Japan Culture

Japan's Golden Week is Coming

Japan's Golden Week is Coming
Japan's Golden Week is coming soon.
That's one of the long consecutive holidays we have.
It is longer if it meets Saturday and Sunday, but basically it is from around April 29 to May 5. A few holidays are concentrate is the period.
We have "Showa Day" on April 29, "Constitution Memorial Day" on May 3, "Greenery Day" on May 4, and "Children's Day" on May 5. If the holidays overlap with Sunday, the following Monday will be holiday. We have consecutive holidays around that period usually, and it is called Golden Week in Japan.
Of course there are some people still need to work. Supermarket is still working. However, most people can have consecutive holidays so tourist spot will be crowded with people, hard to move a step.
Other long consecutive holidays in Japan included Obon Festival in Summer and the New Year holidays in Winter. Even though they are "long consecutive holidays", they maybe less than a week, not many holidays actually.
If you will visit Japan, you better avoid those periods, so that you can enjoy the journey more comfortably. But special events always take place during those periods, so you need to choose.
Such consecutive holidays are adult problem. Students have more, namely Summer holidays, Winter holidays and Spring holidays.
Many anime or manga in Japan have story about these consecutive holidays, you better keep that in mind.

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Christmas in Japan

Christmas in Japan
Today I want to talk about Christmas in Japan.
Christmas in Japan is from December 24 to 25.
I think that's the same for other countries.
That's right...
December 24 is Christmas Eve, the main event in Japan. Christmas on December 25 is just a bonus for Japanese.
Bonus...
Originally that's a day of celebration for Jesus Christ and Christianity, but here in Japan that is another story.
It's just a day for event huh.
Moreover, for common people, it becomes a special day for lovers. A day to confess your love, have a gorgeous dinner and spend a night at hotel.
Shops would provide some "Christmas Plan" and there are decoration everywhere. As visitors increase, hotels would raise their price during Christmas.
Supermarket is full of cake and chicken. Many people like to have dinner outside, but home party is another common activity.
Nothing to do with Christmas.
Many Japanese don't have a religion. Or if they do, they're not so care about it.
That's true...
Not only lovers but that's a day for family meeting also. Dinner outside or home party mentioned before are common.
And there is one more event for families that have kids.
You mean placing the Christmas presents beside children's pillow after they sleep huh. Children would find their gift from Santa Claus when they wake up. Of course bought by parents though.
That's all for December 24. And December 25 is a day of "closing accounts".
You know supermarket can't place those Christmas stuff in the shop after Christmas, so there will be a big sale. That's why people think 24 is the main event and 25 is bonus.
December 25 is a good day to buy cheap food.
Christmas is too close to the New Year holidays in Japan, so people just shift to New Year mood rapidly. Anyway, Christmas in Japan has lost its original meaning and become a mere event especially for lovers.
That's a useful knowledge to understand Japanese manga and anime.
That's all for Christmas in Japan. Just get an idea.

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