Christmas Time

Christmas time is here! Japan included. I really wasn’t expecting Japan to have Christmas trees, lights, displays, and Christmas music in stores, though. My view of Japan before I came was that it was not a Christian country. I was not expecting to have a Christian Christmas. All of the Buddhist and Shinto shrines should have been an indication that I would experience the “after Thanksgiving” period without the Christmas spirit.

Thus, I was utterly surprised when we walked into the Kyoto train station before Thanksgiving (which is only celebrated at the Hilton hotel in Osaka, if any of you were wondering) and found that it had transformed into a Christmas wonderland! American Christmas music was playing, a huge Christmas tree became the focal point of the entire complex, and parents brought children to shop for presents and to take pictures in a winter scene below the tree.

This was just the beginning. In the two weeks that have since passed, every shopping center has decorated for Christmas. Many have specialized themes for Christmas 2007, such as “Christmas of Love” or “Romantic Christmas.” All of the themes are in English, and it all seems so commercial. As if the Japanese just celebrate it because it is cool, because it is foreign. It makes me wonder how many of these people who readily buy “kawaii” Christmas jewelry, dress as santa, or sing Christmas carols actually know the history and stories behind the holiday.

I grew up with the “Black Friday” shopping frenzy- that day-after-Thanksgiving rush, where all the shops open early to offer Christmas deals to people eager to get in the “Christmas mood”. But then again, I also grew up decorating the tree, getting all dressed up on Christmas Eve to go to mass at our (Catholic) church, and waking up on Christmas morning to a wonderful breakfast followed by presents and a day in pajamas with the family before dinner with extended family. I got the whole package. I experience the Catholic Christmas, as well as the commercial money-maker. Maybe I am wrong, and the Japanese really do know the meaning of Christmas. But if it is like a lot of the foreign things that come over here- music, traditions, etc.- most Japanese just see it as a cool thing from abroad. And the retail stores wont pass up an opportunity to market yet another cool foreign entity to the eager Japanese consumer.

Of course I am not complaining. I was ecstatic to see that first Christmas tree and to hear those all too familiar Christmas songs being played at Top World while I shop for groceries. It was a wonderful disconfirmed expectancy I had held of Japan. Christmas time is one of my favorite times of the year. It’s the time of year where you just cant be unhappy for very long. All you have to do is put on a Christmas song and everything that was bringing you down seems to just vanish. People are generally nicer (probably due to my last suggestion), and the smell of cookies mixed with pine trees is impossible to avoid. I dont get the cookies and pine here, but at least I get the rest. The lack of snow in Japan is a bit depressing…but in a few weeks, I can have that little missing piece of the season as well, when I am back in Colorado. Until then, I will enjoy my Japanese Christmas experience!!!