Christmas in Japan

A helpful way to share the gospel in an unchristian culture.

Every year I enjoy the Christmas season in Japan, no not for it’s reminder of home, but for strangely enough the abundance of fried Chicken available everywhere. The legend goes that back in the day KFC ran commercials in Japan telling everyone that Americans eat KFC chicken for Christmas. Fast forward today and it has become a Japanese Christmas tradition. Walk into not just KFC but even any of the convenience stores and you will be able to make a reservation for Christmas chicken.

Another welcomed tradition is the Japanese Christmas cake. No these are not the fruit cakes we grew up with disliking as a child (at least for myself). These are beautiful birthday cakes. Store after store once again offering them for reservation. Surprisingly many Japanese do know that Christmas is Jesus’ birthday so why not a birthday cake on Christmas?

The biggest difference though is not the chicken or cake but the nature of the day itself. It is not a holiday in this country. It is a normal work day. For Japanese Christians seeking to celebrate Christmas this can create some difficulties. Culturally in Japan, unlike the west, Christmas is not a day for family to come together. No one is coming home for Christmas. There may be social Christmas parties but from the many people I have talked to Christmas is a day for dating. In Japan, Shogatsu, New Year’s day is when family come together, make mochi, and eat and drink with friends.

Evangelistic Opportunities

Christmas provides a great opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the Japanese. Each year at the high school I teach at I am asked to explain the Christmas story to the students. American friends have commented that in their country this might not be possible but in Japan this is welcomed cultural exchange. Actually Japan might be more open to learning about Christmas than many people in the west. The stores play classic Christmas songs not afraid to speak of Christ our saviour being born.

One helpful way to share the gospel during Christmas is to use the Christmas tree. Often when sharing the gospel in Japan speaking of God in a general way is not helpful. In Japan there are many gods/spirits. You have to start at the beginning with the creator God. At the same time the concept of sin against God is also difficult in Japan. Once again going back to the beginning with the story of Adam and Eve can be helpful. Thankfully a Christmas tree provides this opportunity. A Christmas tree is an image of two biblical stories coming together. The star on top is, of course, speaking of Jesus’ birth, but the tree itself comes from the garden of Eden. It is the paradise tree. As Francis Weiser helpfully explains in his Christmas Book (available here) the tradition of the Christmas tree came out of the practise of medieval plays. On Christmas Eve the church would perform the story of Adam and Eve, taking a tree with green leaves (evergreen), decorating it with forbidden fruit, and wrapping a snake around it’s branches… etc. The story would end with the promise of the child to be born who would crush the serpent. The next day the Church would celebrate Christmas (the star on the tree) and the birth of the promised Child.

What a helpful symbol of Christmas to share the gospel in Japan. In one place we can move from Genesis to Jesus!