What Christmas in Japan is Like after 26 years

[@nitesurfer247]

Love watching you in Japan. I visited Japan when my daughter lived in Aomori and then a few years later, moved to Tokyo. Japan is so beautiful and culturally impressive. I was there in the Cherry Blossom season of 2018. Hated that I haven’t been back. Absolutely LOVE Japan and its culture. Love watching your KZbin channel too!💖

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Thank you! Hope you can get back soon, it seems different than before. Many more people but in some ways, Japan is better to tourism too. Aomori is one of my favorite places, I just missed the Maguro season in Oma but will be back in Spring I think. Hope you can see the blossoms again in 2025! Merry Christmas!

[@prateekpunjabi7633]

Merry Christmas to the Daub family! 🎄❤

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Merry Christmas 🎄 thank you ^_^

[@sunaikim8376]

Merry Christmas John! I'm the person who interrupted your live stream at Ginza last week. Thank you for sharing your valuable time to talk to me! It was awesome to meet you in person! My husband and I visited Hiroo based on your recommendation. We had the burger at the food truck which was a bit small but very very good! Thank you for all your good work and have a great new year 😊

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Merry Christmas! Ah, I remember :) great to see you that day, much warmer than now 🥶 Oh, I was walking by after to get that burger and the umbrella flew up and INTO THE TRUCK!! The poor guy had a mess in his kitchen and I said I’d definitely come back. Glad you went. I had to go back and get the Truffle Bakery for the fam instead.

[@kiyoshitakeda452]

Enjoyed the video. Thank you. Merry Christmas to you and your family !!!

[@williamjayaraj9257]

Thanks for this Christmas eve in Japan video. Wonderful. Merry Christmas.

[@alittlebitofskye]

Merry Christmas John you & your family from Sydney. Just finished work, cracking open a beer wishing I could get a Japanese cake, then heading into the city to see some lights

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Merry Christmas! We’ve finally entered 12/25! Santa’s on the way!

[@lorrane2177]

Merry Christmas to you and your family. Thank you for a great year of videos. Happy New Year!!!🎉❤

[@raabcv]

I used to live in Monzennakacho too! It was over closer to Eitai-bashi. Anyway, it’s fun to see the neighborhood on KZbin. Thanks for all your content. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

[@tmimi8316]

Merry Christmas John, Kanai & Leo! I was in that area but missed meeting you to wish you when you were there streaming!

[@Hicks-g1m]

Merry Christmas John you give out great info and tours 🎄

[@watchmakersp9935]

Merry christmas to you John , your family and your subscribers! (from London who's been studying nihongo for a few years at university).

[@heatherfling7820]

You are all important to me and had enjoyed seeing Leo growing up. I Love your videos John I remember Leo as a new born in your home. I would think of myself as a Great Aunt to Leo. He holds a special place in place in my heart and well as you and Kanae. Thank you for sharing your thoughts . Merry Christmas we Love You and your family. 🎄♥️🎉👋🏻

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Merry Christmas Aunt Heather!

[@bluryeye1]

Merry Christmas! Thanks for the great content all year.

[@fernandoscrenci4874]

Great Coverage on this Topic of Events happening inside Japan !!!

[@cozydayzandnightz]

Merry Christmas, and thank you for all the excellent content!

[@JHR768]

I'm an American but actually prefer Christmas in Japan. In the U.S. it's over the top with Christmas music and Christmas store decorations starting before Halloween. The commercialism is just too much, Black Friday and ads on TV all the time. Here I appreciate the Christmas lights and more subdued tone. That being said it is a little sad on actual Christmas Day when banks and all shops and stores are open like any other day. My wife and I will attend a Christmas Eve service at St. Albans church near Tokyo Tower where we were married, then have a Christmas Eve dinner at a fancy French restaurant with my wife's brother, his wife and a cousin. Christmas Day we will have a friend over and I will make mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, salmon, broccoli, salad and pecan pie a la mode for desert. And it's a wrap.

[@koilamaoh4238]

and here I thought it was dying down, with people complaining or being offended by "happy holidays"...Since religious rates have been in the decline in the US. Its prety quiet where im at in the US, same ol boring years, not much changed.

[@JesseLee-vc8kt]

Thank you for this annual Christmas Eve livestream John. It’s always a joy watching your videos. Indeed, the convenience stores in Japan are awesome. My family loves the chicken nuggets from Lawson. And the ‘chickens’ in the Family Mart poster sure looks good! ;p Merry Christmas John, Kanai and Leo.

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Ah, Lawsons sis have the nuggets! But Famima stepped it up this year big time! Merry Christmas!

[@silentsnake820]

Merry Christmas. Wishing you, your familiy and everyone else close to you all the best

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Merry Christmas 🎄

[@larrywalsh4755]

Watching from my house in Tsukishima. My first Christmas in Japan

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Merry Christmas neighbor ^_^

[@fleurbee8360]

Have a great time celebrating and have a wonderful New Year John, Kanai and Leo.

[@engrjulianasaid4383]

Merry Christmas to you and your family 🎄

[@jarihult]

Even though i didn’t saw this from the start i still liked this 😎Chicken at christmas could be a thing ,although 🤔It’s still an option 🙂Thank you for sharing this John ,Merry Christmas to you and your family Kanae and Leo 🙂👍🎄!!!

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Merry Christmas Jari!

[@jarihult]

@@onlyinjapanGOMerry Christmas John🎄

[@CptFitzgerald]

I'm amazed that turkey still hasn't taken off or is even available in Japan by this point in time considdering the fact that we get our turkeys frozen here in the states. That stuffing recipe sounds fire. Merry Christmas, John and everyone else here.

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Ovens just are not big enough for a bird like that. In the US, I’m surprised Ostrich hasn’t taken off with some of the mega ovens around! 😂

[@CptFitzgerald]

@ If only we could convince a local restaurant 🤔

[@Kamakurajoe]

Merry Christmas. ❤❤ Thank you very much for all live and clips this year. 😊😊

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Merry Christmas 🎄

[@ChrizardsAdventures]

Merry Christmas from South Carolina. We our having a big ham for Christmas and Turkey on New year's.

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Ooooh, love Christmas ham! Maybe that’ll take off in Japan too. Merry Christmas 🎄

[@mariedelalto2803]

Merry Christmas for the three of you ❤❤❤🎉

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Merry Christmas 🎄

[@annunakian8054]

In US supermarkets it's pretty much guaranteed that there will be at least one bad berry in a pack. Ofc that mold can spread to other packs. You'd think it would make sense to get rid of those in order to not have to throw them all out but that would be too much work.

[@Enemtee]

I've celebrated christmas in Japan like 5-6 times. KFC a few times, always cake. We even imported and did KFC in Sweden, and made chicken and cake at home aswell. One time we went to McDonalds on Christmas Eve in Kyoto. I heard another Swedish family there, so I went over and told them "God jul" (Merry christmas in swedish).

[@tonysharing3955]

Merry Christmas John.. Have a wonderful holidays buddy 🎉

[@jantravis4616]

Merry Christmas to you, kanae, and Leo. The food there looks awesome . I wish we had the Christmas cake here. To me Christmas is spiritual to me. 😊

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Merry Christmas ^_^

[@shelleyrevell7829]

Merry Christmas to you ❤❤im a new sub 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@MrM9991]

Merry Christmas to you and the family! 🥳🥳🥳🥳

[@Bakapooru]

Strawberry sponge cake with whipped cream is way better than the too-sweet frosting.

[@onlyinjapanGO]

On some days, I have to agree 😂 like NOW after eating way too much.

[@muhammadfirdaus634]

Have a wonderful Christmas, John. Go easy on the diet and feast. Have a good one..

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Thank you :) I’ll take it easy tonight 😅 Merry Christmas 🎄

[@illletmyselfout.8516]

The huge variety of food in Japanese supermarkets and conbini is amazing 😊

[@artistwithcameras]

Met the guy in charge of KFC for YUM brands who owns the brand and he said its way bigger in Japan in sales than the entire US.

[@onlyinjapanGO]

I bet! It’s the day fast food isn’t seen the same way … but again, there is so much competition now, they really have to up their game to stay on top. I don’t have any Japanese friends who go to KFC on this day but it is still huge!!

[@franco3584]

I'm Down with Family Mart Christmas Dinner .Everything there, looked so Good.

[@JustShelby888]

Merry Christmas 🧑‍🎄 and Happy Yuletide 🌲 here in America in the south we have ham on Christmas.. I could really go for one of those strawberry cakes, though those look yummy! 🤤 and if those are chicken legs, how big are those chicken? 😮 Those almost look like turkey legs 🦃

[@hermyt]

Thought John would share his stuffing recipe in the description.

[@randysousie5272]

Merry Christmas to all. ..

[@sarukravitz4981]

Hi John. Since you asked, for my first Japanese Christmas back in 1992 I bought a turkey from an import store (cost about 50 bucks) and a friend roasted it while I made the sides. I invited a mix of gaijin and Japanese friends and had a dinner party. Later, a drink at bar and then midnight mass at the only Christian church around. Good times. (Renting a room for a Christmas boink was a thing then as well.)

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Amazing! Thanks for sharing - my biggest issue was I didn’t have an oven BIG enough for a turkey even if I could get one 😂 still don’t but it’s easier to get one baked. We got a beautiful Miyazaki raised rotisserie chicken for tonight. Going to Church is great, we don’t have one near us but I’ll have to take Leo next year.

[@sarukravitz4981]

@@onlyinjapanGO I didn't either, but my friend baked as a hobby so she had an oven (very rare in my circle) and the turkey just BARELY fit in there, which is good considering what it cost. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

[@Nozinbonsai]

A chicken was a luxury once but now its everywhere ( like dust). Christmas is about people. Even if you have nothing. Do what you like and be peaceful. Don't worry about going to the local charity meal, thats why they are there, the more the merrier. 😊

[@jameschicken1008]

just curious but can you get fried chicken cheesecake etc at other times of year in japan

[@Karma20XX]

メリークリスマス！！ Ｍｅｒｒｙ　Ｃｈｒｉｓｔｍａｓ！！　🎄

[@TumpalManurung]

Merry Christmas John, Merry Christmas everyone.

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Merry Christmas 🎄

[@jnyfumare]

Merry Christmas John!!!

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Merry Christmas!

[@salteveline]

KFC Japan is on another level!

[@shckg]

KFC for me tonight!! And Merry Christmas to you and your family!!

[@igorzagorsky37]

Note: Typo in the title. “in” and “in”. Should be “is like”. 😉

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Thank you! Fixed it ^_^ merry Christmas!

[@iskandartaib]

Imagine a bucket of Famichiki.. 😁

[@ericifune5543]

As a Japanese-American, Christmas for me growing up was turkey and sushi.

[@lillianmvargaso4960]

❤🎄Merry Christmas🎉

[@HarutoArata]

Merry Christmas all.

[@dcgunman]

Have you had Korean Fried Chicken, aka KFC? It is the "BEST" damn chicken ever. When in Korea get their KFC. Theres a couple of good Korean Fried Chicken chains in Korea. When we were in Tokyo back in October we were looking for a KFC-Korean Fried Chicken. We did find a spot in Korean town that was pretty good but not as good if you were to get in Seoul, Korea. Korea has the same strawberries from Japan, Perfection and delicious n sweet. I believe they got the strawberries from Japan.

[@DavidChow-n4x]

Hi John, wishing you and your family a Blessed Christmas.Does KFC deliver in Millbrae CA?

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Merry Christmas! Hmm, maybe not but I heard Dominoes deliver a pizza to the top of Mt Fuji so …

[@nicklasolsson1489]

God Jul from Sweden! 🎉

[@onlyinjapanGO]

God jul 🎅

[@chewie94116]

KFC Christmas dinner is ALWAYS sold out. I had to order it in advance once.

[@greeniris17]

Did I catch a “hey now”? And a Bababbooey to you all!

[@nancyengle4656]

What is Leo's middle name ? (a curious Grandmother)...🥰 Merry Christmas !

[@tacoshmaco13]

Christmas in Japan even with all the light shows still feel a bit empty. It’s just the commercialised end of Christmas, but not the heart and family and excitement 😢 Would much rather be in the US

[@angelicasoup638]

Hey John , you can buy rotisserie chicken at Costco good not creasy and cheap.

[@onlyinjapanGO]

They aren’t the best though. I heard the “may contain carcinogenics” listed on the label. Probably everything does but I just skip the Costco chickens. Go for the combo pizza instead 😋

[@Lorenzodiecastmafia]

Not from Japan but kfc has become too expensive and the pieces of chicken have been downsided. Merry Christmas 🎉🎉🎉

[@jeremykunayak]

It's called Stuffing for a reason. You stuff it in the bird cavity. The flavor is from being cooked in the bird.

[@onlyinjapanGO]

It’s leaped to stuffing stuffed or not, some call it “dressing” but that’s also claimed by the salad 🥗 so a war may be brewing for what to really call it.

[@sachi-h5i]

Merry Xmas🎉🎂 🇯🇵より

[@Marigen1971]

There sure seems to be a lot of KFC in Tokyo, Is it popular? Edit: not a christian or catholic but I still can enjoy the festivities and a date like the one you discribed sounds really nice especially if you don't have your own place and lack privacy at home (have roomates for example).

[@gorgeossa]

Lived there for 15 years. Every Christmas, my friends and I (all from the Philippines) would do a potluck. We would even do a Secret Santa. The way Japanese celebrate Christmas(even Catholic Japanese) is quite boring. You can’t even consider it as a “celebration”.

[@DavidRoberts-xz8qs]

Love hotel + chicken bucket + games = perfect date

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Only in Japan 😂

[@menetherin]

Merry Christmas! On my way to KFC!

[@ED-209UHD]

Watching this sat in my bath tub in a Shibuya hotel wondering what to eat tomorrow as a pescatarian 😂🤦

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Fish? 🎣

[@ED-209UHD]

@ sushi John indeed 😊🙏🎄

[@socku5850]

I don't really see chirstmas cake in american look beautiful. My family we don't really celebrate Christmas. We just do a regular family dinner.

[@onlyinjapanGO]

If the day can bring the family together, that’s a beautiful thing ❤️

[@nicole221]

Superrr vlog us usuall!!

[@julieluna8509]

Watching this video from the Philippines, Have a Merry Christmas to-you John, Kanae n Leo

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Merry Christmas 🎄

[@KarlDahlquist]

Everyone goes to KFC in the animes! Especially during the Christmas - New Year's Episode arcs. Next week you have to go to the temple and pay your respects. And run into an unexpected person to set up the Valentines Day Episode. lol. And if the female character is over 25, then you will get the Christmas cake jokes.

[@onlyinjapanGO]

😂 only in anime

[@aewriter]

That is Twice the Kpop group and chicken poster! 😂

[@jle92708]

i would totally do kfc here in u.s. for christmas 😂 that’s actually not bad

[@neonssbu2723]

Kentucky Fried Christmas

[@b.christensen9669]

Without mashed potatoes, gravy, coleslaw, and biscuits with honey 🍯, it's not KFC

[@TonyPadgett]

I hear ya, but nothing beats KFC!

[@musgrave6886]

leo of chicken!

[@sanpoisson1934]

Well at least I love Chicken. However it’s impossible to just order lunch in KFC during the week of Christmas.,

[@phyeager5638]

You could try going to a Christian Church in Tokyo to celebrate Christmas.

[@goldfishchannel]

damn i was waiting for you to take a bite of some juicy chicken

[@Bergkatse2]

I was living in Yokohama last Christmas and my 80yo parents flew all the way from Scotland to spend Christmas with me and I ordered KFC for Xmas lunch (original recipe not the roast chicken). My parents really loved it and it came with a commemorative plate and a lovely chocolate dessert. We had booked a fancy restaurant for later but cancelled as we were still so stuffed! My parents were also here for the Noto earthquake on New Years Day which they took in their stride (my 52 story high rise was swinging and swaying for 15 minutes).

[@onlyinjapanGO]

It really does seems like an odd and very ONLY in JAPAN thing to do. Japanese Food Rituals are so fun and also a bit much, to do every single year! New Years, same same same … soba on 31st etc etc

[@Bergkatse2]

We bought Osechi-Ryori from a fancy depato at Yokohama Eki and I made zōni from scratch and my my partner, my dad and I ate that on New Years Day (interrupted by the earthquake). My mum had a hard time with Japanese food so I made her mince and tatties like she was back in Scotland. We didn’t realise the Osechi was supposed to be eaten over three days and wondered why our guts were busted and we had so much food left 🤣

[@Og-Judy]

It's crazy to me that Japanese took a secular approach to a highly Religious HOLY day for Christians honoring the birth of Jesus . It is after all called CHRIST mas for a good reason . We don't say "Merry Santa Claus" in a celebratory way to have family get togethers either, although in sone European areas they celebrate the feast day of Saint Nicholas on December 6th. Dutch celebrate Sinterklaas or Sint Nikolaas who was a Bishop who died on that date. Known as the patron saint of children. Red cloak of a bishop and all gave rise to English language turning Sinterklaas into Santa Claus with the red suit.

[@MaineUSA]

Now i want KFC lol

[@UenoJazz]

Are you running out of ideas John? Promoting KFC at Christmas, hasn't that been done already.

[@setsukogeary5516]

😆😆😆😆😆😆😘

[@omarhadjar3232]

What's with the expats? is this for the G7 citizens😂, I guess immigrants are the ones from the global south citizens, just like businessmen and oligarchs differentiation. Love your show, stay real!

[@greeniris17]

Japanese love that dark meat!

[@ninaashik]

I loved Christmas in Japan when I lived there because it was a non event or a kind of token Christmas where people would offer things in a very quirky way. I remember seeing Santa Claus on the cross once. It wasn't a joke it was just a way they did not have historical Christmas culture. It was such a relief. I was happy to go to work and miss all the Christmas craziness. That was my experience. That said have a Happy Christmas and great that you can enjoy Japanese New Year which is the best, I love Japanese New year.

[@onlyinjapanGO]

This is actually true! There is a kind of stress at this time of year and people don’t have it in Japan around Christmas.

[@maralisil]

What, your arms are broken? You can't make a simple cake with buttercream frosting? Even roast chicken should be well within your ability, man!

[@utube9932]

It's sad that Japan does not really embrace Jesus the real reason for the season but yes pagan love hotels yuak !!! 😢

[@mcgee227]

As an Atheist, this would be great for me.

[@Spaceouts]

A person working aboard, we call them an immigrant. An American working aboard, they call themselves an "Expat". I heard this from a japanese colleague, he is so right.

[@kjriwoutube]

Because they immagrated to the US that's why they are immigrants but you can leave your home country you become a expat of there and a immigrant of the new place

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Depends on the length of time they intend to stay so I can’t agree with you here. Most Americans working in Japan will not stay for more than a few years. As someone who has lived here for over 25, I can say the number of people I’ve met who are here for more than 10 is very very low.

[@Spaceouts]

@onlyinjapanGO If you are intent to live in japan forever, then you are an immigrant. unless you are planning to leave japan someday, then expat fits the profile.