Why couples celebrate Christmas in Japan like the second Valentine's Day

Why couples celebrate Christmas in Japan like the second Valentine's Day

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One of the most unforgettable Christmas parties in Sumire Sekino was to spend the day with her boyfriend in some of the most beautiful date locations. She remembered that the day began to visit Teamlab, an immersive and extremely Instagram-friendly digital art installation. Then it went to the Shibuya Sky, a viewing platform that hovers 229 meters above the floor to enjoy a panoramic view of the Japanese capital. "It was only our first month together, so we were still a bit nervous. But I had so much fun to visit these places with him for the first time," says the university student.

romantic Christmas customs in Japan

A completely different, romantic access to Christmas shows the 19-year-old student Akao Takao, who visited some fascinating light installations and a Christmas market with his girlfriend last year before they could relax with a soothing hot chocolate. "I had a wonderful experience," he sums up.

In western culture, Christmas is the time of the year when families gather around a long table to unpack gifts and enjoy egg liqueur. In Japan, however, the festive season has adopted an additional dimension: Christmas is often seen as a kind of second Valentine's Day. Couples spend the Christmas Eve with a special date, explore festive decorations, dishes in noble restaurants and spend the night in luxurious hotels.

Christmas as a romantic experience

Love is in the air - from Tokyos pulsating districts such as Roppongi and Ginza, in which couples walk along the streets hand in hand to Hokkaido, where the magic of a white Christmas is waiting. For men who are willing to spend a little more, luxurious hotel rooms with a spectacular view are available, which can quickly cost up to $ 2,000 a night if they are not already fully booked.

in Japan it is common for young people to live with their parents until marriage, so that one night outside the home is considered something very special. This year, the Ritz Carlton Tokyo offers a “romantic retreat” that contains credit for a fine dinner and an outdoor ice cream experiment. The Grand Hyatt Tokyo, on the other hand, promises a “romantic evening” with rooms that look over the festively illuminated trees.

cultural influences and Christmas traditions

restaurants and shops also take the opportunity to offer special menus and discounts on a variety of gifts, from chocolates to jewelry. "It's about the mood and atmosphere," explains Roy Starrs, extraordinary professor of Japanese at the University of Otago in New Zealand. "Young couples go out after dark to admire the spectacular lights, which is seen as a very romantic atmosphere for young love."

Japan, a country with 124 million inhabitants, has shintoism as the most common religion, with less than one percent of the population Christians. Nevertheless, Christmas is enthusiastically celebrated in the country. According to Starrs, Christianity performed in Japan in the 16th century, but was largely suppressed during the Tokugawa era, a period of strict social order and isolation. Only after the Second World War did American culture began to penetrate Japan, and brought Christmas with it. However, the festival is celebrated with a unique Japanese flair.

Christmas in Japan: A festival of aesthetics

"Most Japanese do not see Christmas as a religious event, but as a pop culture spectacle imported from the west-an aesthetically appealing mix of colorful lights, Santa Claus dolls, Christmas markets, colorful packaged gifts and Christmas cake," says rigid. Japan is a society that highly appreciates aesthetics, so it makes sense that these festive displays, often accompanied by plenty of snow, create the perfect backdrop for a romantic white Christmas.

"Couples may exchange gifts, visit an exotic, German Christmas market and end the evening in an elegant French or Italian restaurant. And after all of this, the atmosphere could be just right for a marriage proposal!" This romantic aspect of Christmas could be one of the best hopes of the Japanese government to promote marriages and births.

social changes and current trends

The birth rate in Japan fell to 1.20 last year, which is a record scenes, and is far below the 2.1 that are necessary to keep the population stable. For the older generation, which was once the second largest economy in the world, opulence was the path that could be taken - the more glittering, the better. Apart from expensive hotels, men often opened champagne bottles and rented limousines to impress.

But after years of stagnation, Japan's once envied economic strength lost in shine and at the beginning of this year it slipped into fourth place in global economy. In view of the increasing cost of living - tightened by the recent devaluation of the Japanese Yen - young couples are looking for creative opportunities to celebrate.

The 23-year-old university student Inoue Shogo states that he would avoid hotels due to the price increases. "Since western food becomes more expensive because everyone is looking for a Christmas dinner, we choose the cheaper variant that is mostly Japanese cuisine," he says.

Simply a Christmas cake, stay at home for a private celebration and enjoy Christmas lights are options that are currently becoming more popular among the younger generation, according to a current survey by the marketing company Mery. Yuhi Hasegawa, 19, visited Enoshima with his girlfriend last year to enjoy the festive lights and the beautiful views. The small island is one hour by train south of Tokyo and is known for your beaches and the relaxed lifestyle.

"We should appreciate the time with our partner. Instead of spending money on chic restaurants or luxury cosmetics, it could be the perfect solution to stay at home, to look at 'first love' (a netflix lover) and find true love," he says.