It’s early November, and Japan is already gearing up to celebrate the birth of Christ.
\nNo, wait—that’s not right.
\nTry again.
\nIt’s early November, and Japan is already gearing up to pray at the church of rampant consumerism.
\nChristian missionaries—my great-grandparents included—failed to sell Christ here (Japan’s Christians make up only one percent of the total population—good for them, I say), but the Japanese sure converted to capitalism with mind-boggling zeal. Even in the midst of a decade-long recession, shopping remains a favorite pastime, almost a religion unto itself. And modern-day Christmas fits right into the shop-till-you-drop ethos found here.
\nIn Tokyo this past weekend, I saw a tree-lighting ceremony in Ginza. It was November 9! This is insane. Something needs to be done to stop the shopping juggernaut that is Christmas. At this rate, it’ll only be a decade or so before this increasingly inane holiday gobbles up the whole year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It’s early November, and Japan is already gearing up to celebrate the birth of Christ. No, wait—that’s not right. Try again. It’s early November, and Japan is already gearing up to pray at the church of rampant consumerism. Christian missionaries—my great-grandparents included—failed to sell Christ here (Japan’s Christians make up only one percent of the… Continue reading Bah Humbug<\/span>