For those friends around the world, I'd like explain what Christmas is like, here in Japan.
Despite the fact the Roman Church and American Puritans failed to convince the Japanese to become Christian (During the Edo era and after WWII), Christmas became a popular event back in the 1950's. Back then, it was much similar to yours, like family dinner, gifts, the tree, and cake and shit. We didn't have the custom to eat Turkey so it was replaced by roasted chicken.
The change took place back in the 1980's. The economy was going insanely bubble-ish, and at that time we discovered to spend money on luxuries. Suddenly the design became more important than the function. Restaurants and bars started to look like the ones that we only used to watch in foreign films and TV dramas. People started to buy whatever the high fucking fashion brands.
The idea of "Young Adults" appeared, and the marketing executives started to exploit this brand new consumers. They did everything they could to convince us that being romantic is more important than anything and the only thing to prove you are a romantic guy is how much money you spend. Welcome to the capitalist's dream.
TV, magazines and those medias went the same direction. Trip to overseas, having a dinner at the fancy restaurant, staying at an expensive hotels, those whatever shit is ultra overly appreciated. Bubble economy was on its top. I was a high school student back then, but kinda making money by working at V-Zone magazine, Japan's very first horror movie magazine, sold small batches of entrails, zombies, and some scar rubber appliance which I made in the Art Club room in high school. They sold well but that's not the point here. At that time I asked a girl to go out for a date, well, she was from a rich fucking classy private school. I took her to dinner, I don't remember how much it costed, and after that we went to a super fancy bar in Shibuya. That bar was underground and had a huge aquarium that covers the whole wall back of the counter. Even some girls were swimming in it I remember. And, I ordered a beer. A SINGLE MOTHERFUCKING BEER and it costed almost $30 in the current rate. It was like that. You can see how crazy that time was.
And it was that time, the meaning of Christmas completely changed in Japan. The media, and the advertisement companies succeeded to transform it from the family thing to a 'romantic event'. It has become now a duty to reserve a fancy hotel room six month before Christmas to 'Spend the special night with your love'. The same for the super expensive stupid restaurants. You couldn't just walk into a love hotel (We are lucky to have them by the way) on the Christmas eve, if not reserved. The Christmas was not a holy night anymore, it is literally the Horny Night here.
As you know, the bubble economy was suddenly gone, and the years of years of depression covered the country. But, as all the civilization does, once you tasted the good wine, you can't go back. Yes, looking around now in Tokyo, we see so many cheap meal franchises growing. It doesn't necessarily mean ALL of us went back to the simple and cheaper life style, hell no. The bipolarization of rich and poor is getting more and more serious. Even though, that brain washingly strong imprinting of the idea of the "Romantic Christmas for lovers" didn't disappear. People are still trapped to that idea and in this season, we see so many fucking miserable motherfuckers trying to 1) be showy and convincing themselves happy and horny, 2) tell people that one doesn't care about it since they have no lover, and by telling people he/she doesn't care it's crystal clear that they are obsessed with that idea too.
So Merry Christmas everyone. The hotels are full tonight here in Japan, and the fancy restaurants too. Poor fuckers make a long line waiting to buy Kentucky Fried Chicken (I'm thinking of go in front of one and take pictures prove it later), and tons of tons of semen will be worthlessly spread on the bellies, on the bed, and in the condoms. Amen.
