Hating Christmas in Japan is received with total incomprehension. It’s like running for president of the USA as an atheist. Incomprehensible. Yet I do– from baby Jesus to rampant consumerism to the poor Walmart victim of the holiday shopping rush. RIP, Jdimytai Damour.
Japanese love Christmas beyond all reason. It’s the ultimate obsessive empty-signifier– all love and no meaning. Holiday lights everywhere, and a Christmas soundtrack to all public and retail spaces.
But even I must admit to a certain thrill upon discovering, for the very first time, George Michael’s “Last Christmas.” They play it here as if the 80s never ended. The video is sublime. If only this was the very last Xmas!
Tokyo Moe 
Jared: You have given us all a very special gift by unearthing that. I will never look at Christmas, or snow, or hair, in quite the same way again. I am crying now.
How had I missed this critical Wham song in the 80s? The Japanese are truly loyal– once loved, always loved. Anyone going skiing this month?
do you think it was shot at cortina d’ampezzo in honor of la liz and dominick dunne??
Haha. I thought it was New Jersey’s finest ski slopes. I had to google to discover that Cortina D’Ampezzo is the backdrop for the delicious Liz Taylor-Henry Fonda film Ash Wednesday. Love the reference!