A New Way to Light Up Your Room

The seasons in Japan have distinct personalities, not just because of the heat and cold but because there’s so much to take in with each passing month. Winter calls for Christmas cake and an abundance of lights. Springtime sends people to picnic under the cherry blossoms. Summer is my favorite season because it’s all about fireworks.

So when Japanese people move away from Japan, I can only imagine how homesick they must be. That’s when a fireworks projector ($136) comes in handy!:

At the press of a button, the machine shoots out fireworks onto your living room wall. Sound effects set the mood as colorful streaks of light whizz to the ceiling. The machine, developed by Sega Toys, comes with five projection lenses, a handful of cartridges inscribed with different fireworks shapes, and a few blank sheets to customize your own show. Take a look:

The hokeyness is part of the charm. After all, what kind of simulation apparatus could ever compare to the real thing?

Himawari

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Christmas Dates and Christmas Cakes

Judging by the festive commercialism, Christmas is upon us. It may not snow in Los Angeles, but when there’s a signpost at the mall heralding the arrival of “hunky Santa” you know something’s around the corner.

In Japan, Christmas is harder to figure out. There’s a fair share of reindeer and candy canes in the storefront but come December 25^th people are still grinding numbers at work. In Los Angeles, the entire city shuts down.

And while Christmas Eve means quality time with family, in Japan it’s date night. Couples will go out to a fancy restaurant, he’ll hand her a gift, she’ll gush, he’ll take her to a “love hotel” (more about this later) and she’ll call her mom to say she’s staying over “at a friend’s.”

I was never lucky enough to have a date on Christmas Eve. One year, I found myself hanging out with the lonely hearts club, in fact. A group of us hit up a kombini for booze and dried squid and then laid under a kotatsu (electrically heated table) all night watching comedy shows. In the morning, my breath reeked of something nasty.

In Japan, Christmas is also the time for strawberry shortcake. They coat it with white frosting, create a wintry scene with miniature reindeer and snowmen, and write “Merry Christmas” in red gel. It’s one of those cakes you wish you could both have and eat at the same time. What I didn’t know until recently was that Christmas cakes started as a British tradition though they’re generally fruitcakes. Like always, the Japanese took an idea and made it better. =P

Christmas in Japan may not conjure up the same fuzzy feelings as when I’m home with family, but in its own way it’s a lot of fun. I was so happy one year when I found someone to share a Christmas cake with. Maybe when I’m in town again I’ll snag someone for a Christmas date! (^_<)

Himawari

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Thinking of doing business in Japan? We can make it easy for you!
JPBizDirect, a Los Angeles based company, provides practical solutions for U.S. – Japan business projects. Our experienced Japanese staff will support all phases of your business project to seize business opportunities and turn your vision into a reality. >> Learn more
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