Have you been in Japan during Christmas time? While only about 1% of Japan’s population is Christian, you do feel Christmas in the air in various places you go throughout the country.
Christmas in Japan is not the same as Christmas in any other countries, and this is because Japanese Christmas traditions are unique in various ways.
As you may know, Japanese people are good at importing foreign concepts and adding some Japanese flares; Christmas is not an exception.
Kurisumasu クリスマス (Christmas)
Because only about 1% of the population in Japan is Christian, Christmas Day in Japan is not celebrated with religious implications. How Japanese people celebrate this holiday is heavily influenced by media and marketing.
Christmas Eve (24th of December) is seen as a romantic day for a couple to go out, just like a winter version of Valentine’s Day. People tend to make a bigger deal out of Christmas Eve than actual Christmas Day, and often call it 聖なる夜 (seinaru yoru) or Holly Night, not that they really understand or care about whatever the religious implication this day had – Japanese people tend to see this day as just a special seasonal event.
All the TV ads and songs are about couples spending their special day, and people who don’t have a date often avoid being seen alone in public.
Working on Christmas Day
Christmas Day is not a national holiday in Japan. Schools and businesses are open on this day – in fact, many restaurant businesses see Christmas Eve and Christmas Day as peak days as there will be so many people going out for fancy dinner.
Many Japanese schools have a winter holiday from about 26 December until about 10 January, Japanese students have to go to school on Christmas Day, but many schools have a Christmas event there.
Japanese Traditional Christmas Food?
Christmas is not a traditional event in Japan, so Japan didn’t really have any Christmas traditions. However, many people tend to eat Western food on this day, particularly KFC.
Apparently, seeing that Japan didn’t have any traditional food for Christmas, KFC managed to fill this void with their fried chicken. It shows anything is possible with clever marketing!
Kurisumasu Kēki クリスマスケーキ (Christmas Cake)
Kurisumasu keeki (Christmas cakes) are sold on practically every street corner during Christmas time in Japan.
In the west, Christmas cakes are normally fruit cakes covered in layers of marzipan, then icing with some decorations on top. However, Japanese Christmas cakes are simply sponge cakes covered with whipped cream, decorated with strawberries on top.
Christmas Songs in Japan
Christmas songs you hear in public spaces such as shops or restaurants are generally old pop songs or Disney songs and not traditional Christmas carols.
Oshōgatsu お正月 (New Year)
While Christmas is a romantic day in Japan, お正月 (oshōgatsu / New Year) is a day where you spend with your family and relatives.
People and places make so much fuss about Christmas day with fancy decorations and illuminations but these things will be removed soon after the day finishes. They will be then replaced with New Year decorations.
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