5 Differences between Christmas in the US and in Japan

5 Surprising things that make Christmas in Japan unique! (#2 will make you love Japanese Santa 😱)! Click here to get the best online resources to get started with Japanese language: goo.gl/6Tx2nG ↓ Check How Below ↓
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Christmas in Japan may be one of the hardest holidays in Japan for Westerners to appreciate. But like any local tradition, it has numerous charms that can and should be appreciated in their own right. Here, in this video take a brief look at Christmas in Japan vs in the US!
If you are an absolute beginner Japanese learner, this video is made for you. Our host expresses herself in simple Japanese, with English subtitles. This video will challenge your listening comprehension skills and help you progress in your Japanese study. This is THE place to start if you want to start learning Japanese.
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[@TheBlackShadowHawk]

Lights, smell of christmas trees, driving around late at night through neighborhoods looking at decorated houses.going to the mall and seeing everything decorated. being alone every year. feeling lonely. dark cold . that's my favorite part.

[@its_tomothy]

This video was fun to watch, the way that she commentates and explains things is great

[@JapanesePod101]

We're glad to hear you enjoyed it!

[@spiritedrenee9895]

I click on any video that Risa-Chan is in.

[@joaoneto6150]

Me too

[@helloken]

Haha, I was about to say, she seems to be the star host on this channel, all her videos out-view the others. She does have some sort of charm or charisma on top of her cute looks. Hey, whatever works, I like watching her videos too.

[@Brianna-de1ml]

Description Untitled Same. I think Risa's videos are more fun.

[@themiz1os818]

I usually like Christmas, but I love it when it snows (I live in Rome, snow is kind of a blessing here)

[@GF2445]

Also, unlike Japan, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day is a public holiday in western nations.

[@JapanesePod101]

True !

[@Elora445]

+Gregory Foy: Not everywhere. Here, the eve of some holiday is never a public holiday - the day after is, though. We celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve, but it's Christmas Day that is a public holiday here. Same thing with New Years Eve, for example, with the day after being a public holiday, but not the eve itself.

[@GF2445]

There are many traditions -Advent (from December 1 to mark 25 days until Christmas) -People visit a church for Christmas Day Services or Carols events -Christmas Carols -Christmas Lunch/Dinner (in Australia, we usually have a late lunch that runs into the evening)

[@NLMaverick]

My favourite part of Christmas? I get a week off from work.

[@JapanesePod101]

Vintage!

[@raular5513]

Mine is getting that extra cash for working this days.

[@Elora445]

My favorite part of Christmas is the food (which there are so many variants of, depending on where in the country you live). So much yummy food (and this coming from a picky eater is high praise!). I also love how the Christmas tree looks, and how people illuminate the dark season with lots and lots of lights; stars and candlesticks that lights up people's windows. The market also has strings of lights, which makes it look really nice in the evening. That's something I miss the rest of the year.

[@squirtle7G1]

Where I live KFC wouldn't be even open on Christmas day

[@songthanh896]

I enjoy going to the city downtown where there’re many beautiful decorations, listening to Xmas songs, and stay up late to enjoy Xmas!

[@dominiquekey2662]

my favorite part of Christmas in Chicago is all the decorations. Its beautiful.

[@otterystchocolat9071]

Decorating our house and our tree and spending time with family is my favorite part of Christmas. Merry Christmas . . .

[@rafa_117]

I like to eat Panettone cake in Christmas here in Japan!

[@aaliyahgeorge6404]

I love the Christmas lights and Christmas cakes too. Merry Christmas!🎄🎄💝😄

[@JapanesePod101]

Merry Christmas to you too!

[@ninacrump8864]

Love this! Yes! Thank you!

[@jaewaitwhat4412]

thank you so much for this channel. your content is great. i especially enjoy the culture themed videos as they are entertaining and informative. i enjoy listening at work. keep up the good work please.

[@ahmadkhn7572]

In our country Christmas is celebrated with fun and happiness. With every one including relatives and neighbour. So Risa - San Merry Christmas.

[@vanessatubbs3304]

Love all the info....great job!

[@SlyHikari03]

I didn’t know about Christmas being a lovers day. Thx Risa-Chan!

[@jessej7111]

My favorite part of Christmas is the plum pudding and spending the day with my sweetheart! ♡

[@rupamxaikia47]

Your teaching is exquisite Risa 👌👌🙋🙋🙋... Always love & appreciate your jolly nature!! Merii kurisumasu... Kiwotsukete 🙏🙏😇😇

[@taihaileizoe]

Elders give children red envolopes with something near £10~£25 per packet. There's something written on it. This is also done in the New Year, as Christmas and New years are treated as important as each other. Also, no work or school and parties and food all day! {Vietnam} メリークリスマスク!!

[@JapanesePod101]

Thank you for sharing your experience in Vietnam! Merry Christmas to you too!

[@Brianna-de1ml]

Dimmed Light I'm Vietnamese and I got a $100 from a red envelope

[@taihaileizoe]

That's around £75... that's a lot... Vâng, với người Việt xấu của tôi, tôi sẽ nói: Chúc mừng năm mới! (Khi xung quanh!).

[@Brianna-de1ml]

Risa, your videos are the best! Merry Christmas!

[@meakimon]

I used to love decorating the tree (done the day before Christmas Eve) but these days I enjoy baking the traditional Christmas cookies.^^ (Norway) Thank you for the video, Risa! :D

[@joaoneto6150]

Chistmas in Brazil we spent more time with the family

[@chinaiscoming1017]

merry christmas everyone and all japanesepod101 staff

[@ExploreSweetescape]

thank you for sharing

[@ARYANKUMAR-gz2qw]

We all love you RISA. Merry Christmas 🌲 and lots of love from INDIA .🎅💖

[@aino-kaisav5504]

That was really interesting video.👍 Here in Finland, we start to celebrate Christmas in December 24th. That's when we give Christmas presents, eat Christmas food and go to sauna. There's also tradition to go to cemetery and place candles to the tomb stones of your relatives. In Christmas evening the cemetery is full of candle light! 25th day is typically the day when people go to church or just spend time with family (some people go to church in 24th day evening). Also, Finnish people don't really eat turkey in Christmas. We usually eat ham. It may sound weird, but it is an old tradition. And I actually love everything in Christmas!

[@nolsp7240]

Merry Christmas Risa!

[@abujagall]

In my tradition as an Eastern Catholic we could never do any of this kind of stuff for Christmas. This is so different. We act as a reference as possible on Christmas and the children get gifts and we as adults watch the children open their gifts with happiness. Then it's dinner time on Christmas Eve during dinner we have Lebanese food since I am a Lebanese Catholic. We sing Holy Christmas songs before eating and then after we eat we go to Midnight Church. When we get home from Midnight Church we all go to our bedrooms and before we go to bed we kneel down and pray and we asked him for a special blessing this Christmas

[@mooncake5016]

Merry Christmas Risa. I like your channel so much. haha and hoho.

[@WillToWinvlog]

For many in America, the holiday is still a religious one, and that makes it so much more than some kind of commercial event. It's nice that other countries celebrate it too though.

[@jerrymahoney7028]

Very good video. I'm from USA And go to Japan in summer time. And also Christmas time Dec 20 - Jan 6

[@maxkillers26]

in australia, generally we visit one off our relatives wether it be cousin or uncle or they come to us, and all off us just come together in 1 big family, generally 15-50people in a gathering, we make RUMBALLS!!!! AND XMAS CAKE, UGHH...... for xmas, so good!!!

[@Pduarte79]

Portugal mostly is eating codfish or goatling, large family gatherings and opening Xmas gifts. The all date thing, we tend to leave to Valentines day. Xmas day is mainly a family day, while New years eve, we normally spent with friends and girl/boyfriend, and our New years eve night and dinner can be similar to yours Xmas eve dinner, with a more romantic night, finishing with champagne and seeing the new years fireworks. Except the all KFC, my family Xmas eve lunch, I convince them to experience the japanese Xmas dinner, instead of KFC, we ate chicken nuggies and Xmas cake 😄 😋. In Portugal, we have some places that sell barbecue meat, sausages and chicken and potato chip bags, so KFC isn't popular in here as Japan, you more likely see people eat at MacDonalds than KFC or Burguer King.

[@dianab.5381]

I think it's very cool that they made KFC a tradition for Christmas eve dinner and also Christmas cakes... I would so love to try them because they look delicious! I'm here in the United States and my favorite part about Christmas is the light displays on our homes. ;)

[@klarrybarry4864]

Watching Donald Duck on tv, because that is what we do here. And it’s always the same program every year. 😂 But it’s like one of the greatest traditions. And everyone are watching; childeren, parents, grandparents.

[@ilovepinkandidontcare9631]

Japan has everything cute! Wow that's my type of place

[@sriramkannan317]

I love your channel. You make excellent videos! Arigatou Gozaimasu. But why are you still not famous?

[@JapanesePod101]

Thank you for your kind word!

[@thoru4367]

Japan got Risa, US not

[@JapanesePod101]

That's the difference #6

[@Chrisfeb68]

Christmas means so many things to so many different people. For some it’s very religious and solemn others it’s time for getting together with family and friends. It’s nice to see something from the west be embraced by another culture.

[@nonametome7607]

Dacing around the Christmas tree

[@pcconex9743]

Risa sensei wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, i love uuu! メリークリスマス、そして、あけましておめでとう

[@MusicalRaichu]

my favourite part of christmas is visiting my sister. in the west it's usually a family get-together. going on a date is quite unusual unless you're engaged or married without children.

[@friday9805]

Hi 👋 I hope u have a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year

[@JapanesePod101]

Thank you, have a wonderful Christmas too Josh!

[@friday9805]

Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101.com thank u and I have we can be friends 😊

[@aprendeinglesconanimes1299]

So funny i love you risa!!

[@sailorcat]

For me the most important thing on Christmas is my family!^^ I find it a bit sad that it's all about couples on that day in Japan. I mean, you already have Valentine as as a really big thing there. But of course this kind of Christmas can be fun, too. I prefer a more "calm" Christmas with my family, Christmas cookies, decoraring the Christmas tree, and many more things. There is a special atmosphere, a kind of magic around this time of the year.^^ Merry Christmas from Germany!

[@sailorcat]

@@mug4654 Yeah, I think so, too. But for Japanese people it's theit own christmas version. I just like the family-christmas better.^^

[@OjaysReel]

Christmas in Kenya is a time to make merry; lots of roast goat/lamb and drinking. Most people travel to the countryside to close the year with family.

[@Lee333Ino]

In England, for my family, it's the christmas hot chocolates and board games!

[@alinaponce9090]

Of my country? Well, here it's very hot during Christmas time, so we go to the beach on Christmas day...

[@mrvmax7078]

Merry Christmas my friend...God bless po

[@tttdrr2293]

I celebrate two Christmas’s since i’m Ukrainian Canadian. So we have the usual Christmas dec 25th we open presents, have big Turkey dinner. Then we have Ukrainian Christmas on Jan6th. This is very tradition Christmas I the old country of my ancestors. We have a big traditional 12 dish dinner which symbolizes the twelve apostles. There is perogies, cabbage rolls. The main dish is Kutia

[@LadyUsakoB]

Merry Christmas comment page !! :D from Canada

[@JapanesePod101]

Merry Christmas Usako-san!

[@Brianna-de1ml]

LadyUsako B ok

[@sailorcat]

Merry Christmas from Germany!

[@TheHolylightning]

My favorite part of Christmas is the beach party, Suns out 40 degree day and sharks nipping at your toes.

[@Irvin993]

For me Cristmas means, turkey with the family. But a dating night sounds cool ;)

[@belindabell794]

I’m on my own pretty much every Christmas so I’ll avoid ‘Love Night’ in Japan. I’d just feel a whole lot worse 😱❄️🎄

[@dibakarhalder2592]

このクリスマスも一人で😥🎄

[@VenomBroly]

In Japan isn't there is too a tradition about Christmas but earlier something like the 14th december I believe, soemthing romantic in my memory ?

[@Hidiho2u]

Ashikaga flower park had the biggest illumination event when I visited. So romantic 😍

[@justhuyen]

Hi there. Why can I not find the cheatsheet for Travel In Japan as your video shows? Can somebody please tell me where the link is? Thanks

[@michaelusswisconsin6002]

Plus a lot of these I do and I’m American

[@yahhoo69]

Love your videos! Definitely worth subscribing this channel

[@LittleLulubee]

My favorite thing is the lights!!🎄 On people's houses and yards, and on Christmas trees 🎄

[@julianvuorinen8329]

All of finish Christmas things

[@stephenkreuer9753]

Will you please go on a date with me this christmas!!!😁😁😁

[@k_rinabeena]

since christmas is my favourite holiday choosing only one thing isn't easy but when it comes to traditions and most iconic thing in my home country regarding the festive season I'd definitely say the weihnachtsmarkt (christmas market)!

[@jorgezambrano5717]

In Peru is a good day to share with your family, I think japan don’t have Christmas spirit, that sucks.

[@JaxonJude]

メリ クリスマス! ^^ ❤❄

[@JapanesePod101]

Merry Christmas !

[@doctorvenommcpe7013]

The number 5 is really surprising........

[@keioII]

Can we see Risa in a cute Santa clothes?

[@typingcomments]

Are you taking the videos into a different direction? I liked the videos that had more of Risa's hilarious personality (this video was still enjoyable but I feel like earlier videos were more relaxed).

[@guptacorp]

Top 5 Christmas events: 1) Attend Christmas Eve Mass at Church together with friends and family, listening to the story of how God came to be born among us as baby Jesus to bring the gifts of Salvation, Hope, Love & Peace. Singers and musicians perform beautifully; and there are many candles and a very festive atmosphere! 2) Volunteer - either on your own or together with friends and family; it's a great time to help feed the hungry, clothe the homeless, or comfort those who may be sad, sick or lonely. Many people donate a lot during the holiday season. Even if you have little to give others, you can always give your Best Smile! It's the season to share the greatest gift with each other - Love and Joy! 3) Enjoying time together with loved ones, family and friends. Most people spend too much time away from people they care about; people are too "busy" either chasing their silly jobs everyday or living at far distances never making time to talk or visit; which are wrong. From Thanksgiving to New Years, people make time for what's important: family and loved ones! 4) Christmas tree, lights and singing - in New York City and elsewhere, there's always big festivals to light Christmas Trees; especially the Really HUGE tree in Rockefeller Center. There's also many homes, stores and places decorated with beautiful baby Jesus born in the manger scenes, Christmas trees, Christmas lights, laser lights, angels, bells, stars, toys and musical displays. There's also a lot of performances, dancing and getting together with friends and strangers to wander around town singing Christmas songs! 5) Gift giving - many people have commercialized Christmas with gift giving, from simple cards and candy to luxury and exotic cars... people often share their "love" by giving gifts to their friends and loved ones. Again, the greatest gift is simply to give yourself; so many people get together for Christmas parties which include games, laughter, music and dancing, LOTS of great cooked meals, side dishes, snacks and desserts (yes including Christmas CAKES too!), movies, singing, and just having Fun and great memories together! Some others Christmas traditions are Enjoying fresh Eggnog, Hot Apple Cider with Cinnamon and Peppermint Hot Chocolate, Waking up Early Christmas day to share and open presents, and Kissing anyone who stand under mistletoe which usually hangs from ceilings and doorways :) That's the 5 Top Christmas traditions. But even if you take away All of those, Christmas is not just a season, or a once a year event, it's a SPIRIT of God and Goodness that lives inside All of us, a SPIRIT of Love, Peace and Joy, and that Spirit lasts the whole year if you simply allow it to..! Share Freely Love and Laughter with Everyone, Live with an Attitude of Gratitude and Remember to Thank God for everything, and Enjoy the Spirit of Christmas Everyday! Sugoi!! Merry Christmas Risa! Love, Ajay :D

[@ajeldrez777]

The true meaning of Christmas!❤ Thank you for writting this, you are spot on. I pray through this some people in Japan may know the reason for Christmas [CHRIST- mas]

[@breem2134]

Even though it is technically based on a Pagan holiday. I'm Atheist and I celebrate it, but minus the religious parts. Nonetheless, Merry Christmas. :)

[@fingolfirn8189]

The best Christmas are located in Latinoamerica. Specially in Southamerica where is summer in christmass holidays.

[@shanegeneral3874]

You can see a jolly large Santa in Japan. Hirakata City - I play Santa at Kindergartens and department stores. My Facebook page is - Santa in Japan.

[@banzailoco]

⛄️🎄🎁🦌🎅 Joyeux Noël

[@1sexymary]

So Risa will be "lonely" on Christmas Day tell us more? Will you be a sexy Santa? - As for whats great about Christmas in Australia the four days off work, refreshing and relaxing.

[@toshizue8627]

Santa Kentucky... best santa. :P

[@AK-cf1iw]

find information about the new year and Christmas in Russia and Ukraine. it will be interesting to compare because the traditions are very different.)

[@nurielysmeizoso4268]

メリ クリスマス 😚

[@litek6987]

Hayai....

[@muffins6392]

tbh, it's part of marketability.

[@turtle12b38]

Did anybody catch what I saw

[@kimemasal]

i love her. mmm i hope they invite takei emi to cohost.hehe

[@jaffargadafialmazrui321]

Saw risa and clicked

[@JapanesePod101]

Don't forget to click here to get the best online resources to get started with Japanese language: goo.gl/9k7pDE :) What will you be eating for Christmas?!

[@Zhenchi]

Lol we don’t have a Christmas XD wait thinking about it is sad ._.

[@EvanTomiko]

Santa Claus was made by the toys companies and Coca Cola. He was a christian man who gave gifts to the poor many years ago. The real meaning of Christmas is the joy of giving without expecting something back. Not going crazy in stores.

[@budderkupp1282]

I can name a couple of other differences. Christmas in Japan is not a religious holiday..as it is in the US..so you won't see religious depictions in Japan. And..Christmas is not a national holiday in Japan; people in Japan still have to work on Christmas Day..while in the US..people are enjoying a day off on Christmas Day.

[@mondo6595]

where i can find someone to break the grammar rules of the sentence ”恋人を見つけようとする人もいます”　please! ちょうだい！

[@kirankumar5785]

watashi wa nihon ni ikitai,Nihon ni tsuite shirita,watashi wa indohito desu, watashi wa nihogo go wakarimasenga,nihongo o manabitai,nihon'no anime ga daisukidesu, to y o u r no bideo wa saikodesu plzz reply me in english

[@huojin01]

Christmas in Japan sounds nice. I could eat KFC on this day like in Japan.

[@thecumbucketofficial]

it seems japan loves kfc more than kentucky

[@soniamaria-od8rn]

is this the same Risa who is married to Tatsuhisa Suzuki or is it someone else?

[@princeofhalcyon]

So in a japanese christmas we get sexy santas and cake, and in american christmas we get a fat guy and christmas stories that are basically always about depression. Short stick :P

[@ebindelgado9660]

Christmas dinner US: turkey Mexico: tamales Japan: KFC I'm Salvadorian but I'm sticking to KFC

[@lezinski803]

Sexy Santa is my kind of santa

[@jpibay]

Arigatou Risa Chan! I started learning the Japanese language by knowing furaydochikin. Meri Kurisumasu! :)

[@omi4470]

Merī Kurisumasu! 😄🎄

[@Brianna-de1ml]

Mai Waifu Wakabayashi gotta get Ayano to kill ya :D

[@omi4470]

;-;

[@Brianna-de1ml]

Mai Waifu Wakabayashi muhahaha IM EVIL AND I LOOK CUTE >:) *ayano kills you*

[@omi4470]

):

[@0110100536]

Go to Akita Sanctuary, pray Our Lady of Akita and Our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the best thing you can do in Japan on Christmas Eve, since that day reminds to the whole World the birth of the King of Glory, the King above all Kings!