This may look like a samurai's ponytail, but it's actually Chonmage Yookan, a wrapped piece of candy meant to be given to someone from whom you seek forgiveness.
Ever come home from a late night of boozing, awkwardly stumble around your house and then pass out only to be awoken in the morning by the annoyed woman you call your wife or girlfriend? The only way to soothe over such conflicts is with gifts and Chonmage Yookan is a gift that fits exactly this purpose.
The ‘chonmage’ is a topknot of hair, one of the most significant ornaments of the samurai, representing honor and esteem. To cut-off one’s chonmage (as reflected by the packaging of the Chonmage Yookan) shows the absence of pride and honor. Yookan is a gelatinous sweet bean candy that is a popular Japanese gift.
The Chonmage Yookan combines the two to form an apologetic gift that represents the submissive retreat of honor, and will hopefully calm any enraged woman.
What's Driving This Trend
- Apology Candy
- There is an opportunity for candy makers to innovate on unique candy products that can serve as apology gifts.
- Cultural Significance Gifts
- There is an opportunity to create other gift products that reflect the cultural significance of ornaments and symbols from different countries.
- Forgiveness Market
- There is an opportunity for businesses to create a category of products specifically tailored for people seeking forgiveness from partners, friends and family.
Who This Affects Most
- Candy Industry
- There is an opportunity for candy makers to tap into a new market category focused on apology products.
- Gift Industry
- There is an opportunity for gift companies to create other apology gifts that leverage the cultural significance of ornaments and symbols.
- Personal Relationship Industry
- There is an opportunity for individuals and companies to create products that help people reconcile and forgive one another.
