Christmas Eve is supposed to be the biggest date night of the year in Japan. Some singles without plans may be feeling emboldened because of a recent survey in which 55 percent of the unattached Japanese women polled said that they’d be willing to accept a Christmas Eve date invitation from anyone with the confidence and courage to ask, but a separate poll from another organization shows some less flowery emotions may be at play.
Wedding planning Internet portal Wedding Park conducted a survey of women between the ages of 20 and 39, asking them what they think of the concept of a “Christmas Eve-only boyfriend,” or, in other words, going out with a guy on Christmas Eve even if they don’t feel like they’re going to want to see him again after that.
Out of the 253 responses received, roughly one in four women said they could see themselves going out with a Christmas Eve-only boyfriend, with 9.1 percent saying “definitely.” Agreeing in a less enthusiastic manner, 30.4 percent said they’d also be OK accepting an invitation from a guy on the unilateral presumption that it’s going to be a one-time-only deal.
However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that these women are simply using the holiday season as a means to an end to satisfy their cravings for attention and pampering. When asked why they’d be OK going out with a Christmas Eve-only boyfriend, more than one woman’s response contained positive sentiments and even-headed logic. “I could go out with a Christmas Eve-only boyfriend if it would help us both not feel lonely. Maybe a romance would even develop between us after that,” said one woman in her early 20s. “If we have fun together, and it feels romantic, that’d be great,” chimed in another respondent in her early 30s.
So while that first date might be a Christmas miracle, it sounds like anything after that is going to depend on legitimate chemistry and mutual attraction.
Source: Wedding Park
Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Japanese women in survey reveal surprisingly low hurdle men have to clear to get a Christmas date -- Japanese guys way more enthusiastic about moving in with girlfriends than vice-versa, survey says -- How much do Japanese girls expect their boyfriends to spend on Christmas presents?
© Japan Today
67 Comments
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turbotsat
Someone mentioned just such a date on another thread today. 'Met in izakaya, love hotel Chrismas Eve, never saw her again', or something like that.
Matthew Simon
And they wonder why the population is going down. Try having real relationships.
samwatters
"Agreeing in a less enthusiastic manner, 30.4 percent said they’d also be OK accepting an invitation from a guy on the unilateral presumption that it’s going to be a one-time-only deal."
Sounds like prostitution wrapped in tinsel.
MarkX
I think it is rather sad that there is a kind of pressure put on people to have a boyfriend/girlfriend on Christmas Eve! Just another way that the holiday has been changed here, and not for the best. Why don't they get together with a group of friends, go out, eat drink and be merry, which is much more of the Christmas spirit, than going to a French restaurant, and then heading to a love hotel.
kurisupisu
The societal norm to have a one night stand on the 24th December? Shouldn't they be in church praying?
Alfie Noakes
Clickbait prole drivel, adcom for Wedding planning Internet portal Wedding Park. Gold. Is this part of Cool Japan?
sensei258
If it's only one night, HTF can you call him a boyfriend? Sounds more like a customer
FightingViking
They seem to have got their dates (pun intended) mixed up... Try staying with your immediate family on Christmas Eve (and Christmas day) and keep your "romantic date" for 14th February... ('White day" doesn't exist...)
Fred Wallace
Lol, probably because not everyone adheres to bronze age mythology.
Strangerland
Why would they be doing that?
Christmas isn't a family holiday here, it's a couples holiday. The family holiday is New Year's Eve/day.
sensei258
Why would they be doing that?
You're right Strangerland. We should pray all the time. It's not necessary to be inside a certain.structure
Mike L
sensei258
It won't.
Strangerland
Very sexist attitude. Who says she's not the customer?
Why would we do that?
CruisinJapan
Christmas is really just another Valentine's day for Japan.
It's no surprise that women (or men for that matter) would feel lonely and left out when people here put so much emphasis on having a romantic Christmas date. It's the same thing on Valentine's day around the world.
My only question is: so what?
Maria
A whole bunch of people here who seem to know little about Japan, and who hold its people to far different standards than their own compatriots. As if one night stands are unknown outside of Japan, as if people all over the world haven't been abusing the whole idea of Christmas for decades, as if every country has to follow the same cultural habits as your own... As for the sexism - women have a sex drive too, and can get action whenever they choose to, as is perfectly fine and normal.Get a grip, folks.
I hope you all have a Very Merry Christmas Eve, and spend it however you wish to!
no1samurai
Christmas, like most adopted Western "holidays", are commercialized events. They have accepted the fun parts with only a casual nod to the origin/meaning of the holiday. It's all about the $$$...nothing more, nothing less.
FizzBit
Well said Maria. Merry Christmas.
I'll be hanging out with Mr. & Mrs. George Bailey.
Strangerland
Then why do people want to go on dates? If it's all about the money and nothing more, you would only have prostitution.
PTownsend
Is your point that one culture's (maybe subculture of that culture) interpretation and celebration of another culture's interpretation and celebration of another culture's interpretation and celebration of another culture's interpretation and celebration (fractal-ize this back to the original pagan happening) of a seasonal event can be seen as the 'best' interpretation, as better than any others?
Maria
applauds PTownsend furiously and waves tinsel
Strangerland
Well said.
I'll take Christmas in Japan over N. America anytime. It's way more tolerable in Japan.
Mike L
A poster commented yesterday:
"Fried chicken and sex, what's not to like about Xmas in Japan?"
Alfie Noakes
And yet they spend every day pontificating about it on this site...
Except it doesn't seem normal to some of these posters...
nath
Christmas is just a movie
Spanki
Get out there and have fun people!
papigiulio
goldorak
Many on here are taking it too literally. These are not xmas eve 'boyfriends' per se but rather companions. Imo it's not too dissimilar to proms: not all couples are romantically involved before the night, blokes asked girls out cause they have to and am pretty sure some girls reluctantly say yes for fear of ending up alone/uninvited.
Perso I know i would have no probs spending xmas on my own, especially in Japan, but ppl do deal with loneliness differently. Reckon few of those pseudo dates will end up being one night stands.
harajuku_press
And after the sexing of the women by the Christmas boyfriends, the boyfriends, having served their purpose, can be nailed to pieces of wood and set afire in the time-honored Christian tradition as three wise-men pelt them with frankincense, myrrh, and fried chicken.
inkochi
Various discussions, jealousies and libidos in Kochi right now, tending to be female-dominated.
This includes the characteristic local ハチキン hachikin ('8-balled women') who tend to display a bit of that character at this time of year anyway before the annual prep for Japanese New Year gets underway on 25th and the local men continue their famously characteristic drunkenly wanton ways.
That is the image anyway.
Not many Chinese tourist groups come here, so love hotels probably can take the demand surge. Also the only night of the year outside of Yosakoi when hotel rates go up a tiny bit. Maybe a completely different in big cities like Okayama and Takamatsu.
Aly Rustom
With a name like Spanki I'm sure you will!
Wakarimasen
I think this shows a very elfi attitude to Xmas. IKf I were presented with the opportunity I would at least tree to have a Xmas only date. Snow harm in trying, right?
5SpeedRacer5
This is a great article. Happy Holidays everybody.
Nobusaki
Where do I sign up? Hahaha.
MightyMo
harajuku press And after the sexing of the women by the Christmas boyfriends, the boyfriends, having served their purpose, can be nailed to pieces of wood and set afire in the time-honored Christian tradition as three wise-men pelt them with frankincense, myrrh, and fried chicken.
That's hilarious ! Good one !!
Stuart hayward
It's called a ONE NIGHT STAND, not a boyfriend.
wtfjapan
Sounds like prostitution wrapped in tinsel. yeah but its hell of a lot cheaper than marriage.
bass4funk
Christmas in Japan is different from Christmas in Western countries, if the Japanese want to eat KFC, cake and spend time in some Love hotel, I could care less and more power to them. With all the crap going on, everyone could use a bit of love in their lives. I celebrate Christmas in the traditional and Japanese celebrate it in theirs, I'm not going to stress out how they celebrate these holidays, just like on New Years eve, I'll be out partying my butt off, NOT the Japanese way, but it's my way.
Merry Christmas everyone.
no1samurai
@Strangerland....you've been here long enough. You understand what I mean, don't you?
I'm not looking down on their takes of popular western holidays, just making a personal observation.
MsDelicious
From Maria:
I am not sure what you mean. Not sure a woman is appreciated so much when having a period.
Christmas here seems lonely. especially when Hanukah is not close by.
Ripped Dervish
@SenseNotSoCommon ZING! Nice comment!
no1samurai
@SenseNotSoCommon Sure. I guess it includes all the major companies trying to cash in all over the world, doesn't it?
Alex Einz
quite obvious isnt it...
Frederic Bastiat
I'm OK with that. It's their choice. Don't hurt yourselves falling off your high-horses.
theeastisred
At the risk of seeming naive, the article doesn't actually mention anything about sex or love hotels etc. It mentions 'attention and pampering'. I think a lot of people are jumping to conclusions that are not really there.
thepersoniamnow
50% of all women anywhere are ok with a one night date.
Tsuchifumazu
@theeastisred
Yes! Exactly what I was thinking. I read the article a few times to see if I was missing something and realize people are portraying there own fantasies here.
shallots
I honestly have a hard time finding the point to this assemblage of words, phrases, sentences and numbers. I'm drawing a blank here.
lostrune2
Lemme know if y'all want their numbers, lol
Strangerland
No, because I don't agree with you. I don't think it's all about the money "nothing more, nothing less", which is why i pointed out how I think your claim is wrong.
Fair enough, but I disagree with your observation.
John-San
40% off Japanese women. Now that a bargain. Where is the sale?
MikeH
wow! Talk about being desperate! Of course it's good to have someone on Christmas Eve but really doing this kind of one night thing is a new low! There is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying the holy night by yourself... atleast you are not losing your self dignity! If you really need someone on Christmas Eve to be by your side then start looking for that special person and open up your hearts...
thepersoniamnow
The chick in the pic is like...
"Won nighto ONREE!"
fishy
just want to make sure people on this page understand that these women were INTERVIEWED whether they'd be willing. Doesn't mean they actually do it. I bet that most women who said yes would be totally good with hanging out with friends for a party, too!!
SaikoPhysco
Japanese women just want the experience of a Romantic Christmas Eve Dinner. They don't care if it appears shallow and meaningless to others.... because in their heads, for that night, they're part of a romantic drama. They get an idea in their head and become obsessed with it.... they have to try to enact the dream.
Strangerland
Some of them - yes. But it's not absolute, there are many that couldn't care less. Nor is it different than some women in any country dreaming of romance. It's what many/most women dream of. For that matter, it's what many men dream of.
fishy
They?? well, talk about generalization.. I agree with Strangerland... some want a romantic drama, some totally care less.
turbotsat
What happens if they DON'T find a "Christmas Eve boyfriend"?
Will they be stuck at home, listening to the family's queries about "why don't you have a boyfriend"?
fishy
many women (and men) are fine with spending Christmas eve with friends and families, too. they said they are OK with Christmas-eve-only boyfriend but that doesn't mean they actively seek for that option nor would be sad if they don't have one.
again, they were ASKED if they're OK with having a Christmas-eve-only bf.
Andrew Crisp
Agreeing in less than enthusiastic manner - think that pretty much means that there probably mean "No First, Second or Third base"
sakanafish
OK, I'm available......
gaijintraveller
Add Kentucky Fried and it's all finger-licking good.
1glenn
Mutually consenting adults should not be criticized for what they do.
presto345
I had to chuckle at the comments of a number of posters who let their fantasies and imaginations run wild. The article mentions women willing to go on a date, not committing to prostitute themselves. If you read the latter between the lines something is wrong with you.
kurisupisu
@Strangerland
The article states that the 24th is Christmas Eve!
Having sexual intercourse is not the manner in which the birth of Christ should be celebrated
Of course we should be praying on the day -don't you pray?
gelendestrasse
So I hope everybody has a good Christmas whatever you do with it. At least it's on Sunday today - no reason to go to the office at all!
DocCarlos
Why does it only have to be Christmas eve date. Lot of times 1 date only tells if want to pursue. Sometimes friendship happens too, as it does not always meaning a relationship and sexual activities. But 1 is just fine and whatever happens is fate!
mt9334
@presto345, Unfortunately for some of us, it is only in 'fantasies and Imaginations" that we will ever date a Japanese girl. :)