For the past several decades, Christmas Eve has been the biggest date night in Japan, a time for young lovers to get dressed up, have an elegant dinner at a fancy restaurant, and exchange presents. But for the members of Japan’s Revolutionary Alliance of Unpopular People, Christmas Eve isn’t a time for dating.
Well, considering that the “Unpopular” part of the group’s name in Japanese is himote, a term specifically used to describe someone, usually a man, who’s unpopular in the dating scene, few, if any, nights of the year are a time for dating for the organization’s members. Especially not Christmas Eve, though, because that’s when the Revolutionary Alliance of Unpopular People holds their annual “Crush Christmas” protest. First held in 2007, this year’s protest took place in downtown Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood, as has become tradition.

“This year, we once again crushed Christmas,” declared the Revolutionary Alliance of Unpopular People in an official tweet following the march. “We offer our thanks to those who took part, as well as those who were unable to attend but share our spirit.”
With the organization trumpeting its lonely, dateless status, it’s impossible to completely dismiss the likelihood that resentment towards the romantically successful is a contributing is a motivating factor for the protest. However, one of the marchers, a 37-year old Tokyoite, clarified that he wasn’t protesting happy couples per se. “I do not deny couples’ existence, and I am not opposed to romance. However, I take issue with Christmas being pushed as a time for couples to get all make out-y.”

As with the Revolutionary Alliance of Unpopular People’s other annual event, its Valentine’s Day protest, it’s debatable how much of the event is meant as serious opposition to Japanese dating norms, and how much is just a tongue-in-cheek excuse to have some subversive fun, especially since the image of Christmas as being for couples only has somewhat eroded in recent years. Sure, a nice Christmas date is still seen as a must for most Japanese people currently in a serious dating relationship, but that’s been the case for more than a generation. A lot of those early waves of teenage and twenty-something Christmas daters are now married with children and have transitioned to celebrating Christmas at home as a family, and Christmas parties with platonic friends aren’t unusual either.
And of course, the irony to organizing a regular event for lonely people is that the shared activity creates a social connection of its own. “I hadn’t ever made any fun memories spending Christmas with someone,” said a woman who was a first-time participant in this year’s Revolutionary Alliance of Unpopular People protest. “I didn’t know any of the other people in the march, but it felt good to raise our voices together,” further proving that even if you’re spending Christmas Eve without a date, you aren’t necessarily being forced to spend it alone.
Source: Sankei News via Livedoor News via Jin
Read more stories from SoraNews24.
-- Anti-Valentine’s Day protest march held in Tokyo by Revolutionary Alliance of Unpopular Men【Vid】
-- Japanese fast food chain offers “Lonely Christmas” meal packs for the dateless this December
-- Tokyo restaurant explicitly bans couples from dining on Christmas Eve
© SoraNews24
25 Comments
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opheliajadefeldt
I suppose we could show a little sympathy for them, lets face it, their lives are utterly void of any thing.
SwissToni
Think they do this for Valentine’s Day too. Another unpopular demo with almost no attendees. Bit of a waste of effort really, unless the plan is to get off with each other.
Jeremiah
Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus, who came for all people. He is the reason for the season, and somehow too many in Japan have missed this point. If NHK and the other networks actually celebrated Christmas by informing viewers who Santa Claus represents, the meaning of the Christmas tree, the history of gift giving and so, these people in this article would not be protesting but celebrating with the rest of the world. And the rest of Japan would be finally educated about the King of kings.
Gene Hennigh
Christmas and no pity for these people. Christmas is also about forgiving. What's so bad (especially around christmas) of saying, "I'm lonely." All the negativity and attempts of humor for the posters here are heartless. I'm just as said sad about the heartless posters as I am the people the protesters.
CaptDingleheimer
Looks to me like they're just having a laugh.
smithinjapan
Keep it up. It's no wonder so few young people in Japan are hooking up or want to get married these days with losers like these guys.
Yrral
Japanese man ,this is a line you use to flatter a Japanese woman,write Who took the stars,from the holidays skies,and put them in your beautiful eyes,you are beautiful,you are beautiful,you are
oyatoi
So long as it’s just harmless fun and not a triggering event for desperate and dateless incel types to hurt others. The whole idea of these himote sharing quality commiseration time, as if it’s their preferred status, reeks of cognitive dissonance.
Yrral
Who are really the losers,lots of women dating Japanese men get nothing out of the the relationship, physical or unemotionally ,just maybe a convenient booty call, something any woman do not want to be for any man
tooheysnew
Aaaand…. !!!???
Dr Maybe
There's somewhere a fitting lid for every pot, as we use to say in Germany.
Probably. In 90-odd percent of cases anyway. But if you mope around feeling sorry for yourself all the time, and feel hostility towards other people's happiness, perform crazy stunts like this etc., you're not likely to find that happy ending. Pathetic.
Get off your lazy backsides, show some energy and interest in something, and others might become interested in you!!
Sven Asai
There's somewhere a fitting lid for every pot, as we use to say in Germany. lol
aaronagstring
This is hilarious. Makes me chuckle! To think there are ‘unpopular’ people in the world willing to shout and tell everyone that they are unpopular…..fufufufufu! It’s like something out of The League of Gentlemen….
Dr Maybe
Well said factchecker. I'd like to use harsher language, as you probably would too.
Mark
Must be really hard these days to get attention
factchecker
A sad pathetic little group of losers. No one's forcing you to participate, especially in this country where it's not even a holiday. Just go to work and keep your mouths shut next year.
wallace
There are more important events happening in the world to protest about.
shogun36
I enjoy seeing their choice of background to take their group picture.
They can’t even manage to get the popular areas to take photos.
DanteKH
I agree with them 100%. Japan should stop re-inventimg holidays as it pleases.
Christmas is about Familly time, exchanging presents, etc
Not about romantic dating and KFC junk food.
Should be more opposing this nonsense.
Harry_Gatto
I was going to join but my wife wouldn't let me go.
albaleo
Look on the bright side. It gets them out of the house for a few hours so their mums can clean their rooms.
TheDalaiLamasBifocals
They should be celebrating the real spirit of Christmas. After all they are closer to the Virgin Mary in name and action...or lack of action.
wallace
Crank Pot Party.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Do I see some women in the photo there? Maybe they could declare themselves popular and join in in the festivities?
kyushubill
I know 7 people in that photo who need serious mental health care. Jealousy is very unhealthy and makes you undesirable.