Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, a day when all the ria-juu — normies with boyfriends/girlfriends living happy, well-adjusted lives and having sex — go on a special date together. Japan famously inverts the gift-giving aspect of Valentine’s Day, with girls giving chocolate to boys they like. The drama and comedy this creates, when a girl overcomes her shyness to confess to the boy she likes, has become a major trope in anime. In this post, let’s look at our favorite Valentine’s Day episodes!
What Are the Best Valentine’s Day Anime Episodes to Re-Watch?
It took decades for Valentine’s Day to catch on in Japan, as Japanese in the postwar era had no cultural awareness of the day’s meaning. Then in the 1970s chocolate maker Morinaga hit on the idea to promote Valentine’s Day as a day for women to give chocolate to the boys and men in their lives. Today, 60% of women in Japan reportedly give chocolate to their boyfriends, husbands, sons and co-workers to express their feelings of love and thanks.
There are hundreds of Valentine’s Day anime episodes I could put into this post, but here are some of the ones I loved the best!
Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun is a cute romance anime about a girl who has a crush on her senpai, who is secretly a famous shoujo manga artist. The Valentine’s Day anime episode is no. 12.
Ore Monogatari is One of the cutest romance anime series out there. Episode 20 is the Valentine’s Day episode.
Koikimo: This Relationship is Too Disgusting to be Called Love. I really enjoyed this anime about a playboy whose life is saved by a high school girl, after which he ends up falling in love with her, reforming his bad ways in the process. In the Valentine’s Day episode, Ichika knows she can’t compete with the amazing women Ryo has dated before, so she settles on a much simpler gift. The episode you want is episode 8.
If you missed this fun show, read my review of KoiKimo here!
Senpai ga Uzai is a cute anime about a diminutive new office worker and her giant and protective senpai. Far more interesting than their relationship are the two side characters, Sakurai and Kazama, who become close as the series progresses.
Himouto! Umaru-chan. I love watching the feelings Ebina has for Umaru’s brother Taihei, and watching her try her best to make chocolate for him was adorable. The Valentine’s Day episode is episode 9 of season 1.
Sakura-sou no Pet na Kanojo. Episode 17 (“Valentine’s Day is for Chocolate”) is another super fun episode to re-watch this February 14.
School Days. The “School Days Valentine’s Day Special” is an OAV that came out after the series ended. Everyone wants Makoto to accept their chocolate, and at least one chainsaw is involved.
Code Geass. The Love Attack! episode is a fun one, in which Milly declares that today is Cupid Day, and any girl can become a boy’s girlfriend by stealing his hat. Much entertainment ensues.
Kobayashi Dragon Maid. The Valentine’s Day OVA lets us enjoy chocolate at the Kobayashi household before heading out to some hot springs. You can’t ask for more than that!
Toradora is one of the best anime out there. The episode where Taiga and Ryuji must take over for Yasuko selling chocolate right as they’re in the middle of figuring out what they’re going to do with their relationship is a riveting one.
Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san. Wouldn’t you love to get some chocolate from Takagi-san? Even if she teased you while doing it? Episode 2 of season 2 is the episode to watch.
Thanks for reading this blog post about the best Valentine’s Day anime episodes to re-watch on February 14. Did we miss your favorite episode? Post it below, or reply to us on Twitter!
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