Christmas 2023 In Tokyo | Tokyo Fox (東京狐)

 

As a lot as I’ve acquired (again) into celebrating Christmas lately, the variety of  festive movies, songs, jumpers and so forth actually can not make up for being surrounded by household and mates. I can’t say I ever thought it could occur so think about my shock when my sister first introduced the concept of her household all coming to Japan (from their house in Australia) this winter together with the principle dates (twenty fourth and twenty fifth! twenty third in addition to I contemplate Christmas Eve Eve to vital too!) at our place in Tokyo. The image under was truly taken to ship to a pal on Christmas Eve morning to indicate that our favorite festive movie ‘Jingle All The Method‘ (1996) was being performed which explains why the household are solely within the nook of the shot!

With my spouse working early on the twenty fifth we determined to do it European-style and trade a number of presents on Christmas Eve. As is commonly the case, the canine acquired the best variety of presents with a number of very Aussie ones included.

The remainder of the night time earlier than Christmas was spent simply sitting round and chatting while  ‘Dwelling Alone‘ (1990) performed within the background.

 

The children nonetheless acquired stockings stuffed with Christmas presents which had been opened the next morning as is customary in our custom. I’ll little doubt write one other put up early subsequent 12 months which supplies much more element about what we did and the place we went with the household throughout their time in Tokyo.

My very long time mates Richard and Mizuki had been again in Japan for a December vacation with their children and all of us met up for conveyor-belt sushi a number of days earlier than Christmas Day. I forgot to take a photograph of us all there however remembered in a guide store earlier than I departed though Mizuki had already gone to do her distant work then.

For the reason that sh*tshow that was 2020, I’ve begun to get into the Christmas spirit the second Halloween is out of the way in which. Again then it was one thing of an excuse for eager to have a good time the jolly season and it’s simply caught with me ever since then. Not everybody (nicely most individuals!) shouldn’t be so eager although so the put up under acquired one thing of a unfavourable response with feedback like “preserve it within the field for one more 5-6 weeks” and so forth! Because it was, I didn’t truly get spherical to placing it up until November twelfth which was later than final 12 months!

My major custom lately has been to observe all the Hallmark channel’s festive movies that are a part of their Countdown to Christmas season which started on October twentieth! I waited till Halloween had completed earlier than getting began early November which in fact remains to be method too early for most individuals. Together with a number of others, the total listing is on the foot of this put up. Be affected person although and don’t scroll down in haste as issues are simply getting began right here!

One other main characteristic of the festive season is the carrying of Christmas jumpers. With an ever-growing assortment of ugly sweaters I began carrying them further early this 12 months simply to mainly get a little bit of a response from individuals! The ‘Dwelling Alone‘ reference one under was probably the most refined one to start out issues off slowly earlier than getting an increasing number of excessive.

Essentially the most ridiculous and over-the-top one got here out in my remaining week of labor. I didn’t imagine any of the compliments it acquired for a second!

With six festive sweaters to my identify, I’ve acquired greater than sufficient however I wouldn’t have minded a number of the new creations from Basic Soccer Shirts which included this Christmas tree variation (under) based mostly on the long-lasting Japan 1998 goalkeeper shirt. 

By way of actual Christmas bushes, I solely noticed a number of of be aware this 12 months. First up had been the varied ones that make up the Marunouchi Shiny Christmas 2023 with shows referring to Disney. Earlier ones have included Star Wars and Harry Potter.

The primary one I noticed again in November was barely extra unconventional by means of this cyber tree!

The changing-colour tree at Tokyo Dome Metropolis in Bunkyo-ku was one I went barely out of my approach to see, and was in all probability nearly price it. There have been some good illumination shows within the neighborhood too.

 

I’m nonetheless not too positive what this Christmas Circus show (under) on the eleventh flooring of Shibuya Hikarie was all about!

In relation to decorations at house my spouse likes the extra easy and classy look while I like a budget and cheesy look which was ramped up this time with the inclusion of an enormous Santa inflatable balloon or two! It didn’t take too lengthy for the primary (cheaper) one to really feel deflated.

The second was greater and fared higher. The canine wouldn’t go too near the primary one however he didn’t appear to thoughts the subsequent incarnation of the principle man!

As for meals, these festive bakewells had been very tasty and a reminder of house even when they did come from Australia due to my sister.

These posts should not 100% festive associated normally and have a tendency to incorporate varied stuff I’ve tried within the seven weeks main as much as the massive day corresponding to these natto flavoured crisps that had been much like prawn crackers in texture and style. I later shared a packet with my sister’s household however that was as shut as they acquired to consuming something natto-related in Japan!

Final 12 months was the primary time to introduce the visitors lights vitality drink problem which mainly simply consists of consuming one purple, yellow and inexperienced colored beverage but it surely didn’t fairly go to plan this Christmas!

Joyeux Noël is Merry Christmas in French so what higher approach to begin Christmas on Deceember 1st (not likely the beginning for me as that’s a month earlier!!) than seeing……(tedious alert!)…….Noel Gallagher’s Excessive Flying Birds at Tokyo Backyard Theater in Ariake! Anybody who has ever heard Noel speak about Christmas although will know he’s not an enormous fan of the festive season in any respect. Possibly that’s why he performed so many tour dates in December!

Per week later I used to be at Tokyo ComicCon and there have been some Star Wars/Christmas crossovers corresponding to this Darth Vader and stormtrooper.

Christmas is all about snow and ice so what higher place to incorporate my journey to see some ice hockey than this put up. It didn’t actually advantage its personal put up on Tokyo Fox however it’s (maybe) worthy of inclusion right here only for the aforementioned tenuous chilly connection!

That was Christmas 2023 in Tokyo then and should you acquired this far then I’d prefer to want YOU a (belated) Merry Christmas and a Completely happy New Yr.

Click on on the next hyperlinks to examine Christmas in Tokyo for earlier years:

2022   2021   2020   2019   2018   2017   2016   2015

(*) All films are from 2023 except famous in any other case…

1. Checkin’ It Twice; 2. The place Are You, Christmas?; 3. Below The Christmas Sky; 4. Christmas By Design; 5. Mystic Christmas; 6. Joyeux Noel; 7. Flipping For Christmas; 8. By no means Been Chris’d; 9. The Santa Summit; 10. A Gingerbread Christmas (2022); 11. Noel Subsequent Door (2022); 12. Every thing Christmas; 13. Christmas Island; 14. A Heidelberg Vacation; 15. A Christmas Frequency; 16. Navigating Christmas; 17. A Merry Scottish Christmas; 18. Vacation Hotline; 19. Christmas Time Capsule; 20. Christmas Souvenir; 21. Reporting For Christmas; 22. Catch Me If You Claus; 23. Vacation Street; 24. Christmas In Notting Hill; 25. Letters To Santa; 26. Haul Out The Holly: Lit Up; 27. Christmas At The Holly Day Inn; 28. Finest. Christmas. Ever!; 29. Ms. Christmas Comes To City; 30. Our Christmas Mural; 31. A Biltmore Christmas; 32. My Norwegian Vacation; 33. A Not So Royal Christmas; 34. Christmas With A Kiss; 35. Magic In Mistlotoe; 36. Christmas On Cherry Lane; 37. Spherical And Spherical; 38. There’s One thing In The Barn; 39. The Secret Reward Of Christmas; 40. Pals & Household Christmas; 41. Sealed With A Checklist; 42. The Santa Stakeout (2021); 43. Assist For The Holidays (2012); 44. Jingle All The Method (1996); 45. Dwelling Alone (1990); 46. Dwelling Alone 2: Misplaced In New York (1992).