Christmas in Japan - A Time for Children and Lovers
Written by Gail Kavanagh
Monday, 06 December 2010
Surprising as it may seem, Christmas has become a popular celebration in Japan, even though the country remains mainly Buddhist and Shinto in faith. But the Japanese fascination for foreign customs, and the fact that December is Bounenkai or `forget the past year' party season, have combined to make it an event, if not actually a holiday.
Christmas is seen as a colorful and exotic secular celebration, and an occasion for gift giving. Since the Japanese have been making some of the most enchanting Christmas decorations on the market for decades, it is not so surprising that they wanted to use the decorations themselves. The image of Santa Claus is very popular, and although he sometimes sports an Oriental look, he still has a sled full of toys.
So are Christmas cakes, which have also been given a Japanese flavor. Rather than a heavy spiced dried fruit concoction, the Japanese have interpreted the term fruit cake to mean a light sponge decorated with fresh fruits. Surprised western visitors, used to Christmas cakes that keep forever, are surprised to find how quickly the Japanese version goes stale!
Other Christmas traditions the Japanese have embraced include Christmas trees and a special dinner, although this is more likely to be a restaurant meal than home cooked, and takes place on Christmas Eve. Chicken is a popular dish, whether it is served as Chicken Teriyaki, or out of a takeaway chicken box. Many say that some clever marketing by KFC undercut the turkey as Christmas dinner.
The trees are usually small, and artificial, but lavishly decorated, and origami is added in the shapes of birds, especially swans, paper cranes and peace doves. Origami birds have a special meaning in Japan, and are often taken as gifts to hospitalized friends and family.
While the story of Christmas isn't as fundamental to the Japanese as it is to Christians around the world, many Japanese writers comment that the story of the First Christmas is well regarded because it is about the birth of a baby. Japanese children love to hear about the Christ Child, and nativity scenes make their appearance at Christmas.
Other sources report that Christmas Eve is seen as a romantic celebration, much like St Valentine's Day, by adult Japanese. It is a time for romantic dinners, presents and proposals. Single women hope for romance on Christmas Eve, because they will be known as `Christmas Cakes' otherwise - stale by Christmas Day!
While many Christmas traditions get a Japanese spin, its commercial aspect is very much the same. The stores put up Christmas decorations and entice customers to spend big on presents and ephemera. Western Christmas carols can be heard in the stores as well, making some foreign visitors feel right at home!
The canny store owners know there is plenty of money to be spent at this time of year, when employees get large bonuses. It would be callous to suggest that Christmas has become big business in Japan because of this, but it certainly helped to make it a commercial success.
Other commercial interests, such as software companies, release new games at this time of year, also taking advantage of the bonuses and adding to the Christmas fever. The romantic aspects are good for hotels, known as `love hotels', where couple can spend Christmas Eve together, enjoying fine food, lots of decorations and soft beds.
So while Christmas in Japan may not follow the strict traditional guidelines set down in the west, it has developed its own flavor and in some ways, is not so very different from Christmas elsewhere. If you are inspired to have your own Japanese Christmas as a result, order takeaway chicken, and a fruit covered sponge cake, or take your loved ones out on the town to a smart restaurant.
Of course, if you are single, Christmas Eve could really become a night to remember!
Articles 
Surprising as it may seem, Christmas has become a popular celebration in Japan, even though the country remains mainly Buddhist and Shinto in faith. But the Japanese fascination for foreign customs, and the fact that December is Bounenkai or `forget the past year' party season, have combined to make it an event, if not actually a holiday.