Ah Valentine's Day. A day where in America couples give each other presents such as Chocolate, stuffed toys, or flowers to celebrate their love for each other. You would think that Valentine's Day would be the same in other countries too, right? Wrong! This past weekend was Valentine's Day and I realized that Japan celebrates Valentine's Day differently than in the States.
First of all in Japan Valentine's Day is a mainly female holiday where mostly only girls partake in it. It is possible for a male to partake as well but it would be seen by others as more feminine. In Japan this day is when a female, or male, would give [only] chocolate to a person she has feelings for. Sometimes women would take this as an opportunity to confess to that person as well. For those that have a significant other then they would just give them the chocolate. Not giving your boyfriend chocolate would make it seem like you don't really like him in the eyes of your peers. In the U.S. this wouldn't be such a big deal as everyone show love a different way. However, in Japan there is an unspoken rule to fit in with the people around you. But that is another topic that I don't wish to discuss right now.
Another thing is that there are different types of chocolate and they mean different things. You can give "Giri-Choco" which is obligatory chocolate you would give to friends or "Honmei-Choco" which is special chocolate you would give to a lover/significant other. Honmei-Choco is almost always handmade, although it can be store bought. It's the thought that you used all your love to make something you probably have never made before in hopes that the receiver can sense your love for them.
Now if Valentine's Day in Japan is for females, what about males? I'm glad you asked! This is where White Day comes in. On White Day (March 14th) males who received chocolate will give something back. This can be white chocolate or another present. As my friends host mother once said,
"If he really loves you then he will give you something other than chocolate on White Day."
If someone confessed their love for you, then you better get a good return a present on White Day. I'll talk more about that next month once the day passes.
As for my experience with Valentine's Day, it was less anticlimactic that I had hoped. I mean I couldn't expect much because I have a boyfriend who is on the other side of the world from me. So I decided to give chocolate to my female friends that I made, some of which are in the same situation. Essentially I gave everyone Giri-Choc. I had plans to actually make chocolate by hand so that I could experience that part of Valentine's Day, but I had completely forgot until I got to school! After class I ran to the 7-11 convenient store to buy some. I ended up getting a pack of single pieces of chocolate: Meiji Milk chocolate and Meiji Black (aka dark) Chocolate. Valentine's Day chocolate in Japan is a bit expensive; probably the reason why everyone makes their own. In the past I would give something other than chocolate but in Japan is almost a requirement unless you know the person your giving too doesn't like chocolate. I bought chocolate for my boyfriend too who is coming to visit me next month and payed roughly $4 for two pieces of Godiva chocolate at 7-11! I should have just prepared to make some my self. I wanted to get more and get people actual chocolate presents instead of just a piece but my wallet was not as caring as I was. The only thing I can think of to make up for the people who got me great presents will be to get them a great White Day present. Although I have no idea what to get yet, I have a month to hopefully sort it all out. Wish me luck!
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The Illusion of Creativity
AI-generated music is often marketed as “artistic” or “educational.” But what does it really teach?
- That style can be replicated without understanding.
- That emotion can be simulated without feeling.
- That effort can be bypassed with a prompt.
For young creators, this sets a dangerous precedent. Why learn to play guitar when an algorithm can do it faster? Why study harmony when AI can generate chord progressions in seconds? The risk isn’t just laziness — it’s the loss of depth, discipline, and the tactile joy of creation.
I have listened to several AI-generated music covers. My initial reaction was one of considerable impressiveness, particularly regarding the reimagining of classic pop hits in diverse genres with novel arrangements. Here is one good example a-ha — Take On Me
However, after engaging with several such Ai generated song covers, a sense of emotional detachment emerged, attributable to the perceived absence of human artistry and genuine sentiment, resulting in a technically flawless yet ultimately soulless auditory experience.
Copyright in Crisis
What does the copyright law say about AI generated music, especially in field of music covers. Who is liable for copyright in this case, AI developers, people who used AI to generate music or people who published it on music platforms?
Recent lawsuits show that the music industry is pushing back hard:
- Universal, Sony, and Warner sued AI music platforms Suno and Udio in 2024 for allegedly training their models on copyrighted songs without permission Ars Technica The Lyon Firm.
- They’re seeking up to $150,000 per infringed song, arguing that the AI outputs resemble famous tracks and voices (e.g., Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson).
- These lawsuits target the developers of the AI tools — but they raise broader questions:The legal gray area is training data. Courts haven’t yet ruled definitively on whether using copyrighted songs to train AI counts as infringement or fair use Sites at USC.
But who’s liable?
Role | Legal Risk | Why |
AI Developers | ✅ High | For training on copyrighted material without licenses. |
Users | ⚠️ Moderate | If they intentionally recreate protected works. |
Publishers/Platforms | ✅ High | For distributing infringing content. |
The grey area lies in training data. Courts haven’t yet ruled definitively on whether using copyrighted songs to train AI counts as infringement or fair use. Meanwhile, AI-generated works themselves aren’t eligible for copyright unless a human provides substantial creative input — leaving them in legal limbo.
The Educational Mirage
Some argue that AI music helps people learn genres, production styles, or vocal techniques. But this “education” often lacks context. It’s like learning to paint by watching a printer — technically impressive, but creatively hollow.
True musical education involves:
- Struggle and iteration: Learning through mistakes.
- Emotional connection: Expressing what words can’t.
- Cultural lineage: Understanding the roots of sound.
AI shortcuts bypass all of this. And in doing so, they risk flattening the rich terrain of human creativity into a sterile landscape of algorithmic mimicry.
Why This Fight Matters
This isn’t just about music. It’s about the future of art, storytelling, and human expression. If we allow machines to dominate creative spaces, we risk turning culture into content — optimized, monetized, and devoid of soul.
We must ask: Do we want a world where art is made by machines, or one where machines help humans make better art?
5 Key Takeaways
- AI-generated music blurs the line between innovation and erosion in the creative arts
- AI-generated music raises questions about copyright, culture, education, and artistic expression
- AI-generated music can replicate style without understanding, simulate emotion without feeling, and bypass effort with a prompt
- AI-generated music sets a dangerous precedent for young creators by potentially leading to a loss of depth, discipline, and joy of creation
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