Christmas in Japan is a mixed stocking full of common western traditions and uniquely Japanese twists.
Coming from Australia, where we enjoy a warm summer Christmas, family traditions across the country vary. Having a BBQ and heading to the beach might seem strange for most from the Northern Hemisphere. However, the concept of Christmas in Australia and most western countries still revolves around families gathering and having a good time. While the religious connections may be fading, the history, belief and “real” meaning of Christmas are still a big part of celebrations for most.
My family have always celebrated, what I consider, a traditional Christmas. We all gather on the 25th at lunch time and we feast on a roast turkey and roast pork with all the trimmings. A Christmas fruitcake as the centre piece, with pudding and ice cream as dessert. Presents are exchanged after lunch with Christmas carols playing in the background all day. And we do it all again for dinner, even if it is 39-degrees celsius.
Now we get to Christmas in Japan
There are no religious ties or deep history To Christmas in Japan but across the country shopping centres, office buildings, hotels and stores are, in most part, beautifully decorated with all the traditional symbols of Christmas. Reindeers, wreaths, snowmen, Christmas trees and Santa are all prominent throughout November and December.
The Japanese twist is December 25th is a regular working day with the evening meal consisting of some fried chicken from KFC your local convenience store. I might be generalising here but when you see all the advertising it’s hard not to believe this is the case. Regardless, fried or roast chicken is definitely on the dinner plate.
Christmas cake is also on the menu, but not a traditional fruitcake. If you ask some Japanese people to describe a Christmas cake, strawberry sponge cakes or Baskin Robbins ice-cream cakes will be at top of the list.
Santa comes delivering presents to most kids these days, although I guess when you have to go to school the spirit and excitement of the day must be lost.
Christmas Eve on the other hand is a romantic evening more like Valentine’s Day. Couples book restaurants months in advance. It’s also the busiest day of the year for Japan’s Love Hotels! As the Forbes article here points out, no one really knows how or why Christmas Eve became date-night and associated with romance.
Perhaps the ultimate way to celebrate Christmas in Japan is to get some takeout and bring it to a love hotel, Homer style. Better check with your partner first though.
