P. Otaku Bytes

.Vol. 1 No. 2	Christmas Issue	December 1999

[Content] [Features] [Editorial] [Fanworks] [Anime101] [Reviews] [Endnotes]

Christmas in Japan by Ryan Ko (A Glimpse of Japanese Culture)

     Japan is not a Christian country. Only around 2% of its population is Christian. Despite the fact that Shintoism and Buddhism are their major religions, many Japanese also celebrate Christmas. However, there are some distinct differences in the Christmas we know from that celebrated in Japan.
     In order to better understand the manner by which the Japanese celebrate Christmas, let us take a look at how Christianity first came to Japan. In 1549, Francis Xavier, a Portugese missionary, came to Japan and introduced Christianity to the islands. Included in the Christian faith was the celebration of the birth of Christ, or Christmas. This celebration became popular with the Japanese at that time. The first Christmas mass on record was at the Yamaguchi church in 1552. In 1639, however, national isolation was imposed on Japan. During this time, many Christians were persecuted and forced to recant their faith. Many Christians did just that, although a few became kakure or “secret Christians”. These few still celebrated Christmas, often singing carols in Latin! The situation in Japan then changed drastically when Commodore Matthew Perry and his “black ships”, as the American steamboats came to be called, entered Japanese waters and forced the then weak government to open Japan to the world. Western culture spread throughout the major ports and cities of Japan. Christmas was celebrated openly, although some of the first attempts to introduce it produced some amusing results. In 1875, the Harajo school in the Ginza district of Tokyo celebrated Christmas…but Santa Claus was dressed as a samurai. By 1912 to 1926, Japan became an exporter of Christmas decorations, including the artificial Christmas tree. By the end of the Second World War, Christmas became an accepted part of Japanese life.
     At first glance, it seems that there are many Christmas customs which have found their way into Japanese society. Usually, by the end of October, the many districts of Tokyo are ablaze with Christmas lights. Many people still decorate pine trees with lights and other ornaments during this season. Most Japanese families spend this time together just like Christian families do on the holidays. The Japanese are also fond of eating a “Christmas Cake”, usually buttercream sponge cake, which can be described as more of a birthday cake with its different designs and flavors. To most Japanese, Christmas is also the time for giving…gifts, that is! Most of the gifts are “cute” or expensive depending on the relationship of the giver to the recipient. The are also the obligatory year-end presents, which are usually perishable goods such as fruit or wine. Known commonly as oseibo, these presents are given to customers, teachers, employers and employees. However, it is expected that the recipient will buy a gift similar or exceeding that given him. Department stores in Japan usually have packaged oseibo just so the customers can have an easy time determining how much a gift is worth.
     Aside from these differences in the manner of celebrating Christmas, the most startling fact about a Japanese Christmas is that it is not even an official holiday! On the 25th of December, people still go to work or to school. The holiday for December in Japan is on the 23rd, the Emperor’s birthday! The Christmas season is also commonly filled with beer parties known as bonenkai or “forget the old year parties.” Christmas Eve has also been hyped to be one the important times for forging a romantic relationship. It is portrayed to be the time when girls reveal their affection to boys or vice-versa. Despite all this Christmas tradition and celebration, many people are surprised to know that many Japanese do not really understand what Christmas is for. It is treated more like Valentine’s Day or New Year’s Eve than a religious event. Perhaps the best example of this kind of attitude was a display in a Japanese department store some years ago. In the middle of the store was a giant cross, and on it was Santa Claus.

Ryan Ko took up some Japanese studies at the Ateneo de Manila University.

[Contents] [Features] [Editorial] [Fanworks] [Anime101] [Reviews] [Endnotes]

All works are copyrighted and trademarks of their respective owners. Our deepest apologies if we fail to mention them. If there are any copyright violations incurred, don’t hesitate to inform us. Please do not use any material printed here without proper permission from the magazine and the respective authors. Distribution of P.Otaku Bytes is free. We are a non-profit organization.


Japan is not a Christian country. Only around 2% of its population is Christian. Despite the fact that Shintoism and Buddhism are their major religions, many Japanese also celebrate Christmas. However, there are some distinct differences in the Christmas we know from that celebrated in Japan. In order to better understand the manner by which the Japanese celebrate Christmas, let us take a look at how Christianity first came to Japan. In 1549, Francis Xavier, a Portugese missionary, came to Japan and introduced Christianity to the islands. Included in the Christian faith was the celebration of the birth of Christ, or Christmas. This celebration became popular with the Japanese at that time. The first Christmas mass on record was at the Yamaguchi church in 1552. In 1639, however, national isolation was imposed on Japan. During this time, many Christians were persecuted and forced to recant their faith. Many Christians did just that, although a few became kakure or “secret Christians”. These few still celebrated Christmas, often singing carols in Latin! The situation in Japan then changed drastically when Commodore Matthew Perry and his “black ships”, as the American steamboats came to be called, entered Japanese waters and forced the then weak government to open Japan to the world. Western culture spread throughout the major ports and cities of Japan. Christmas was celebrated openly, although some of the first attempts to introduce it produced some amusing results. In 1875, the Harajo school in the Ginza district of Tokyo celebrated Christmas…but Santa Claus was dressed as a samurai. By 1912 to 1926, Japan became an exporter of Christmas decorations, including the artificial Christmas tree. By the end of the Second World War, Christmas became an accepted part of Japanese life. At first glance, it seems that there are many Christmas customs which have found their way into Japanese society. Usually, by the end of October, the many districts of Tokyo are ablaze with Christmas lights. Many people still decorate	pine trees with lights and other ornaments during this season. Most Japanese families spend this time together just like Christian families do on the holidays. The Japanese are also fond of eating a “Christmas Cake”, usually buttercream sponge cake, which can be described as more of a birthday cake with its different designs and flavors. To most Japanese, Christmas is also the time for giving…gifts, that is! Most of the gifts are “cute” or expensive depending on the relationship of the giver to the recipient. The are also the obligatory year-end presents, which are usually perishable goods such as fruit or wine. Known commonly as oseibo, these presents are given to customers, teachers, employers and employees. However, it is expected that the recipient will buy a gift similar or exceeding that given him. Department stores in Japan usually have packaged oseibo just so the customers can have an easy time determining how much a gift is worth. Aside from these differences in the manner of celebrating Christmas, the most startling fact about a Japanese Christmas is that it is not even an official holiday! On the 25th of December, people still go to work or to school. The holiday for December in Japan is on the 23rd, the Emperor’s birthday! The Christmas season is also commonly filled with beer parties known as bonenkai or “forget the old year parties.” Christmas Eve has also been hyped to be one the important times for forging a romantic relationship. It is portrayed to be the time when girls reveal their affection to boys or vice-versa. Despite all this Christmas tradition and celebration, many people are surprised to know that many Japanese do not really understand what Christmas is for. It is treated more like Valentine’s Day or New Year’s Eve than a religious event. Perhaps the best example of this kind of attitude was a display in a Japanese department store some years ago. In the middle of the store was a giant cross, and on it was Santa Claus.

Ryan Ko took up some Japanese studies at the Ateneo de Manila University.