A Christmas Post about Japan

      It took a three hour subway/ train trip to the airport, a nine hour plane ride, four hours on the vastly slower metro/ train system of northern California, a four hour nap, followed by a eight hour drive from Santa Cruz to San Clemente, but I'm now back home for Christmas. While adjusting to the extreme jet lag I find myself still with lingering thoughts about my experience in Japan.

 Since I didn't not get a chance to upload all my pictures to this blog or really get into the more important things I learned, I thought I would start by doing a quick blog on my perspective of Japan's celebration of Christmas.



Upon landing in Japan I was immediately struck by the commercial nature of the city of Tokyo. The constant hordes of shoppers and business men alike, roaming the stores to the tune of American christmas music made me assume that the Japanese celebrated christmas just like any American did. This false and ignorant assumption was furthered by the Christmas trees and other decorations I saw through out the places we visited in Japan.





We also saw Santa Claus taking various forms:

Yes, thats the colonel 

Outside toy shop in Ginzo

Delivery man in Yokohama

Toy store

As our trip continued it became clear to me that Christmas wasn't the same as in the United States. When I talked with some Japanese students from Yokohama National University I was reminded that Christmas traditions range from country to country. When the topic came up during one of our dinners with them, I asked what they did for Christmas? They're response was hesitant as if to not understand what I meant. Finally one student replied that, he was not Christian and therefor he didn't celebrate it.  To hear a Japanese student implying that Christmas was an actual religious holiday was interesting to me. Setting aside the "War On Christmas" argument produced by many right wing groups in the US, I was seeing perspective of the United States as a christian nation. Even with my own christian traditions Ive found myself thinking of how Christmas is becoming more and more commercial. Thus my earlier assumption that the Japanese valued Christmas on the same value we in the US did seemed plausible.







However, after talking with the YMU students as well as my teacher we learned some differences.

- Japanese tradition of Santa does not go down the chimney. He comes through the front door leaving gifts                   for sleeping children

-Most students dont have a winter break that covers the Christmas holiday.

- Most restaurants are still open

-small gifts are given

-family dinners not required

Christmas tree in Kyoto Train Station

People sitting down to look at Christmas tree.

My impression from students and my instructor was that Christmas was treated like St. Patricks Day is in the United States; celebration with no greater value in terms of tradition. From my perception it seems like the value placed by both secular America, and religious America are not present in general Japanese society's celebration of Christmas. This is to say there isn't really a emphasis on family, spirit of giving or charity that the secular/religious Christmas tradition encompasses in the US. Instead it seems to be hopeful catalyst to encourage people to purchase things.

In Tokyo Metro Station

Given that advertisements and decorations through out Japan even though it is not a valued holiday, I am curious in gaining a broader understanding of
Christmas tradition in Japan.

Taking a quick look at this article on wikipedia we see a history of Christianity on the island nation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Japan

Statue to Portuguese Franciscans

With early missionaries establishing christian populations as early as the 15th century we definitely can understand some form of christmas celebration to be celebrated by the small number Japanese Christians. However how did the society at large come to represent this holiday in its streets and stores?

Jack Frost?

 The answer to my question lies in a much broader and interesting discovery I made in Japan. I didnt really understand what kind of influence the occupation of Japan had on Japanese culture but I think the answer to Christmas tradition in Japan lies within the legacy of the US occupation. With the United States soldiers living within Japan as an occupying force, their came significant influence that can still be seen today. There is even a major concentration in college aimed at studying American influence. With this value in mind it would be easy to place christmas tradition as a direct American influence on Japan. This is heightened by the closeness of the two economies; with a fundamental emphasis given to the value of consuming and purchasing as important part of the capitalist system.

Santa hat on horse and man?

Wreaths along walk to hotel

Totoro toys

Hopefully, this gives some insight in Japanese society. I know that my methods and research in not fully conclusive or thorough, but I hoped to give some starting foundation of understanding Japanese culture further.

Merry Christmas

A little too forward.. I just wanted coffee