Tokyo's Marunouchi district is lit up for the Christmas season about six weeks earlier than usual. Naka-dori was lit up on Monday night to coincide with the opening of the renovated Tokyo Station Building and also to welcome the hundreds of VIPs coming to Tokyo for next week's IMF and World Bank meetings. The illumination will run through early February.
© Japan TodayChristmas in Marunouchi
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Vernie Jefferies
I seen a few places here in Tokyo where they never take down those type of lights on the trees.
Tom Thompson
understand that Xmas has been commercialized long before i was born, but this definately crosses the "tacky" line
philly1
Darkness comes early in the day in Japan. The way that Japan does "light up" of gardens, streets, and shopping areas during its darkest months brings a new liveliness to business and public areas. People come out to view the lights instead of cocooning in their small apartments. This brings business into the area as they eat, drink and shop in the vicinity. All good for the struggling economy. October does seem a bit early; however, a special event is involved in this case.
To someone whose Christmas traditions are outside Japan and set in snow-laden rural areas the Christmas light-up might seem off-key. That said, the meaning of Christmas is only what individuals and their families, whether secular or people of faith, bring to it. That can vary widely within families and corners of the globe in which they live.
Personally, I love it for its creative defiance of the rhythms of the solar system. Whether we light a single Advent candle every Sunday four Sundays before Christmas (the solstice), build bonfires or light up our cities, we say, "Ha! You are plunging us into darkness? We'll fix you! We have fire. Let there be light."
From primitives around bonfires to modern man's most vibrant cities, the human response is the same. In the face of darkness we emulate the gods and create light.
HollisBrown
erm...are we not saving energy anymore? It doesn't surprise me how quickly the serious issues are forgotten though. Seriously - SIX weeks early - when everyone is being encouraged to cut down on their energy usage. I don't care if it's due to the reopening of Tokyo Station. It's unnecessary.
lucabrasi
To be fair, the lights aren't there for Christmas, as is explained below the photo. The headline's misleading.
Elbuda Mexicano
I do not see any X mas lights here, all I see is pretty lights, and they represent HOPE! Just remember driving out to Narita International airport last year, picking up international volunteers from all over the world, getting them ready to take chartered buses up to Fukushima to the earthquake and tsunami disaster areas, it was so DARK!! Surreal to see down town Tokyo, Japan all DARK! Now, we have lights!! Let there be light!! HOPE!
JDB829
I'm in the US. The first week of September, I was in a local "Dollare Store", and behold, tucked way back in the corner were wrapping paper, tinsel, and various other Christmas items. Things are no different there (in Japan) than they they are here. COMMERCIALISM reigns supreme! Gotta get the few yen (bucks) that are available while the getting is good! It is a nice shot, though!
lucabrasi
Just like back home in England, then.
Dennis Bauer
No, no, not christmas lights, Autumn lights, it brings out the red in the leaves!
lostrune2
Canada has its won Thanksgiving, which is this coming Monday.
alliswellinjapan
This whole thing is getting crazier each year. Thought J-people were supposed to be one of the most sensitive people in the world when it comes to seasonal changes, but this should mark the end of such groundless J-pride?
Maria
One thing Japan has in common with the rest of the world except the US - we don't celebrate American Thanskgiving Day.
skipbeat
The local department stores already have Christmas trees and ornaments on display and for sale a few weeks ago. What happened to Thanksgiving Day? Department stores start Christmas earlier every year.
borscht
You took them down?!
JeffLee
So next week, I'll put up my Shogatsu ornaments.
That is a cool street, though.
smithinjapan
They meant to decorate extremely early for Hallowe'en but messed up their approriation of Western festivities.
Robert Dykes
Energy saving?
basroil
Come on... everyone knows you wait until after turkey day to put up Christmas things.
Virtuoso
Sigh. I can remember about this time a year ago when Japanese were making all kinds of efforts to reduce their electric power usage so they could rid themselves of the nuclear menace...
TSRnow
I don't know how it was in previous years, but I hear that autumn is a bit late this year becuase of the summer heat. Still, yes it's far too early for christmas lights. The leaves are still very green!
paulinusa
A bit of retail but not much else in Marunouchi, so I guess this is mostly for the bankers and financial types.
herefornow
From October 3rd to early February, and their called "Chrstmas Lights". Leave it up to the Japanese to extend holidays, which have no significance to them anyway, to suit their needs.
my2sense
why don't you just put some pumpkins, ghosts and witch hats out too. Combine all this with Santa and reindeers and elfs and valentine hearts... sugoi ne.. so creative. And see what kind of business scams we can come up with too while promoting energy conservation.
KariHaruka
I love Christmas however this is way too early. Its only the start of October! Lets enjoy the autumn foliage first aye?
ka_chan
Way too early for the "Christmas season". It's just odd.
Maria
Why do they have to be called Christmas lights? I think these would make a really pretty all-year-round decoration to trees running along the boulevards of cities in Japan - they are an uplifting sight any time of year.