What’s the scariest thing you’ve seen lately?

Where did these over-weight teenagers come from? Oh, yeah, the 1970s!

Japan’s Xmas dreams of romance, from JR during Bubble years

This series of JR ads from the Bubble sum up Japan (and China’s) fascination with Xmas as a holiday particularly suited to young lovers. Hope everyone here is enjoying some Kentucky Fried Chicken, cakes made of equal parts strawberry and whipped cream, and of course, Wham!’s Last Christmas.

Slutty Roppongi Christmas

For some reason, many Japanese assume that I spend lots of time in Roppongi. I always want to remind them that I neither work for a multinational bank, nor frequent female whores. But rarely, work or a culture event forces me to confront this most “foreign friendly” neighborhood. This slutty Christmas dress epitomizes my absolute horror at being in Roppongi or in any way associated with what goes down there.

Creepy Neverland-themed Christmas ride

From my tipster Ericthefez, with this note: “Sorry the photo is such poor quality.  I found this ‘ride concept’ at San Jose’s Christmas in the Park kind of creepy.  I let <my only daughter, name redacted> go on the swings, but you better believe I kept a close eye on her.”

In related Xmas news, I heard my first “Last Christmas” song over the weekend, so yes, holiday madness is upon Japan. Fortunately, what Japan lacks in memory-crushing medicinal meds, they make up for in memory-suppressing booze, love for drinking, and end of year “forgetting” parties (bounenkai, perfect for work or friends).

BTW, which do you find more insipid, the George Michael’s original 1980s version of “Last Christmas” or Exile’s more recent cover? What would the Japanese royal family prefer? Please feel free to comment (without defaming our majesties).

I hate Christmas

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!