How is Halloween celebrated in Japan?

[tokapi]

[ There were perhaps 200 to 250 foreigners present, most of them Caucasian. There was also a number of Japanese participants, most of them Japanese women. ]


Not a bit surprise, Japanese women are outgoing & prefer having some fun times with more expressive effectionate entertaining Gaijin men

 

[Davey]

If Japan doesn't want us and our 'crazy' ways near them, they shouldn't be celebrating our holidays.

What's wrong with using other countries custom and make it in some way your own custom. It goes a bit far to say they shouldn't celebrate your holidays because they disagree/dislike they way some celebrate them.

Not a bit surprise, Japanese women are outgoing & prefer having some fun times with more expressive effectionate entertaining Gaijin men

Don't be that harsh for the Japanese man, whom are trying to study and get a good job so that they can suport their family in the future. And just do not always have that much time as the average Japanese women has.

 

[diceke]

It's so naive to assume that one specific element of culture is owned by someone, when itself is a product of cultural blending and diffusion. (Foreign traditions have been incorporated into Halloween.) No one culture is self-sufficient on its own.

What you see on the Yamanote train is just a bunch westerners allowing themselves leeway (and some Japanese taking advantage of this occasion.)

Please, please, please learn the word responsibility. No one wants to import rowdy idiots from another country. (And Halloween is NOT a Japanese holiday, the accusation of theft unfounded, check out the calendar!)

 

[pipokun]

Sorry for my ignorance, but tell me how many ancient Gaelic or Celtic people live in Canada now.
A funny story about Christmas here was that a missionary introduced the story using a Japanese-like name, Santa Kuro, in a Sunday school in the Meiji era . I don't know where he/she came from, but he/she must be the cause of evil. So please blame the Christian missionary first, then blame us.

 

[diceke]

So please blame the Christian missionary first, then blame us.

Right on!

Blame the Japanese

By George Dawson, New York Times, 1/29/92

When the 'phone is out of order, and the roof has sprung a leak,
When the money in your paycheck barely gets you through the week,
When the baby has the colic, and your dog is full of fleas,
Don't complain to Washington--just blame the Japanese.

When the crooks are running rampant, and the judges are too lax,
When letters from the IRS demand some extra tax,
When your son is quitting college, and your daughter's getting D's,
Just do what Iacocca does--and curse the Japanese.

When your taxes keep on rising, while your bank-book starts to shrink,
When pollution clouds your city, so the air begins to stink,
When the temperature is falling, and your pipes are sure to freeze,
Call upon your Congressman to bash the Japanese.

When everyone around you is complaining of the news,
And some condemn the Arabs while others blast the Jews,
Stiffen up your lip, my son, and never bend your knees--
Just be a true American, and blame the Japanese.



George Dawson is emeritus professor of economics at Empire State, College of the State University of New York

 

[Murs]

There were a good amount of Japanese people with them from the guys response, so it isn't all there fault.

diceke;
I agree that some cultures are a mix of others etc, but I'm not sure Halloween has anything to do with Japan or the far-east. Though thats not really my point.

I think that when we borrow something from them, like anime, technology etc I dont whine about the sub titles or the device being an unusually size or whatever. If your going to adopt something then prepare to have the whole package. I think I haven't articulated myself properly here btu i hope people understand .

 

[MadamePapillon]

Sorry for my ignorance, but tell me how many ancient Gaelic or Celtic people live in Canada now.

Halloween is celebrated all over the western world, from Russia to Germany to Canada. We have been intertwining with each other for thousands of years, even our languages, while different still share a common root. The fact is that western society, for all of it's differences, is basically one. We have such a long history of taking and borrowing from each other to the point where it is ridiculous to say what you just said.

Japan on the other hand is an island that had been closed to the world for many years. It's about as far away from the west (culturally) as anything and has had very little to do with us until recently. Yet they import our holidays, not even bothering to learn the history or the beahviors associated with it and then get shocked when westerners come over and go wild on a holiday that is famous for being a trouble magnet.

Trust me, worse things happen over here during that holiday, but if Japan had cared enought to do the homework they would have known that. Causing a public disturbance is far less worse than vandalizing graveyards, devil worshipping, getting fingers blown off by firecrackers and putting razorblades in apples.

 

[MadamePapillon]

What's wrong with using other countries custom and make it in some way your own custom. It goes a bit far to say they shouldn't celebrate your holidays because they disagree/dislike they way some celebrate them.

It's not that it's another country that took our holiday, it's that they didn't bother to learn anything about it. That and the fact that there is a definite anti-foreign seniment among quite a large number of the population. So they're willing to take our holidays but not so willing to take the people.

It'd be like us saying... Hey, kanji looks cool, we're going to incorparate it into our alphabet and use it to pronounce english words. But don't bother coming over, we only want your kanji, not you. Oh, and by the way, you can't vote, nope, not even if you live here. We only want 'real' Canadians voting.

 

[diceke]

Sorry for my ignorance, but tell me how many ancient Gaelic or Celtic people live in Canada now.

Christmas is celebrated all over the western world, from Russia to Germany to Canada.

I'm sure the question was about Halloween, and not Christmas. Someone forgot to do her history homework, then. She doesn't know anything about HER holiday, you know how ridiculous the accusation is?

 

[MadamePapillon]

My bad...I was talking about Christmas with my sister when I wrote that. I have Christmas on the brain, it's getting close to the holiday season.

 

[diceke]

Halloween is celebrated all over the western world, from Russia to Germany to Canada. We have been intertwining with each other for thousands of years, even our languages, while different still share a common root. The fact is that western society, for all of it's differences, is basically one. We have such a long history of taking and borrowing from each other to the point where it is ridiculous to say what you just said.

Someone forgot to do her history homework again! In Germany, Halloween has become popular in recent years due to the influence of American pop culture. It has nothing to do with thousands of history!

Japan on the other hand is an island that had been closed to the world for many years. It's about as far away from the west (culturally) as anything and has had very little to do with us until recently. Yet they import our holidays, not even bothering to learn the history or the beahviors associated with it and then get shocked when westerners come over and go wild on a holiday that is famous for being a trouble magnet.

I don't see any difference between Germany and Japan in the way both countries are under the influence of globalization in this 21st century.

But, how many times do I (and others) have to say this? The majority do not celebrate Halloween in Japan.

From my experiences, there aren't many Japanese that celebrate Halloween in any noticeable way, except for a few parties and decorations here and there.
Other than the insane Yamanote Train Party (which I've once witnessed firsthand), I daresay the holiday slips by unnoticed by most.

Perhaps, most people are not against innocent fun, but having fun at the expense of others is a big no-no in Japan, foreigner or Japanese! Partying, shouting, chanting, vandalizing property, harassing on a train are not acceptable behaviors by any standard, legally and morally! I heard that the US embassy also discourages this rude Halloween party. Stop playing the gaijin/racism card!

http://img89.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2006jrwarningpaperwe4.jpg

 

[MadamePapillon]

Someone forgot to do her history homework again! In Germany, Halloween has become popular in recent years due to the influence of American pop culture. It has nothing to do with thousands of history!

Wow. Yet again with that 'the west doesn't have a culture' attitude. Halloween is an old time celebration of the dead, known also as All Hallows Eve and All Saints Day and it HAS been around for thousands of years all over the west. It is commonly known as the time of the year when the barrier between the world of the living and the dead is thinnest. American pop culture has absolutely nothing to do with it.
Here, educate yourself. A little history on Halloween in Germany.
http://www.serve.com/shea/germusa/allsaint.htm
And this is why I have a problem with Japan taking on our holidays. Pure, unashamed ignorance and the idea that the west is somehow just a pseudo-culture in comparision with the east. It's all fine to take our holidays and not bother to learn anything about them because they aren't real holidays.
I wonder if it was the reverse and we were taking eastern holidays as an excuse to party and get drunk with no prior knowledge about them...what would you have to say about that?
Halloween stirs imagination in costume-loving Japan

Japan also has a celebration for the dead, known as Obon, but many Japanese don't seem to realize that Halloween has a similar meaning. They prefer to focus on the party.

"Japanese people like festivals very much, you see. We even celebrate Christmas, but we don't celebrate Christ, we just enjoy," says Yoshiaki Ei, an affable entrepreneur wearing jeans and a blue long-sleeve T-shirt.

 

[diceke]

All Saints Day traditionally has nothing to do with Halloween in Europe (excluding Britain & Ireland, of course). Halloween is understood in the American cultural context today. (At least, read what you insert in your post as a reference.)

Damn these Europeans, they are capitalizing on the Canadian holiday!

Halloween in Germany - Fodor's Travel Talk Forums

 

[Murs]

All Saints Day does have something to do with halloween if i remember correctly one is like a preparation for the other, not sure.

Also I think the east asain attitude needs some questionning here. I think they like to believe that nothing apart from "partying" comes from the west and no culture in order to validate their preceived cultural supremacy. So its no wonder that they don't understand our holidays. Generalising, but this is what I've experience from people of this region.

 

[diceke]

I don't understand your complaint, but maybe the first step to take is to stop teaching Halloween in English classes (and schools) in Japan and the rest of the world. Then, it will "go like the hula hoop" in France! Looks like some English teachers here are responsible for corrupting the Japanese!

 

[MadamePapillon]

What's not to understand? Even after all the evidence to the contrary you seem intent on trying to convince us that, no, Halloween (or All Hallows Eve) isn't an old western tradition, it was manufactured in America to make money. You compare an ancient holiday to the HULA HOOP, which makes me think that you don't actually understand and still, after all this, see it as a disposable party fad.

I think it's that very attitude Murs was trying to get across to you. The perception in the east that they are culturally and traditionally superior to us in every way. You seem utterly set on denying that we have any history or tradition beyond American pop culture. Ever heard of the Druids, how about the ancient Romans or Greeks, or the Vikings? Were they bedtime stories made up by an american company to make money as well?

 

[diceke]

You are cherry picking your "evidence" and accusing me of things I didn't even say, I guess it's out of control now.

 

[pipokun]

A 29 year old evangelist was arrested for Enjokosai with a 14 year old girl.
Mayuzumi has become acquainted with the girl through an online dating site.
29ﾂ催寂?彖窶慊ｹﾅｽt窶堋ｪ窶吮??窶啣ﾂ鞘?版ｽq窶堙??堙昶?堋ｾ窶堙ｧ窶堙按行ﾋ?
ﾂ ﾂ神窶愿楪静ｬﾅ陳ｧﾅ遅ﾂ静や?杯ﾂ渉絶?堙坂?啣窶啀窶愿ｺﾂ、窶ｰﾂ｡窶｢lﾅｽs窶愿?窶堙娯?吮??ﾅ?w窶啣窶扼窶堙個鞘?版ｽqﾂ青ｶ窶很ﾂ（窶啀窶售ﾂ）窶堙??堙昶?堋ｾ窶堙ｧ窶堙按行ﾋ?冷?堙ｰ窶堋ｵ窶堋ｽ窶堙??堋ｵ窶堙?、ﾅｽ邃｢窶慊ｶ窶｢ﾅｸﾅｽﾆ停?邸ﾋ?｡窶敖ｽﾂ（ﾋ?ｺﾂ行ﾂ）窶堙娯?ｹ^窶堋｢窶堙??愿ｺ窶怒ﾆ鱈ﾆ椎?ﾆ湛ﾆ暖窶ｹﾂｳ窶冂ﾋ?､窶冦窶ｹﾂｳ窶ｰﾃｯ窶堙娯?彖窶慊ｹﾅｽt窶佚｡窶敖ｪﾋ弸窶覇窶ｹ^ﾅｽﾃ陳（窶啣窶唸ﾂ）窶堙ｰ窶佚溪?｢ﾃ溪?堋ｵ窶堋ｽﾂ。
http://www.nikkansports.com/general/f-gn-tp0-20071121-285928.html

To be fair, there are also corrupted Buddhism monks.

Akita local police arrested a 31 year old zen monk for Enjokosai with a 17 year old girl.
ﾂ秋窶彡窶氾閉港ﾂ渉絶?堙坂?啣窶售窶愿ｺﾂ、ﾂ秋窶彡ﾅ陳ｧﾂ静つ渉ｭ窶扼ﾅ停?吮?牢ﾋ?ｧﾂ青ｬﾂ湘ｰ窶氾｡ﾋ?｡窶敖ｽ窶堙娯?ｹ^窶堋｢窶堙?、窶慊ｯﾅ陳ｧ窶佚･ﾅ?ﾃ卩ｽs窶堙娯?藁窶板ｵﾂ債ｲ窶慊｡ﾂ恒窶ｰp窶覇窶ｹ^ﾅｽﾃ陳（窶啌窶啀ﾂ）窶堙ｰ窶佚溪?｢ﾃ溪?堋ｵ窶堋ｽﾂ。ﾂ債ｲ窶慊｡窶覇窶ｹ^ﾅｽﾃ停?堙坂?覇窶ｹ^窶堙ｰ窶敕帚?戳窶堋ｵ窶堙??堋｢窶堙ｩ窶堙??堋｢窶堋､ﾂ。窶卍ｲ窶堙冷?堙??堙債、ﾂ債ｲ窶慊｡窶覇窶ｹ^ﾅｽﾃ停?堙坂?啖窶愿ｺﾂ、ﾂ秋窶彡ﾅｽs窶堙姑築ﾆ弾ﾆ停?ｹ窶堙?、ﾂ出窶ｰﾃｯ窶堋｢ﾅ地ﾆ探ﾆ辰ﾆ暖窶堙??冦窶堙ｨﾂ坂?｡窶堙≫?堋ｽ窶慊ｯﾅｽs窶堙可住窶堙楪静ｪ窶禿･ﾅ?wﾂ校窶堙個鞘?版ｽqﾂ青ｶ窶很ﾂ（窶啀窶啖ﾂ）窶堋ｪ窶啀窶啗ﾂ催寂?督｢窶毒ｾ窶堙??冦窶堙ｨ窶堙遺?堋ｪ窶堙ｧ窶堙ｭ窶堋｢窶堋ｹ窶堙や?堙按行ﾋ?冷?堙ｰ窶堋ｵ窶堋ｽ窶ｹ^窶堋｢

The persons are responsible for what they did, not temple or church is responsible for them.
But if you claim something like "Halloween is OUR culture", please take responsibility for the crimes which the priest, monk, or believer commits. It is also YOURS.

 

[diceke]

Japan unashamedly took Christianity from St. Xavier in the 16th century!!!!:bikkuri:!

 

[Mars Man]

It may be best to pay careful attention to what's been said here on this thread regarding 'Holloween celebration in Japan.' The OP obviously asked the question in innocence and ignorance. The question has been answered.

Anything else here should be on topic, please. Holloween is not 'celebrated' in Japan, while festivities are making inroads into popular culture. That's it, pretty much.