‘Merii Kurisumasu!’: How Japan celebrates Christmas

As the Christmas holidays draw near, Western traditions as we know them may take different shapes and forms around the world. 

And in the Land of the Rising Sun, turkey might even turn into… fried chicken.

Here are some of the most relevant traditions and customs surrounding the Christmas period in Japan – with a few surprises ahead. 

Culture over religion

Although religious affiliation is an uncommon notion in Japan, the vast majority of the country’s population practices Shinto and Buddhism. Only 1% of the population is Christian. 

So why is Christmas celebrated in the country? 

The reason is more of a cultural one, with Western Christmas traditions having been imported into Japan gradually over the last few centuries. 

Japanese people enjoy the lights, decorations and Christmas markets during this time of the year, turning the holidays into a social affair to spend with friends and partners. 

And while Christmas Day is usually a regular working day for most people (with schools and offices staying open), Christmas Eve is when the real magic happens.

On this charming evening, couples exchange classy gifts and go out to eat in fancy restaurants – with no family time in sight.

This is because Christmas Eve is considered to be the most romantic day of the year in Japan, with couples celebrating their own Valentine’s Day with lovely dates and presents. 

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Fried chicken and strawberry shortcake

Maybe the most famous among Japan’s Christmas traditions, American food chain KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) literally becomes a sensation over the holidays. 

An estimated 3.6 million people eat KFC’s fried chicken for Christmas, with many ordering their delicious buckets weeks in advance and queuing for hours to collect them. 

The popular tradition seems to find its roots in a Christmas marketing campaign that KFC launched in the early 70s, called ‘Kentucky For Christmas’.

Legend has it that Takeshi Okawara, the manager of Japan’s first KFC store, overheard a couple of tourists yearning for how they would have loved to have turkey for Christmas, a type of meat difficult to come by in the country. 

50 years later, the many KFC stores in the country struggle to keep up with customers, with December 24th being KFC Japan’s busiest day by far, having 10 times more customers than usual. 

This tasty meal is often followed by the popular ‘kurisumasu keeki’, or Christmas cake, a light sponge cake topped with whipped cream and fresh strawberries. 

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The importance of Oshōgatsu

The real winter holiday for Japanese people is New Year’s, Oshōgatsu, where families finally come together to spend quality time, reflect on the year about to end and prepare to welcome the new one. 

Houses are cleaned and decorated for good luck, traditional food is prepared and consumed, and businesses and offices finally close for multiple days. 

And at midnight on December 31st, Buddhist temples ring their bells 108 times, each for the 108 earthly desires (bonnō). 

This event is so popular that it is often broadcast on TV and on the radio. And by the time the last bell has rung, you will be purified, cleansed and ready for the new year. 

Then, from January 1st, families visit their local temples, often wearing traditional clothes, and express their wishes for the next 365 days. 

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