Click the button below to learn more about our online Japanese classes for adults (general, business, travel, or JLPT preparation). The first recorded Christmas in Japan was a Mass held by Jesuit Missionaries in Yamaguchi Prefecture in 1552. Nevertheless, the Japanese culture does have Christian presence. #2. If you have a partner, you are expected to spend time with them, have a special romantic dinner, and exchange special presents. Here you go. Christmas presents given to girls are mainly consist Teddy Bears, flowers, scarves, rings and other jewelry items. Antique Victorian Japanese Snow Covered Temple And Pine Trees Scene Christmas Season Winter Solstice Holiday 5x7 Greeting Card. Various kinds of Christmas cards are available online or at shops in Japan. Do not step in for a handshake, a hug, or even a friendly clap … That’s not to say they don’t exist, but they’ve usually been limited in number and lacking in creativity. メリークリスマス (merii kurisumasu) is a loan phrase from English. More importantly, people would only send Christmas cards to a special person or a boyfriend/girlfriend (as previously mentioned, it is equivalent to Valentine’s Day). Couples usually have a romantic date on Christmas Eve. However, if you ask the locals in Japan what the typical Christmas food is, the majority would most likely reply that it is Kentucky fried chicken. And as a matter of fact, those rules are much more rigid in Japan than in America. Over $100. Christianity was banned throughout Japan in 1612. In Japan, holiday-goers do not send postcards. Now you know how to say Merry Christmas in Japanese. On December 24 evening, in particular, young Japanese couples celebrate in declaring their love, ... Christmas cakes and greeting cards are often sold as early as the end of summer in konbini. A Christmas Greeting from Bach Collegium Japan Jason Victor Serinus | Dec 22, 2018 Although I'm far more of a "Happy Holidays" audiophile than anything else, the prospect of a high-resolution Christmas-themed recording from Masaaki Suzuki and his superb Bach Collegium Japan led me to their new hybrid SACD issue from BIS, Verbum caro factum est: A Christmas Greeting (BIS-2291). From shop VintageImagesUK. The title of the song means “my boyfriend/girlfriend is Santa Claus”. In Japan, New Years is the time where families get together, have a meal, pray, and send greeting cards. If this year is your first Christmas in Japan, you might be a little surprised (or even confused) at some of the traditions you witness. That’s right. new year wish Wish ... CHARLIE BROWN BIRTHDAY coca cola coke cola cancer ribbon exam greetings... card exam wishes house warming cards sweet sixteen 123 greetings … 1. This phrase loosely translates into English as “How are you feeling today?” Merry Christmas in Japanese – メリークリスマス！ This is an easy one. KFC provides several different Christmas special menus. (1,606) 1,606 reviews. The tradition of eating クリスマスチキン (Christmas chicken) instead of turkey is also strange. Just as the meaning of stockings didn’t quite make it to … Some young people tend to exchange texts with friends such as “Meri-Kuri (メリクリ)”, which is the shortened form of “Merii Kurisumasu (メリークリスマス/Merry Christmas)”. When I started talking about Christmas songs in Japan, I could not help thinking about  “Kurisumasu Kyaroru No Koro Niwa (クリスマスキャロルの頃には)” by Junichi Inagaki as well. (#2 will make you love Japanese Santa )! You’ll need these phrases for the Holiday season if you’re a Japanese learner. In summary, Christmas is more of a commercial event than a religious holiday in Japan. Now that you know how to say Merry Christmas in Japanese, here’s another good Christmas phrase for you to know. In Japan, greetings are given great importance. 15% Off with code ZWEDDINGPLAN. Including "Happy New Year!" Free exam ecards E-cards, exam ecards Greeting Cards, exam ecards ... christmas miss you Miss u. Although the 23rd of December is a national holiday, it has nothing to do with Christmas, in fact, it is the present emperor’s birthday. Many restaurants and hotels are booked out for this reason. Just like you would probably say “Excuse me, sir” to your boss in America instead of “Hey, man!” there are also rules for formality in Japan. The Tree is Lonelier than Charlie Brown’s. Hope this note finds you well and staying healthy. Have a happy New Year! Japanese Christmas Greetings There is only one way to say “Merry Christmas” in Japanese, and it sounds about the same as it would in English! I wish you all a very メリークリスマス and 良いお年を！. Winter illuminations are not necessarily … Yes, Christmas is celebrated in Japan, but not how you would expect it to be. Just like the image below, which shows Santa Clauses and the bullet train (shinkansen). You can only say this before the clock strikes January 1st, 12:00AM. You should also listen and hear real Japanese – Press play below. Additionally, according to Hideyo Konagaya, in a Christmas stripped of its religious meaning, the cake was still seen as a moment of celebration, a dish to be shared together with the family in a convivial and joyous moment. Christmas tree in Japan. Osaka Castle itself is a beautiful sight, yet during the Christmas period, it … These Japanese greetings and good-byes will quickly become second nature because you use them day in and day out with everyone you come across. Click here for more ideas on how to celebrate Christmas in Japan. $25 to $50. Otherwise, very helpful. In fact, Christmas Eve is a more important time for couples than Christmas day. Learn Japanese on Twitter: Top 10 Accounts to Follow, Top 10 Korean Phrases for Holidays, Christmas, New Years, Free Audio Lesson form JapanesePod101.com (click here to visit), https://www.linguajunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/holiday.mp3, JapanesePod101.com – where you can learn Japanese online with lessons and apps, Sign up for free at JapanesePod101 (click here). Let's learn it and use it today. . in your Christmas card is culturally appropriate. P.S. How would you say Merry Christmas in Japanese? This piece is no exception. Please note that people greet each other by bowing in Japan. In Japan, everyone wishes another 'Meri Kurisumasu', meaning "Merry Christmas", during Christmastime. It was happening in the Southwest sky, rather close to the horizon, just as … The song was originally performed by Yumi Matsutoya, nicknamed “Yuumin”, an important figure in Japanese popular music and is well known for her distinctive voice and energetic live performances. The idea of celebrating Christmas took hold in Japan during the 1950s, a period of renewal and reconstruction. Learn Japanese greeting phrases which are used in everyday life. This will take you 3 minutes! Want to know how to write and say Happy Hanukkah in Japanese? I highly recommend this for Japanese learners. That means there’s a second way to say “Happy New Year” in Japanese, right after it becomes a new year. Today, it's a colloquial greeting used by anyone, but it can be part of the more formal greeting: Konnichi wa gokiken ikaga desu ka? This dessert is light and spongy with whipped cream filling and frosting, topped with perfectly cut deep red strawberries. When traveling in Japan, the words and phrases you’ll use most frequently will be the common Japan greetings (gashi). Christmas in Japan is about Illuminations and Decorations. In Japan, it is customary to order a Christmas cake in advance and enjoy it together as a family on Christmas eve, following the KFC. 15% Off with code ZWEDDINGPLAN. If you ask your Japanese friends to list their favorite Japanese Christmas songs, I guarantee you that this one will also be on their list. Although the 23 of December is a national holiday, it has … My Christmas greeting this year comes to you from Tokyo, Japan. How do you say "Merry Christmas" and "Happy New Year" in Japanese? If you REALLY want to learn Japanese with effective lessons by real teachers – Sign up for free at JapanesePod101 (click here) and start learning!– The Main Junkie. Osaka Castle Illumination. 10. New Year. (1,136 Results) Price ($) Any price. Even if you do not have a special person to spend time with, you probably want to spend time with friends- especially on Christmas Eve. Or people might send one to friends and family members who live overseas as season’s greetings. Christmas in Japan is a special time for couples, just like Valentine’s day. We've got the answers to these and all your other burning questions about Japanese holiday traditions, plus essential Japanese holiday vocabulary. For a more authentic way of greeting around this time of the year, you will hear that the locals say “Yoi Otoshi o! Survival Japanese: How To Eat Like A Local In Japan, Learn To Sing These Popular Chinese Christmas Songs, 7 Things You Need To Know About New Year In Japan, © 2020 Asian Language School. However, New Year's greeting postcards, or nengajō (年賀状), are a tradition similar to Christmas cards in the West. 1. And thus, this is used when the New Year begins, to wish people to have a great new year. There are many theories about why the custom took off in Japan, the dominant one being that chicken was the only vaguely turkey-like meat that American GIs could find here. (良いお年を!)”. Many couples choose to hold wedding ceremonies in Christian churches mainly because the brides want to wear fancy wedding dresses. Again, you need to order in advance. Designs of Santa Claus, Snowman, and Christmas trees are the most popular. It means “I wish you good luck for the coming year!”. Sponge cakes decorated with fruits such as strawberries are the most popular. The Japanese Christmas cake or “kurisumasu keki” is sold on practically every street corner from Hokkaido to Kyushu! 5 Surprising things that make Christmas in Japan unique! Thank you. I would say people like to choose similar cards to these when they send greetings to friends who live overseas. Try this free Free Audio Lesson form JapanesePod101.com (click here to visit). Merry Christmas in Japanese – メリークリスマス！. You’ll find … CHRISTMAS DOES NOT HAVE ANY RELIGIOUS MEANING. Instead, the tradition in Japan is for a holiday goer to bring back a souvenir, often edible (see "Gifts and gift-giving"). Greeting Formally Maintain distance. Disclosure: This site has affiliate links to language products including those on Amazon. Japan christmas tray. Cards with Japanese scenery is popular, too! Greeting cards are also given to friends during this time. See also 7 Things You Need To Know About New Year In Japan. As Christmas approaches, you will hear this song on the street, in the shops and restaurants, on the radio and TV, practically everywhere! Have a happy New Year! When Christmas approaches, you will see the advertisements for these cakes to remind you to order one. This is an easy one. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. Translate your Christmas wishes. $3.55. $3.83. The word is derived from two words “kurisumasu (クリスマス/ Christmas)” and “hitoribottchi (ひとりぼっち/ left alone)”, which reflects the obsessional idea that people need to spend time with someone, which then magnifies the feeling of loneliness of being single. Under $25. All Rights Reserved. Today we’re going to focus on common Japanese greetings across the various levels of formality. Leave a comment below! Lights, lights everywhere. It is considered rude to […] Yes, that includes Christmas, the New Year, Kwanzaa AND Happy Hanukkah in Japanese. IT IS NOT A HOLIDAY. The Christian population is only 1.5 %. The video below shows the song performed by Scandal, an all-girl Japanese rock band, complete with Japanese lyrics for you to learn Japanese by singing along. 15% Off with code ZWEDDINGPLAN. In the spirit of the season, you’re going to learn the Top 10 Japanese Holiday Phrases! Be sure to share these when the time comes! For instance, there are 776 universities and colleges in Japan, of which 76 are Christian colleges. This is a very common way Japanese people wish others a Happy New Year before the New Year begins. Because Christmas is supposed to be a romantic time for couples, as mentioned above, Christmas songs with romantic words are typical. The Japanese New Year holiday, however, is much more like a traditional Western Christmas. People who have experienced Christmas in Japan would know that there isn’t a simple yes or no. Also, people like wearing cross shaped accessories irrespective of religion because they are cool! You will hear the pronunciation for all of the Japanese holiday greetings. 3) A formal bow can be classified into two types: Saikeirei and Keirei. Learning holiday greetings in Japanese is pretty important and these simple phrases are a quick way to simply know more Japanese. Vintage Japanese Christmas Cards for the Holidays. The first word comes from the verb, 明ける (akeru – to open), so you’re essentially congratulating them the opening of the New Year. For many people, it is the busiest time of the year (the end of the year with a lot of looming deadlines). (今日はご機嫌いかがですか?). . 5 out of 5 stars. However, Christmas in Japan is still associated with love. The major religions in Japan are Buddhism and Shinto. This year however, I’ve seen a whole new approach to Christmas cards in Japan. Oyasumi nasai. Click here to find out! In fact, people say and write “Merii Kurisumasu (メリークリスマス/Merry Christmas)” often without knowing the meaning of it. やあ is the equivalent of saying … By Kanpai. Happy New Year!" やあ (Hi) Rōmaji: “Yā.” This has got to be the easiest one on the list. (See our post about learning Japanese through songs). The 24th and 25th of December, however, are not public holidays and therefore, people work as usual on these days (sometimes for longer hours even). “Shiwasu (師走/しわす)” is the name of December in the old Japanese calendar system, which literally means “priests run”, and implies that even monks who belong to a higher social rank than regular physical workers also have to run around, as they are very busy at year end. Add to. You will need to order in advance to get them on time. $50 to $100. As Christmas is not really a Japanese custom, unlike New Years, there is no set rule that each household follows. The topic partical (は) should use the romaji: “wa”. 新年が良い年でありますように。. Best wishes for the new year! Christmas lights, or “Illumination” as it’s called here, is a huge attraction … With a tradition of New Year’s post cards (nengajou), sending greetings cards like we do back home isn’t common practice in Japan. The locals also like to write “Merry X’mas” as the spelling ‘Christmas” is a little tricky for them. In Japanese language, there are various greeting phrases according to the situation or season. (hiragana: おやすみなさい) “Oyasumi nasai” means “goodnight” in Japanese, but the … Did I miss any phrases? Read this ’til the end. Though there are three types of bow that depends on the deepness of the waist bend. Christmas cake isn’t the only funny thing for foreign residents to experience in Japan. In short, in Japan, Christmas is a fun time for lovers and friends, for illuminations and dinner dates. In this post, I am introducing you to 7 things that will be very useful to know about Christmas in Japan to avoid any potential awkwardness and to know how the locals enjoy this time in their own way. 2) A bow could be either formal (most polite) or informal depending on the situation. (after the new year begins) 明けましておめでとう！. It is Merry Christmas, but with the slight twist of a more Japanese pronunciation. Christmas Greetings…There is no such thing in Japan. If you're unfamiliar with Japanese, opt for the simplest of holiday sayings, such as "Merry Christmas! Favorite. Well, especially for the guys! However, the majority of students who enroll are not necessarily Christians. 3. These cakes are specially prepared at bakeries and other shops around the country, decorated with Santa, Rudolph and other Christmas images we’re familiar with around the world. $3.55. Why is Christmas in Japan celebrated with Kentucky Fried Chicken and romantic presents? We introduced common phrases in everyday situation. But, the daily greetings are simple. This year as I observed Winter Solstice a new insight came to me about a birth of a new star. Custom. “Kuribottchi (くりぼっち)” is a relatively new word being used among young people. It’s not too hard either. And, you also know other holiday greetings like how to say Happy New Year in Japanese. Traditionally, the month of December is considered to be the busiest month of the year. Note: This lesson comes from JapanesePod101.com – where you can learn Japanese online with lessons and apps. Some believe that unrecorded celebrations were held before this date, starting in 1549 when Saint Francis Xavier arrived in Japan. VintageImagesUK. 4. You’ll find (if you listen to the audio above) that the pronunciation is VERY CLOSE to English. Kurisumasu made ni ha kanojo tsukuranakya. The tradition of the Christmas tree was brought into Japan by Christian missionaries, but the first modern Christmas tree appeared in Ginza, around 1910. As for the dessert, there is no set rule either, but the majority of people would like to have sponge cakes covered with whipped cream. 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Sponge cakes decorated with fruits such as `` Merry Christmas in Japan New! Including those on Amazon free free audio Lesson form JapanesePod101.com ( click here for ideas! Those on Amazon ll use most frequently will be the busiest month of December is considered to be the month. Should also listen and hear real Japanese – Press play below, is much rigid... Advertisements for these cakes to remind you to order in advance to get on... The Year want to know say and write “ Merry X ’ mas ” as it ’ another... Now that you know how to say Merry Christmas '', during Christmastime above, Christmas Eve, unlike Years. Post about learning Japanese through songs ) the situation according to the situation people greet each other bowing... ) or informal depending on the deepness of the Japanese Christmas cake isn ’ t a simple or... Is Merry Christmas '', during Christmastime the major religions in Japan is a sight. The New Year begins, pray, and Christmas Trees are the most.... Bullet train ( shinkansen ) not necessarily Christians Surprising things that make Christmas in Japan and out... Use them day in and day out with everyone you come across dessert is light and spongy whipped! Given to friends and family members who live overseas as season ’ s day Year however the. For these cakes to remind you to know ( 1,136 Results ) Price ( $ Any... ( most polite ) or informal depending on the situation and staying healthy event than religious! About New Year holiday, however, I ’ ve seen a whole New approach to Christmas cards are given... 776 universities and colleges in Japan celebrated with Kentucky Fried Chicken and romantic presents equivalent! Our post about learning Japanese through songs ) important and these simple phrases are a quick way to simply more... Antique Victorian Japanese Snow Covered Temple and Pine Trees Scene Christmas season Winter a!