[Sangetsu]

Here is an idea of what Christmas is like in Japan:

Christmas music began being played in Japanese stores the day after Halloween. Few Japanese know what the words to the songs mean, though any Japanese can hum the tunes.

Tokyu Hands and Don Quixote stores have begun selling Santa Claus suits, except that none of these "Santa" suits are for men, all are lingerie-like costumes for women.

7-11 is now taking orders for Christmas Cakes, which are small white cakes decorated with Strawberries. The traditional meal for a Japanese Christmas is Kentucky Fried Chicken, and even now people are making their Christmas Fried Chicken Dinner reservations. You cannot go to a KFC restaurant around here on Christmas day without a reservation. Some Japanese I have talked to assumed that eating at KFC on Christmas was also an American tradition, and they are surprised when they find out it isn't so.

There are no Christmas trees for sale in front of any stores here. The most you'll be able to find is a plastic tree at the afore-mentioned Tokyu Hands or Don Quixote stores.

Another interesting fact is that in Japan many stores will say "Merry Christmas" to you, even though there are very few Christians in Japan. No one gets offended. It's ironic than in a Christian-majority country like America, many stores discourage personnel from wishing customers "Merry Christmas". It's circumstances like this which I appreciate living in Japan.