Halloween without kids and Christmas without Christ take hold in Asia, with unique local twists

I find that Christmas in Japan is frustrating and depressing. You get all the build up and anticipation and then it never comes.

I understood Christmas in Japan when I saw a famous donut shop taking down their Christmas decorations at 10:45 on Christmas eve.

I guess , under economical considerations soon also some far away fasting traditions will take hold here unintentionally.

I had that feeling the first xmas I spent here. From then on I decided that it's no use moping around expecting it just to happen for me, it is what I make it.

I like Christmas in Japan for that exact reason. It's what you make of it. It's over-hyped and over-commercialized in the west.

 I see this is written by an American of course . They think the world revolves around them.

I hate to break this to you, but the world doesn't revolve around Ireland either. The article didn't say that Halloween wasn't practiced seriously in obscure corners of the world. It focused on the more common practices the world is familiar with.

I had that feeling the first xmas I spent here. From then on I decided that it's no use moping around expecting it just to happen for me, it is what I make it.

Xmas in Japan is essentially a night out for couples to dress up and go for a date at a nice restaurant. And Xmas is most definitely December 24. December 25 is just a nothing day.

I like Christmas in Japan for that exact reason. It's what you make of it. It's over-hyped and over-commercialized in the west.

I also like the fact Japanese see these foreign festivals like Xmas and Halloween as low key and fun. Certainly no commercialism - and absurd wasting of money as in The West. Xmas decorations are up in shops in The West for 2 months - just ridiculous and all about money.

Well, I would prefer to be in a place that either doesn't have it at all or one where it already has some meaning and magic. So I generally avoid Christmas in Japan. Oshogatsu is even worse: dark and dismal. You have to drink to deal with it, so many people do.

Oshogatsu is even worse: dark and dismal. You have to drink to deal with it, so many people do.

Getting black out drunk on your company/boss' bill is a nice benefit, though!

MoonrakerToday  07:38 am JST

I find that Christmas in Japan is frustrating and depressing. You get all the build up and anticipation and then it never comes.

Whaaat? but that is the traditional Christmass feeling... frustration and drepression!!!. I know, i spent all my fisrt 27 years in Latin america, so aside of couple of years during childhood, other X'mas is spirti is frustration, depression, lonelyness and hopelessness....

See there is the Christmass spirit!!!

I find that Christmas in Japan is frustrating and depressing. You get all the build up and anticipation and then it never comes.

Yes, and the KFC and love Hotels don't really help either, and the next day you wouldn't even know Christmas came.

Whatever its origins, Christmas in Japan is distinctly Japanese. It complements traditional December gift-giving traditions...

Gift-giving is what connects Christmas in Japan and that in West. It is also about love. If you are in love with someone, Christmas makes you feel great. If not, you may feel depressed.

This captures what Christmas is in Japan:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7d_oggBdX4

Often holidays travel most smoothly when reduced to primarily commercial expressions, freed from religious beliefs and national context. After all, one doesn’t need to believe in ghosts to wear a Halloween costume, or in Jesus to buy a Christmas gift.

If one is a fan of perversity then yes but if not,no!