Although Christmas is not a formal, nationally
recognized holiday in Japan, the Japanese culture has adopted the
season’s traditions and spirit over time. Cities celebrate Christmas through festivals and special events, and citizens celebrate the season with sentiment, presents and, of course, food.
Here are 15 unique Japanese Christmas traditions that exemplify the creativity of the culture as well as the magic of the Japanese celebration of the season.
A Christmas
edition of the toy figurines designed to hang on the rim of any cup. More than 6.5
million of the popular trinkets have been sold through vending machines. Seven Christmas
versions of Fuchiko have been released, dressed as Santa, as a Christmas tree
and more.
The stone statues of Jizo, the guardian deity of children, trades his regular red attire with a Santa suit at a temple in Kamakura
renowned for its hydrangeas. The care shown for the statues by the locals is
evident; the warm scarves and capes suit the little statues. Photographs by Madam Sakurako.
Character bento has
moved beyond being a fad to become an established genre within Japanese boxed
meals. Specialist Asami has created character bento with a
Christmas theme. Pasta is used to hold the parts in place. Amazing!
Here are 15 unique Japanese Christmas traditions that exemplify the creativity of the culture as well as the magic of the Japanese celebration of the season.
1. Special Christmas Model 'Cup Fuchiko'

2. Christmas-look Jizo

3. Christmas Character Bento Boxed Meal

4. Tokyo Skytree Town Illumination 2014

Tokyo Skytree Town is displaying Christmas illuminations until Dec. 25, including the world's tallest Christmas tree —the Tokyo Skytree. Other illuminations use around 500,000 LED lights and projection
mapping.
Nishinomaru Garden at Osaka Castle is staging
spectacular 3D projection mapping throughout the Christmas season. The highlight is the display on the tower of Osaka's famous
castle.
Japanese ceramic artist Mina has used sandalwood and Gaultheria to
create this beautiful Christmas bonsai encapsulating a Japanese essence blended with the
spirit of Christmas in elegant natural forms.
A
Christmas Anime Car Festival was held in the home of anime, Akihabara, in 2012.
Anime cars customized with cartoon designs and cosplay enthusiasts converged
en-masse from all over Japan.
Master
Confectioner Sanseido has created delicate Japanese sweets named Christmas Eve.
This five-piece Christmas treat set includes a sweet kinton paste tree, a molded Santa Claus and bean bun reindeer made
with carefully selected ingredients.
These cards incorporate cool Japanese designs of famous
sights including Mt. Fuji, Kinkakuji Temple, Sensoji Temple and Osaka's
Dotonbori. They would make the perfect card to send to friends overseas.
These ikebana Christmas trees, which feature a modern flare
using Ping Pong Mum chrysanthemums, were created by Gotou Kakutetsu, the second
master of the Soushinryu School of Ikebana.
Itohkyuemon, a
long-established tea purveyor in Kyoto has produced a "Chocolat thé
verte" using local powdered green tea. The cake contains matcha mousse
with adzuki beans and raspberry sauce, decorated with matcha chocolate cream.
Lake Sagami in
Kanagawa prefecture hosts an illumination display featuring 5 million LED
lights. It is the largest display of its kind in the Kanto region. Highlights include the Light Palace and Grand
Garden. The Light Palace uses 1 million LED along with bubbles and
fountains in a marvelous water and light show.
This is no ordinary cake. It's a Christmas
Sushi Cake, decorated with none other than sashimi. The popular cakes are the
limited-edition creation of Shime Sushi restaurant in Fukuoka.
Nabana no Sato in Mie prefecture holds winter
illuminations every year. The showcase display is a 20-meter LED Niagara
Falls. Video of the illumination can be viewed online, and astonished viewers
from overseas commented that they were much more extravagant than any religious
ceremonies held in the West.
Senrigan
is a popular ramen noodle restaurant in Higashikitazawa, Tokyo. Their ramen is
based on a soy sauce broth topped with a mountain of bean sprouts and
chili-flavored tempura crumbs, looking like a Christmas tree. This photo was
posted by the restaurant manager last Christmas.
5. Osaka Castle 3D Projection Mapping Super Illumination

6. Christmas Bonsai

7. Christmas Anime Car Festival

8. Christmas Japanese Sweets Made with Selected Ingredients

9. Japanese-style Pop-up Christmas Greeting Card

10. Ikebana Christmas Tree

11. Uji Matcha Green Tea Chocolate Christmas Cake

12. Sagamiko Illumilion

13. Christmas Sushi Cake

14. Nabana no Sato Winter Illuminations

15. Christmas Ramen

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