{"id":6511,"date":"2025-12-17T13:45:04","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T13:45:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dutchwasabi.nl\/?p=6511"},"modified":"2026-02-09T13:33:59","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T13:33:59","slug":"a-japanese-christmas-%e2%9c%a8-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dutchwasabi.nl\/en\/een-japanse-kerst-%e2%9c%a8\/","title":{"rendered":"A Japanese Christmas"},"content":{"rendered":"
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For many people, Christmas conjures up images of family, elaborate dinners and traditions that have lasted for generations. In Japan, the feeling surrounding Christmas is a touch different. It is neither a religious holiday nor a time when families gather en masse. Nevertheless, Christmas is now an integral part of the Japanese street scene. Large cities are decorated with twinkling lights and Christmas markets, stores respond to the festive atmosphere and restaurants offer special Christmas menus. Japanese Christmas is all about atmosphere, romance and... surprising food!<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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How Christmas found its way to Japan<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Traditionally, Christmas is not celebrated in Japan. Christianity forms only a small minority there and Christmas therefore has no religious significance for most Japanese. Nevertheless, Christmas began to become increasingly visible during the 20th century, mainly under the influence of Western countries. After World War II, exposure to American culture increased greatly, through media, businesses and international trade. Stores, hotels and restaurants cleverly capitalized on this, presenting Christmas primarily as a seasonal and atmospheric event.<\/span><\/p>

Instead of a traditional celebration with set rituals, Christmas in Japan grew into a commercial and cultural celebration focused on conviviality, gifts and experience. Especially in large cities, Christmas became a time to unpack with decorations, special menus and winter events; separate from religion, but rich in atmosphere.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Romance<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Anyone walking through Japanese cities in December will quickly notice that Christmas is all about atmosphere and experience. Large parts of cities like Tokyo, Osaka and Yokohama are transformed with impressive \u2018illuminations\u2019: elaborate light installations that make streets, parks and shopping malls sparkle. These light festivals attract millions of visitors each year and are an important part of the winter season. In addition, Christmas markets and winter festivals inspired by Western Christmas markets are appearing with increasing frequency. Think hot drinks, such as Gl\u00fchwein, seasonal snacks and photogenic decorations.<\/span><\/p>

Christmas in Japan is thus primarily a visual and cozy winter event, focused on enjoying the atmosphere together. That atmospheric setting provides the perfect backdrop for what perhaps typifies Christmas in Japan the most: romance. Unlike the West, Christmas here is not a typical family celebration, but rather a time for couples. Christmas Eve is often seen as a romantic date, similar to Valentine's Day. Restaurants offer special Christmas menus and reservations are sometimes made weeks in advance. Eating out together, viewing lights and experiencing the city in festive atmosphere is key.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Deep-fried chicken from KFC<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Perhaps the most surprising Christmas tradition in Japan is eating Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). In the run-up to Christmas, long lines appear at KFC branches and many people order their Christmas meal well in advance. This tradition originated in the 1970s, when Western residents in Japan were looking for an alternative to the classic Christmas turkey. KFC cleverly capitalized on this with the marketing campaign \u201dKentucky for Christmas,\u201d known in Japan as \u201dKentakk\u012b wa kurisumasu\u201d\u00a0<\/em>(\u30b1\u30f3\u30bf\u30c3\u30ad\u30fc\u306f\u30af\u30ea\u30b9\u30de\u30b9), which grew into an unexpectedly great success.<\/span><\/p>

Since then, fried chicken has been the Christmas dish of Japan. Families, groups of friends and couples enjoy special Christmas sets with chicken and side dishes, often topped with something sweet. And that sweet ending is at least as iconic as the chicken itself: the Japanese Christmas Cake, or\u00a0kurisumasu k\u0113ki<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Christmas cake<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In addition to fried chicken, Christmas Cake is an integral part of Christmas in Japan. This\u00a0kurisumasu k\u0113ki\u00a0<\/em>(\u30af\u30ea\u30b9\u30de\u30b9\u30b1\u30fc\u30ad) is quite different from the heavy (Christmas) cakes we know in the West. It is usually an airy sponge cake, made up of layers of soft cake, whipped cream and fresh strawberries. The cake is often finished with a light sprinkling of powdered sugar or simple decorations.<\/span><\/p>

This kurisumasu k\u0113ki (\u30af\u30ea\u30b9\u30de\u30b9\u30b1\u30fc\u30ad) was first sold early last century by a Yokohama pastry shop called Fujiya. The bakery's founder became inspired during his trip to the US to start selling the Christmas Cake at home in Yokohama, where relatively many Westerners lived. Often shared by couples or small parties, the Christmas Cake is a light, festive end to Christmas dinner.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Desserts: not too sweet!<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The concept of a \u2018dessert\u2019 as the last dish after the evening meal, as we know it in Holland and the West, did not originally exist in Japan. When people in Japan eat something after a meal, the first thing they eat is often fresh fruit. In addition, sweets (besides fruit) were and are eaten, but usually with tea or prior to a tea ceremony.<\/span><\/p>

After a formal meal in Japan, people often\u00a0matcha<\/strong>\u00a0(tea) served (not a matcha latte, as matcha is mostly known in the West, but really as \u2018tea,\u2019 using only water) and accompanying small sweets:\u00a0matcha<\/strong>\u00a0is the \u2018tea ceremony tea\u2019 in Japan. However, this is still not really a \u2019dessert\u2019 or full dish as we know it here; it has another purpose, which is to complement the tea flavor.<\/span><\/p>

\u201dNot too sweet\u201d is often one of the biggest compliments in Japan (and many other Asian countries) when it comes to desserts and sweets. Something can be nice and sweet, but preferably not so sweet that it overpowers the subtle taste of the main ingredients; you want to keep tasting the delicious and unique flavor of the other ingredients. This is also why Christmas Cake is generally very airy and with fresh fruit!<\/span><\/p>

However, due to globalization and influence from the West, you will find the Western concept of a dessert and sweets such as cakes and pies increasingly found in Japan, sometimes even more than the original or traditional Japanese sweets, especially in big cities. Even the Christmas cake (kurisumasu k\u0113ki<\/em>), the Japanese Christmas dessert, is actually not originally Japanese. European desserts or sweets, such as sponge cake, were introduced to Japan by Portuguese and Dutch traders during the Momoyama period (1573-1615) and were known in Japan at the time as\u00a0namban-gashi<\/em>\u00a0(\u2018southern barbarian sweets\u2019).<\/span><\/p>

Sugar did not become a commonly used ingredient until the Meiji period (1868-1912), which became widely pervasive and spread to all segments of the population (not just the elite) in Japan. Chocolate was also introduced only after 1868. In addition, the word\u00a0kurisumasu k\u0113ki<\/em>\u00a0taken directly from the English \u2018Christmas cake\u2019 (just pronounce it out loud), but adapted to Japanese pronunciation and spelling: a\u00a0gairaigo<\/em>, a type of loanword from other languages (except Chinese) that is very common in Japanese.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Christmas with a Japan touch<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Has your attention been caught by the KFC story? Make fried or roasted chicken or turkey with a Japanese marinade this year. This is perfectly possible with products from our range; Japanese cuisine excels in\u00a0tastemakers<\/strong>!<\/span><\/p>

Did you find the desserts and cake story inspiring? Japanese cuisine also offers plenty of inspiration for desserts. Of course, you can combine endlessly with flavors from your own familiar kitchen. Think of homemade\u00a0mochi<\/strong>\u00a0with\u00a0red bean paste\u00a0(anko)<\/em><\/strong>, ice cream, whipped cream,\u00a0matcha<\/strong>\u00a0or chocolate - also delicious with coffee, tea or a glass of mulled wine.<\/span><\/p>

Matcha<\/strong>\u00a0isn't just for drinking, by the way. Use it in tiramisu, ice cream, cake or cookies. It not only gives your desserts a wonderful depth of flavor, but also a spectacular green color. A real hit, especially with the younger generation.<\/span><\/p>

See below for an example of a scrumptious Christmas menu with a Japanese touch!<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u2726<\/strong>\u00a0Aperitif<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

Cocktail\/spritz from\u00a0fruitsake<\/strong>\u00a0(e.g..\u00a0yuzu<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0mikan<\/strong>)<\/span>
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<\/strong>Mocktail of yuzu juice (self-pressed<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0pre-made (100% juice)<\/strong>) or\u00a0shiso syrup<\/strong><\/span>
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<\/strong>Iburigakko<\/strong>\u00a0(marinated and pickled daikon)<\/span><\/p>

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\u2726 Amuse<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

Blinis with cream cheese, salmon and\u00a0tonburi<\/strong>\u00a0(\u201dcountry caviar\u201d)<\/span><\/p>

(finished with a drop of\u00a0ponzu<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0yuzu soy sauce<\/strong>)<\/span>
Or
<\/strong>Nori chips with salmon tartare, yuzu and fresh wasabi or wasabi mayonnaise<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

-> Vega? Replace salmon with marinated (cooked) carrot.<\/span><\/p>

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\u2726 Appetizer<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

Dashi<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0miso<\/strong>\u00a0soup with\u00a0shiitake<\/strong>, spring onion and tofu<\/span><\/p>

(Finished with a few drops\u00a0negi-oil<\/strong>)
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\u2726 Main course<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

Roasted chicken or turkey marinated with\u00a0yakiniku sauce<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0sumo miso<\/strong><\/span>
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Salad with a dressing of\u00a0sakura smoked vinegar<\/strong>, mustard, olive oil, shallot, salt and pepper.<\/span>
Or<\/span>
Roasted carrots with honey-miso<\/strong>\u00a0glaze<\/span>
+<\/span>
Potato gratin with\u00a0light miso<\/strong>, nutmeg and grated cheese<\/span><\/p>

-> Vega? Replace the chicken\/turkey with tofu or\u00a0shiitake<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

-> Drink there?\u00a0Japanese rice lower<\/strong>, a dry\u00a0sake<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0shiso delight <\/strong>(non-alcohol)
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\u2726 Cheese board<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

With\u00a0yubeshi<\/strong>\u00a0(like fig bread),\u00a0yuzu marmalade<\/strong>\u00a0and crunchy\u00a0nori chips
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\u2726 Dessert<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

Matcha<\/strong>\u00a0tiramisu<\/span>
or<\/span>
Mochi<\/strong>\u00a0with ice cream, whipped cream &\u00a0red bean paste (anko)<\/strong><\/span>
or<\/span>
Trifle with\u00a0yuzu curd<\/strong>\u00a0(and possibly.\u00a0yuzu sake<\/strong>)<\/span><\/p>

-> Drink there?\u00a0Chokyu<\/strong>\u00a0syrupy port-like sake or\u00a0shiso\u00a0<\/strong>syrup <\/b>(non-alcoholic)<\/span><\/p>


Want to make it really spectacular? Then take a look at our range of\u00a0Koppert Cress<\/strong>. From edible flowers to buds and leaves; this is how to make any dish extra festive!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Merry Christmas!<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Kerstmis roept bij veel mensen beelden op van familie, uitgebreide diners en tradities die al generaties meegaan. In Japan is<\/p>","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":8330,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_angie_page":false,"page_builder":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[328],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6511","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-info"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchwasabi.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6511","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchwasabi.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchwasabi.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchwasabi.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchwasabi.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6511"}],"version-history":[{"count":35,"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchwasabi.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6511\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8969,"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchwasabi.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6511\/revisions\/8969"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchwasabi.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8330"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchwasabi.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6511"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchwasabi.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6511"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchwasabi.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6511"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}