Christmas in Japan - It's Older Than You May Think!
No Turkey? No Problem!
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Christmas in Japan is a fascinating twist on Western traditions. Readers may know about how Colonel Sanders, the founder and frontman to the popular fast-food chicken chain KFC, came to dominate Christmas in Japan in the late eighties with a successful TV campaign that created the now renown "tradition" of eating fried chicken for Christmas. This unique feature of Japan's Christmas celebrations is allegedly a result of Okawara, "the enterprising manager of the first KFC in Japan", overhearing an expat lamenting the lack of turkey during the festive season. Turkey remains a rarity in Japan and thus chicken became to the go-to for what would become a popular past-time for the Japanese over the Christmas season.
Christmas Cakes
While the national obsession with KFC may be a feature of this holiday exclusive to Japan, it does share many similarities with other countries but with their own Japanese twist. Christmas cakes, popular in English-speaking countries such as the UK, also make an appearance throughout the season in Japan, albeit garnished more with cream and fruit than marzipan and icing sugar found in the British variation.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
They have remained a popular mainstay of celebrations in Japan since as early as 1910 (Sok, 2022). You may have heard how the term “Christmas cake” took on an additional meaning in Japan, referring to a woman who remains unmarried past the age of twenty-five (referencing Christmas Day) with the idea that they have become “stale” (Wiseman, 2004). This negative connotation has faded over time and is now not often heard in Japanese society.
Illuminations
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Winter illuminations are everywhere throughout late autumn and winter months. Though not overtly Christmassy, many of the larger illuminations displayed in commercial hubs often don the popular Christmas colors and motifs that are recognizable to everyone. These are a popular feature amongst couples, but don't feel intimidated if you want to go alone or with your friends! Check out some of the most popular spots to view these impressive illumination displays.
Gift-giving
Japanese gift-giving is thoughtful and frequent. They have their own cultural events and occasions for giving, even if it’s a simple souvenir (known in Japanese as “Omiyage”) from a recent trip to a neighboring prefecture or a business trip. Christmas, however, is not an event that the Japanese will habitually exchange gifts in the same way as many western cultures do.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
I have always considered Christmas closer to the Western Valentine’s Day, when couples will give each other presents. It’s possible that families are now adopting the act of giving presents to children but it has yet to really take hold in Japan, and there is still a long way to go before reaching Western levels.
A History of Christmas in Japan
But Christmas is not all cakes, illuminations and presents. As Bart Simpson quipped, the "true meaning" of Christmas is not the presents but "the birth of Santa" (The Simpsons, 1997). While obviously a joke, it does highlight the often-forgotten religious side to this holiday. Japan's Christians make up a mere 1% of Japan's population, so it may be safe to assume that the religious aspect is overlooked, if not completely unknown, resulting in a secular holiday closer to the commercialized side of Christmas found in many western countries today; it's less about celebrating a miraculous birth and more about getting the newest iPhone.
Long before Japan's first Christmas cake, it is believed that the first ever Christmas celebration took place in Yamaguchi prefecture in 1552 (Sakurai, 2016). A far-cry from the heavily commercialized and consumerist Christmases of the modern day, it was a much more solemn affair with a natural focus on celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.
The history of Christianity in Japan is complex and often violent, particularly around the turn of the Edo period (1603 - 1868) when the Japanese shogunate took control of the country, taking a strong dislike to outsiders and religions that directly threatened Japan's preferred religious practices found in Buddhism and Shintoism. Those interested in the history of Christianity in Japan are encouraged to read Shusaku Endo's novel "Silence" or watch the film of the same name directed by Martine Scorsese to get snapshot of what life may have been like for Christians during this time.
Christmas Celebrations Across Japan
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Thankfully, Christians are no longer persecuted in the modern day, and there are religious services held all over Japan.
For those seeking the religious side of the holiday, we have compiled a handy list of some churches across the country who will be holding mass and the Eucharist in both English and Japanese.
Make sure to check out their websites for the most up-to-date information. We hope that you all enjoy the winter season and have a Merry Christmas!
Tokyo
St. Ignatius Catholic Church (Yotsuya)
- Dec 24: Candlelight service (19:00, Japanese + sign language); multiple Masses including 23:00 in English.
- Dec 25: Masses at 6:00, 7:30, 9:00, 10:30, 12:00 (English), 13:30 (Spanish), 18:00.
Tokyo Franciscan Chapel Center (Roppongi)
- Dec 24: Children’s Mass (16:00 English), Japanese Mass (18:00), Carols (20:30), English Mass (21:00).
- Dec 25: English Masses at 8:00, 10:00, 12:00, 18:00; Japanese Mass at 7:00.
St. Paul International Lutheran Church (Idabashi/Kudanshita)
- Dec 24: Candlelight service, English (16:30); Dec 25: Traditional English service (10:30).
St. Alban’s Anglican-Episcopal (Kamiyacho)
- Dec 24: Sermon, choir, children’s play (18:00, 21:00, 23:00).
- Dec 25: 10:00 service.
Tokyo Union Church (Omotesando)
- Dec 24: Family concert (15:30), caroling (17:00), candlelight services (19:30, 21:30).
- Dec 25: Festive worship (11:00).
- Dec 8, 15, 22: Bilingual services at 10:15 & 11:30 offering carols, messages, kids’ programs, Santa photo booths.
Nagoya
Lifehouse Nagoya (Space 7 ban)
- Dec 1, 8, 15, 22: Bilingual Christmas services at 10:15–11:30 with messages, carols, kids’ booth, party, and Santa visit.
- Dec 24: Christmas Eve service (18:00–19:00), curated for a cozy reflection space; refreshments provided.
- Traditional Christmas service with carols and children’s program (date TBD, usually mid-December).
Kyoto
Lifehouse Kyoto (Nakagyo-ku, WITH YOU Bldg.)
- Dec 15 & 22: Bilingual services at 11:00 with carols, kids' crafts, Santa, language exchange.
St. Agnes Anglican International Church
- Dec 25: English communion service at 9:00.
- Regular English Eucharist at 8:30 on Sundays.
- Offers English-only services year-round; check for special Christmas events.
References
Japan Guide (n.d.) Christmas in Japan. Available at: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2298.html (Accessed: 12 November 2025).
Sakurai, J. (2016) Japan’s first Christmas. Available at: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2016/12/24/lifestyle/japans-first-christmas/ (Accessed: 12 November 2025).
Sok, E. (2022) Christmas Cakes in Japan: An Affectionate History. Available at: https://savvytokyo.com/christmas-cakes-in-japan-an-affectionate-history/ (Accessed: 11 November 2025).
Wiseman, P. (2004) ‘No sex please - we’re Japanese’, USA TODAY. Available at: https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/2004-06-02-japan-women-usat_x.htm (Accessed: 7 November 2025).
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