by the Japan Anniversary Association in 2018. It's the day when the characters of the series return the favor for the chocolates readers sent them on Valentine's Day, February 14.
The Origin of Happy Summer Valentine's Day
Every Valentine's Day, the characters of "The Prince of Tennis" receive large numbers of chocolates filled with affection from readers. This day was created as the day the characters give something back. The date, exactly six months after Valentine's Day, reflects the idea that "feelings you couldn't express on February 14 melt more easily in summer, just like chocolate."
- Established by: manga artist Takeshi Konomi
- Registration: certified and registered by the Japan Anniversary Association in 2018
- Date: six months after Valentine's Day on February 14
- Purpose: a day for the characters to return Valentine's gifts to their readers
Fun Facts About "The Prince of Tennis"
- Serialization: The series began in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1999 and ran for about nine years until 2008. Its sequel, "The New Prince of Tennis," has been serialized in Jump SQ. since 2009.
- The story: Ryoma Echizen enrolls at a junior high school famous for tennis and joins its tennis club, which battles its way through team matches aiming to win the national championship.
- Known as "Tenipuri": The franchise has expanded well beyond manga into anime, games, stage musicals, live-action works and more.
- Chocolates for fictional characters: The fact that fictional characters receive chocolates every year shows how deeply readers love the series -- the background to this anniversary.
Tips for Enjoying Happy Summer Valentine's Day
If you're a fan, it's a good day to reread your favorite character's big moments. Even if you're not, why not use this summer day to express the thanks you didn't get around to saying in February to the people close to you?