[JohnBraden]

Would Christmas in Japan qualify as part of this phenomenon? The only two Christmases in was in Japan were up in northern Tohoku and both times I actually flew missions on those days (24th and 25th). In rural Tohoku I didn't get to see much there. But what I've seen in photos and people's blogs, the whole Christmas season in Japan is entirely blown out of proportion with commercialism. I do understand the whole religious aspect may be missing there, but "importing" a holiday celebration for its commercialism has to rank pretty high on the list of commercial 'oddities' this country has.