Christmas is very big in Japan but they definitely have put their own spin on it. They're very big on decorations and especially lights "illumination" as they call it but it's mostly done by businesses rather than individuals at home, to help promote the spending I guess. There is much eating of cake (not fruitcake) and one of the most bizarre things about Christmas in Japan is that KFC (yes that KFC) has by far its biggest day of the entire year. I have no idea why but that's the way it is. (BTW this absolutely does not apply to any other fast food chain, in case you were wondering.) You actually have to reserve your order days ahead of time and don't even think about just walking in and ordering a three piece with coleslaw, they'll just look at you like you're from another planet with a "don't you know it's Christmas day" face.
Anyway, before this gets too far out of hand I actually just wanted to share one of my favorite Christmas songs with you. This song just happened to come out the year I first went to Japan, 1983. It was wildly popular then and to this day is probably the biggest modern Japanese Christmas song ever.
I have included the Japanese lyrics written in our alphabet so you can follow along phonetically if you like. Even if you don't understand the words, it's just good music I think.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not comparing it to traditional Christmas music, just to all that new stuff we have to put up with in the malls and on the radio these days. In the realm of modern Christmas songs, I think this one more than holds its own.
Here it is,
Christmas Eve by Tatsuro Yamashita
ame wa yofuke sugi ni
yuki e to kawaru darou
silent night holy night
kitto kimi wa konai
hitori kiri no Christmas eve
silent night holy night
kokoro fukaku kimeta omoi
kanaeraresou mo nai
kanarazu konya nara
iesou na ki ga shita
silent night holy night
mada kienokoru
kimi e no omoi
yoru e to furi tsuzuku
machi kado niwa Christmas tree
gin iro no kirameki
silent night holy night
ame wa yofuke sugi ni
yuki e to kawaru darou
silent night holy night
kitto kimi wa konai
hitori kiri no Christmas eve
silent night holy night
2 comments:
Just because I feel this post deserves a comment: KFC is also extremely popular in China but there is not much Christmas celebrating going on there, so probably nothing like in Japan. Krissy and I are hoping someday that you will be our tour guide to Japan.
Thanks for the comment Ray. I'd be glad to show you guys around Japan sometime. That would be a lot of fun.
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