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TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

I don't identify with the Christmas/Christian stuff, so for me, being in Japan during this particular holiday is a relief.

This year, I'm embracing the Japanese popular idea of Christmas - going on a date wearing a pretty dress. What a fun way to celebrate.

There's a church group that sings in front of my train station on Christmas Eve. If they're there when I get home, I'll likely sing with them.

My big excitement this year is where to enjoy the first sunrise. There are JR trains running all night out to the Boso Peninsula. I'm thinking, first sunrise on Kyujukurihama will be a chilly but cool treat, if the clouds clear.
Still considering transportation from train station to beach. Anyone have advice about Oami or Mobara Stations on New Year's Eve?

supervisor133 · Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Posts: 35 Location: Australia

I spent 3 Christmas' in Jp and while the first one was horrific (had only been there a month) the second was fantastic. A large group of us got together at a friend's apartment and each person brought a dish and we did a hyaku en kris kringle. The closest we got to any kind of Christmas meat was having lamb yaki niku style, but we all had a great time nonetheless.

rai · Joined: 19 Jun 2005 Posts: 119 Location: Osaka

I'm an atheist, but I LOVE x-mas! My first x-mas in Japan was six years ago in Nara, when I was a fresh-off-the-boat Nova employee. I was one of only three teachers to show up for work that day...

After work, a group of us met at one teacher's apartment, had x-mas cake and whatever else we could manage (we were all new, so we didn't know where the import shops were yet). It was nice!

I haven't been home in more than three years, but it doesn't bother me. I have a fiancee with a nice house, and we decorated it for x-mas. We'll go out for a x-mas brunch at a local hotel, give each other presents and just spend time together.

The last three years we went to USJ in Osaka, cheesy but fun. They have people singing carols and what-not. I actually like x-mas in Japan.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

maya.the.bee · Joined: 23 Sep 2005 Posts: 118 Location: Stgo

Thanks for the link. Definitely some classics and some I'd never thought of as Christmasy. But no Christmas Story? Following the logic of "if they play it on Christmas, it must be Christmasy". I add Hard Days Night & Help to the list. The local tv station always played them on Christmas Eve when I has a kid.

I did luck out videowise. My video store pulled the Christmas movies and displayed them together.

Eva Pilot · Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 12:38 pm Post subject:

Bad Santa is always a good movie to watch to spread that Christmas cheer.