Another Christmas in Japan

Written by Billy W on December 24, 2009

In Japan, the Emperor’s birthday (December 23rd) is a holiday, so lots of westerners living here take advantage of the day to have their Christmas celebrations since they’ll likely be working on the 25th.



I have both days off. Well, the 23rd has come and gone already, and Christmas is tomorrow. To be honest, I haven’t thought much of Christmas since I was 20. In my early 20’s, I usually worked jobs that required me to have a Christmas-day shift, and sometimes a graveyard shift at that. Even though I tried to spend a little time with my family on those occasions, I never seemed to feel I was missing out on the holiday that was much more special to me in my schoolboy years.



After moving to Portland, OR when I was 25, I found myself usually joining the big Christmas Eve gathering at my aunt’s and uncle’s house. In those years, I kind of felt reinvigorated with the spirit of the holiday. My aunt would play guitar and sing Christmas songs in her beautiful voice while everyone sang along. Basically, in the middle of the party, there was a candlelit Christmas service for 30 minutes or so. I say was, but they’re still doing it these years.



So, tonight I sit here in my room in south Tokyo thinking about what Christmas means to me. On Christmas Eve in Japan, young couples get together and go out, often to romantic places. The holiday has a Valentine’s Day feel to it. I’m sure if I stepped out into the evening right now, I’d see a fair number of couples going in and out of the local train station. And, even though I’m separated by the largest continent in the world from my special someone, I don’t feel like I’m missing out on Christmas in Japan. Don’t get me wrong, I want to be with her more than anything right now. But, that’s got nothing to do with any holiday.



I do feel like I’m missing out on something else, though. My mother and father, aunts and uncles… They’re not young anymore. How many more chances will there be for us to have Christmas together? I know my mother and father miss me and would love to have me back in the States with them for the holidays.



For so many years, I’ve been able to take a pass on family Christmas gatherings without much guilt or too many feelings of sadness.



This year is different, though. I think I might make a New Year’s resolution about next year’s Christmas.