Christmas in Japan?

The holiday season has arrived. I got an interesting email about it from Esther in the U.S.

There is currently a big controversy over the replacement of the traditional "Merry Christmas" greeting with "Happy Holidays" in shopping centers and on TV spots. Religious minorities are upset when stores assume they celebrate the Christian holiday rather than Chanukah (a Jewish holiday) or Kwanzaa (a newThere is currently a big controversy over the replacement of the traditional "Merry Christmas" greeting with "Happy Holidays" in shopping centers and on TV spots. Religious minorities are upset when stores assume they celebrate the Christian holiday rather than Chanukah (a Jewish holiday) or Kwanzaa (a new African-American holiday) or even just the winter solstice (a Neopagan holiday in this country). So now all the stores say "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings".

How is it in your country? Does the same thing happen in Europe? Australia? Other Asian countries? In Japan, it is just Christmas. The majority of Japan is not Christian. Most Japanese would say "I am Buddhist," but generally Japanese are tolerant / don't care about differences in religion. Maybe our attitude toward religion will seem to lack seriousness to other people. (The sites I wrote about before were also something funny like (here and here.) Actually, we have the phrase "Shoshiki Bukkyo" (Funeral Buddhism). It means we Japanese are Buddhist when we have funerals and Buddhist monks earn their money from funerals. Sound like we are temporary Buddhists? I will accept that. I am embarrassed to say this, but I did not know the Heart Sutra was so short until I found this Flash.

Not only do we practice Buddhism, but we celebrate St. Valentine's Day, Halloween, many Japanese have wedding ceremonies in a church (the main reason is that we love the wedding dresses!), and then we love Christmas Day as a big event at the end of the year. Are we such an unserious people? :-( I think so. I think this is related to our Shinto religion. We call mountains, forests, waterfalls, fox, dog, white snake, lightning, wind, and many things "GOD." I think I am a typical Japanese: when I say "Kamisama" (God), it does not mean Christ, Buddha, or any other specific God, it means something holy, something precious, something that supports me and my life. I am not serious about any particular religion, but it does not mean that I don't believe that something is holy.

I found some nice sites about Christmas in Japan. They say we started to celebrate Christmas in the in Taisho era. This site collects old Japanese old Japanese Christmas items. I like the QP and Santa Clause in Kimono on the top page. And this is Christmas paper craft. You can see "how to make" each item in a movie. It is a nice idea to attach them to your Christmas gift, isn't it? He is the only official Santa Claus. It was fun to read the official Santa lesson and meeting. Tokyo Millenario will start soon, but they say this is the last time. Why? Near my home, there is Sanrio Puroland. In this season they have big lights big lightson the streets with "that cat." At Tokyo Tower there was Godzilla two years ago, but I am not sure he will appear again this year. Remember? He retired.

Comments

[Mari]

Hi There
I am sorry for late to reply this post. Yes some people said "enjoy the holiday". that is my impression. Happy holiday. Merry Christmas.

[robert]

hah hah hah! it's such a fake argument. I can't believe everyone is so manipulated. Did you know that the word "holiday" is the time worn "holy day"? So if you wish someone a happy "holy day" you actually respect their feelings about the topic, whatever they are...just something to chew one. since this seems to be about respect and I guess a lot of people are rather insecure on that front. the truly sad thing about the whole x-mas, holiday thingy..oops did I say x-mas?...ho ho ho...is that it's gotten this much play. I guess it's the best we can come up with right now, since we can't afford to start another war, to keep people from wondering about information links and top administration officials on the take. *Halliburton*..oh excuse me..I seem to have a little cough. Claire is right about the stillness. Even in a sweltering summer day it is there with the pervading scent of incense..to deliver you to serenity's doorstep. Mari, you are right. something precious. I doubt that something precious would derive any joy from one who would waste their time fighting over something so trivial. enjoy each breath people. dont waste them. now is the time for change. I think I'm going to go play with God now...where'd I put that catnip?

[robert]

hah hah hah! it's such a fake argument. I can't believe everyone is so manipulated. Did you know that the word "holiday" is the time worn "holy day"? So if you wish someone a happy "holy day" you actually respect their feelings about the topic, whatever they are...just something to chew one. since this seems to be about respect and I guess a lot of people are rather insecure on that front. the truly sad thing about the whole x-mas, holiday thingy..oops did I say x-mas?...ho ho ho...is that it's gotten this much play. I guess it's the best we can come up with right now, since we can't afford to start another war, to keep people from wondering about information links and top administration officials on the take. *Halliburton*..oh excuse me..I seem to have a little cough. Claire is right about the stillness. Even in a sweltering summer day it is there with the pervading scent of incense..to deliver you to serenity's doorstep. Mari, you are right. something precious. I doubt that something precious would derive any joy from one who would waste their time fighting over something so trivial. enjoy each breath people. dont waste them. now is the time for change. I think I'm going to go play with God now...where'd I put that catnip?

[Dori]

The right wing in the United States is promoting a fake war on Christmas because they only have power when they divide people in America. Look at their recent attempts to divide the American people, from their war on gays, war on Mexicans, war on science, to their war on Islam and Judaism. The right wing is a minority who wants to make Americans hate other Americans so that they can feel stronger. When Americans are united and happy, the right wing has no power. Then they can find wedge issues to split the American people and cause fighting inside the country, they have more power.

The winter holidays were around long before Christians hijacked them, but they are trying to force Christianity on all Americans. It's just another way for the extreme right wing to cause problems in America.

In a recent poll, less than 10% of Americans said that Christmas is mostly a Christian holiday. That is what the real majority of Americans think.

[ブルース]

Christmas is a Christian celebration and is supposed to be a happy time. Christians celebrate the birth of their god in human form. Any other people who wish to join the happy event are welcome.

There are many ways to enjoy Christmas spirit. This is one of them.
http://sunny969.com/lights.wmv

[Claytonain]

I showed my little 二年生たち. The Mr. Bean Christmas special. I'm not sure if they understand Christmas better, but they laughed a lot.

[I am Dali]

mari your site is wonderful.

"We call mountains, forests, waterfalls, fox, dog, white snake, lightning, wind, and many things "GOD." I think I am a typical Japanese: when I say "Kamisama" (God), it does not mean Christ, Buddha, or any other specific God, it means something holy, something precious, something that supports me and my life."

that's probably one of the most amazing cultural conceptions i've ever heard.

i don't think there's anything "unserious" about not patronizing some One True God of Vengeance.

actually, these days, the measure of a "serious" religion seems to be one that many people are willing to shed a lot of blood over. to kill people over.

that's the meterstick of civilization right now, it looks like. pretty sad.

[I am Dali]

Julian, sorry to have to rain on your picnic, but you're wrong.

Saying there's people angry about "Happy Holidays" is like saying there's people who support Lyndon LaRouche's presidential campaign. Yeah, some people exist. But: nobody cares. At large, nobody cares. No one.

"I think it's as silly to take christianity out of christmas, as to take shinto out of matsuri. Why do it? The festival isn't more inclusive just because it's hiding its origins."

Who's trying to take christianity out of christmas? NOBODY. This isn't about christmas, Julian. We're not talking about the the "festival." We're talking about commerce. It's about what simple MESSAGE a retail store will choose to use during THE WINTER HOLIDAY SEASON.

Nobody's taking "christianity" out of christmas, or hiding any origins of anything, by saying "Happy Holidays." On the contrary, they're saying something short and sweet and that's inclusive of a whole range of different customs during the winter season.

Nobody's stopping christians, and none of this has ANYTHING to do with what people believe, or what they practice. It simply has to do with the PUBLIC BANNER MESSAGE that retail outlets will adopt this time of year.

That's the whole point, Julian. Only a fool would think that the message "Happy Holidays" is some kind of attack or short-changing, or "hiding", of Christmas/Christianity. It's freaky to even have to consider that a group of people expect the commercial and public sphere to reinforce their personal conception of the winter holiday season. If somebody expects retail stores to make much ADO about their own personal religion or customs, they got problems. This is only a controversy if you're a weirdo, frothing at the mouth, with fantastical delusions of being some kind of victim.

By the way, "Christianity" got taken out of Christmas a long time ago, at least in America. In case you haven't noticed. Kind of like Easter.

Ya think people were sticking presents underneath CONIFEROUS TREES in the middle of arabia? Or that a man-sized bunny delivered chocolates and painted eggs to Jesus to help him come back from the dead?

And do you think Jesus died on December 25th, our calendar? Get over it.

[Chris]

Well, with all this talk of the religious or non-religious aspects of Christmas, I thought I'd just mention that Chibi-Robo has a US release date of February 2006. Just in time for the post-Christmas pick-me-up season (aka, the heart of winter).

I know Mari has mentioned this game several times in blog entries, and it's finally going to reach the US! Here's the link to the US site: http://cube.ign.com/objects/550/550539.html

AS boingboing states, it "sounds very promising." Go Chibi-Robo, go!

Chris

[Claire (クレア）]

It seems to me that Buddhist rites are associated with solemn times and Shinto rites are associated with happy times in Japan. This is my shallow gaijin viewpoint based on what I saw of everyday life (including my host father's younger brother's death and funeral and the numerous preparations in July associated with Gion Matsuri in Kyoto).

I am not a religious person per se, but I enjoy visiting temples and shrines in Japan. There is a special feeling of stillness I find there, even amongst crowds. And I believe that kamisama will answer one's prayers if asked respectfully and with an open heart. There is power in those places; I can't explain it, but I can feel it, much more than any church I have attended.

There is one group in the US that is making a fuss about "Merry Christmas" and is attempting a boycott; however, they don't seem to be making much headway. This group is one of the "vocal minority" who just want to cause a stir about something which many don't care about. "Happy Holidays" is indeed more inclusive and less offensive. George Bush's holiday card was reproduced in Business week--it said "Happy Holidays" and not "Merry Christmas"! Why? To be inclusive, since it was being sent to all kinds of people...

[Julian Morrison]

Disagreed with "I am Dali". Some people do see it as a controversy, and are quite angry.

Even though I'm nearly an atheist, I think it's as silly to take christianity out of christmas, as to take shinto out of matsuri. Why do it? The festival isn't more inclusive just because it's hiding its origins.

Shinto is one of my favourite religions. I think it's unfair to say Japanese people are unserious about religion. More like, the shinto attitude that holiness is normal and many things can be holy, allows them to relate to more than one religion without becoming attached to details.

[I am Dali]

esther has OVER-RATED the seriousness of the situation.

there is no controversy. if you listen to Bill O'Reilly, an idiot on television, he'll say there's a CONTROVERSY, PEOPLE ARE ANGRY!

but nobody cares. honestly. the stores choose "Happy Holidays" because it's simply more inclusive. it includes everyone. it's usually never a response to complaints, it's just a pro-active choice on the part of the marketers. it's an acknowledgment of the diversity. "Happy Holidays" is short and simple, compared to five separate slogans.

if you talk to store marketers and management, that's what they'll tell you.

nobody has ever gotten mad about ads and promotions that aren't relevant to Kwanza.

and most minority groups don't come to the country expecting to get each of their own particular cultural idioms catered to. furthermore, most people don't think a "Merry Christmas" message assumes that they celebrate christian holidays. nobody's upset about it.

there's no controversy.