Whether you are a Christmas freak or an out-right scrooge, you will no doubt find Christmas in Japan a little odd. Nestled between the Emperor’s birthday (December 23rd) and the New Year’s celebrations, the festive period is somewhat overlooked; which isn’t at all surprising, as the coming of the New Year has long been the most important and widely celebrated part of the Japanese calendar. Add to this the fact that very few of the Japanese population are Christian, or are aware of the story of Christ’s birth, and you can see why Christmas is a little different amongst the Japanese isles.
But this does not stop Japan making an effort and in turn, a lot of money! Christmas has become a marketing paradise for many companies, be them domestic or international. It is now a pure celebration of consumerism, with no political or religious connotations attached. Christmas may well be becoming an agnostic celebration in the west too, but there are still some staggering difference between Japan…and the rest of the world!
Illumination
Illumination is just another word for “Christmas Lights,” but in Japan, the tradition is taken to an extreme. In most major cities in the west, a countdown often occurs to mark the turning on of the festive lighting; a set of decorations that bring the festivities into people’s everyday life, with commuters admiring the lights on their way to and from work.
Japan has these “normal” lights spread out in the vast majority of the major cities, but they also have entire fields laden with “illumination.” On these barren fields, often a long journey from the larger cities, are literary 100,000s of lights strung together to make effigies of Mt. Fuji or rippling oceans. People flock to these sites and queue up for hours to see them, and they are far from a rarity, as these illumination parks can be found nationwide.
Dinner Date
New Year’s and Christmas seem to have a role reversal in Japan compared to many western countries, with the coming of the new year being celebrated with close family, and Christmas is normally reserved for those wanting to spend some quality time with their boyfriend, girlfriend, husband or wife.
Not having a date for Christmas in Japan is akin to not having a date for the prom in America. Restaurants have specific romantic menus and the more popular eateries are booked out months in advance. Even couples with children will often leave their children with a babysitter on Christmas day, so that they can enjoy some time alone.
From Santa
Without having any real interest in or knowledge of the birth of Jesus, Santa Claus (or Father Christmas) has become the readily recognizable face of Christmas. Most large department stores have their very own Santa and each year there are fewer and fewer Japanese people taking on the role. In an attempt for authenticity, most stores would prefer a Caucasian Santa, hiring foreign nationals for the job and even flying in elderly Nordic gentlemen for the task.
With that in mind, children really invest in the image of Santa and look forward to receiving a gift from him. But that is often the only gift they will get, as it is not common for immediate or distance relatives to exchange gifts. That being said, if a child does no longer believe in Santa, they may wake up to an empty stocking on Christmas day; so it is often the sharper children who believe in St. Nicholas well into their 30s.
Deck the everything!
As we saw with “illumination” Japan takes decorating very seriously. Whilst many places can be described as gaudy or tacky, there is no denying the effort that goes into some of the more colorful establishments during the Christmas period.
Although few people decorate the inside of their house with tinsel, holly and mistletoe, Christmas Lights hung outside are becoming more popular each year.
Cartoonist, Adam Pasion [ link ], noticed that the festive spirit extends to almost every aspect of Japanese culture, even the underbelly.
WTF – KFC?
Christmas cuisine is a staple for any Xmas lover, but if you are hoping for a roast turkey, you will be sorely disappointed, as by far the most sought-after family meal is a platter of Kentucky Fried Chicken.
What started out as a clever advertising campaign back in 1974 has now become a fully-fledged tradition. People order their dinner weeks in advance and can queue for up to two hours to get their finger licking good KFC.
It is reputed that the average KFC chain sells more on Christmas day alone, than the accumulative amount sold during an average month. It is a successful ploy that has been adopted by domestic companies too, with convenience stores and Japan’s very own Mos Burger both selling their version of “Christmas Fried Chicken.”
