Why Christmas in Japan Feels So Different — Between the Church and the Streets —

Christmas begins the moment Halloween ends

In Japan, Christmas seems to begin almost immediately after Halloween.

One day the streets are filled with pumpkins,
and the next, they are covered in lights, trees, and decorations.

Every year, the speed of this transition makes me smile a little.

The city quickly becomes bright and festive.

And yet, inside the church, Christmas has not quite begun.

(Not yet… just a little longer, please.)

In the church, Christmas begins quietly

In the Catholic Church, Christmas does not arrive all at once.
It begins gently, after a time of preparation.

So even when the streets are already full of Christmas lights and music,
the church can still feel quite ordinary.

This quiet difference creates a small, curious sense of contrast.

In Japan, Christmas ends on the 25th

In Japan, Christmas more or less ends on the 25th of December.

The very next day, everything shifts quickly into New Year mode.

Christmas trees disappear, and traditional New Year decorations begin to appear.

Each year, I cannot help but think:

(That was… rather quick, wasn’t it?)

In the Catholic tradition, the Christmas season continues beyond that day,
so this sudden change can feel a little surprising.

Familiar melodies in unexpected places

There is another small thing that always catches my attention during the Christmas season.

It is the music.

For example, in a television food programme,
a presenter takes a bite of a beautifully prepared dish —
and suddenly a Christmas hymn begins to play.

Or at the moment a particularly luxurious meal appears,
Handel’s Hallelujah chorus fills the background.

(Was that quite the intended use…? I sometimes wonder.)

I have even heard Ave Maria played alongside advertisements
for mobile phone plans.

At that point, I cannot help but feel:

(…that does not feel quite right.)

“Being alone at Christmas” means different things

The idea that “being alone at Christmas feels lonely” seems to exist in many countries.

But the meaning behind it is slightly different.

In many places, Christmas is a time spent with family.
In Japan, however, it is often seen as a day for couples.

So although the same phrase is used,
the feeling behind it is not exactly the same.

Each church has its own Christmas atmosphere

Church decorations at Christmas often reflect the character of the community.

In my parish, many of the decorations are prepared by Filipino members of the congregation.

As a result, the atmosphere becomes bright and lively.

The lights are especially… enthusiastic.

(They blink quite energetically.)

Even within the same faith, it is lovely to see how different cultures bring their own colours to the celebration.

Christmas Mass is unexpectedly full

Another striking thing about Christmas in Japan is the number of people at Mass.

Even at times when attendance is usually modest,
Christmas Mass can become completely full.

Not only regular parishioners, but also people who rarely attend church —
or who are visiting for the first time — come to experience it.

(It can become quite crowded.)

Among them, there are sometimes couples who seem to be enjoying
the romantic atmosphere of Christmas.

Perhaps the quiet beauty of the church makes the moment feel especially special.

…although, now and then, that romantic mood continues even during the Mass itself.

(This is still a Mass… isn’t it?)

A little different, and quietly interesting

When I look at it this way,
Christmas in Japan feels slightly different from the rhythm of the Church.

At first, it can feel a little surprising.

But perhaps this gentle contrast is also part of what makes it uniquely Japanese.

A little unusual, perhaps —
and yet, in its own way, quietly interesting.