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The evolution of Christmas in Japan

Japanese Christmas Christians

Christmas in Japan is a completely commercial affair. Its main components include KFC, cakes and couple time, and the love hotel is often fully booked as young couples enjoy some quality alone time. For those not in a relationship, it’s a time of friendship and festive (non-religious) cheer, with venues from hotels to clubs hosting special Christmas-themed events to entice revelers to splash out their cash.

The holiday is a relatively new celebration in Japan, and how you spend it is entirely up to you.

Japanese Christmas Christians

The beginning of Christmas in Japan

The Jesuit priest St. Francis Xavier is widely regarded as the first person to bring Christianity (and Christmas) to Japan. He landed in Kagoshima in 1549 and stayed in the country (mainly in what is now Nagasaki Prefecture) for more than two years. It is believed that during his tenure, he baptized approximately 30,000 converts, marking the beginning of Christmas celebrations in Nagasaki. However, just over 50 years later, the increasingly distrustful shogunate under Tokugawa Ieyasu banned Christianity, and with it Christmas.

The Christians were forced into hiding and became known as “Kakure Kirishitan” for the next 250 years. During this period, Japan was isolated from the rest of the world, barring any outside influence until 1853, when the United States forced Japan to open its ports.

Meiji Christmas

Fifteen years later, with the accession of Emperor Meiji to the throne in 1868, the Meiji Restoration began, ushering in a new period of modernization that lasted until 1912.

By the 1870s, department stores began stocking Christmas decorations, and the celebration slowly entered the public consciousness, JSTOR reports. By the mid-1960s, with the U.S. occupation of Japan and the rise of globalization, major American products such as chocolate entered Japanese culture.

It was during this period that Christmas really took off, becoming a commercial holiday centered around spreading joy and celebrating the holiday, rather than a religious observance. Over time, Christmas in Japan has developed into a modern celebration filled with unique customs adapted to Japanese tastes and lifestyles.

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What do Japanese people do for Christmas these days?

Unlike the West, where Christmas is primarily a family-centered holiday, in Japan it is celebrated by couples, similar to Valentine’s Day. Many people celebrate the occasion with romantic dates, bookings at fancy restaurants and exchanging gifts. Lighted streets, elaborate cakes and couples’ getaways add to the festive atmosphere, making Christmas an opportunity to enjoy romance under the twinkling lights.

For those who don’t celebrate with a partner, Christmas in Japan is usually spent with friends. Group get-togethers can include cozy evenings at home, potluck-style meals, or even all-night karaoke. The exchange of small, thoughtful gifts is also popular. Christmas is not a quiet family gathering, but a lively social occasion where people can rejoice with their friends.

Christmas market

Christmas markets are popping up in places like Yokohama’s Red Brick Warehouse and Hibiya Park, offering German-style food, handmade gifts and mulled wine.

Lighting

Every year, shopping areas, parks and theme parks hold their own special Christmas light events, attracting crowds from near and far. Popular destinations include Yomiuriland and Roppongi Keyakizaka.

The evolution of Christmas in Japan christmas japan cakeThe evolution of Christmas in Japan christmas japan cake

Japanese Christmas Commercialism

For many Japanese, Christmas is a relaxing holiday, defined by its own business traditions and seasonal characteristics, and an exciting prelude to New Year celebrations.

Christmas chicken

In Japan, Christmas is associated with KFC. The tradition dates back to the 1970s, when KFC launched a wildly successful advertising campaign proclaiming “Christmas in Kentucky!” The message resonated, and Christmas Eve fried chicken became an instant hit. Today, many families and couples reserve KFC “party buckets” weeks in advance, making picking up a meal a holiday ritual in itself.

Christmas cake

The elaborate Christmas cake, often decorated with strawberries and whipped cream, has become a staple during the holiday season. Commonly known as strawberry shortcake, these cakes can be found everywhere from high-end bakeries to convenience stores, many of which are available for pre-order as early as September!

Santa Claus

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Japan, with its love of cute things and mascots, has a fondness for Santa Claus. Children can visit Santa’s grotto in major department stores, and students are often encouraged to write lists for the big man.

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