Christmas In Japan

Above, the Wako Dept. Store with Christmas lights lighting up the clock tower in Ginza. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

An interesting article on Christmas in Japan was posted at Huffington Post.com:

Although it is said that most Japanese are Shinto and Buddhist, few people are aware the Japanese also participate in "commercialized Christianity" in order to take advantage of those fun Christian holidays.

Christmas, with its sparkly, over-glitzed trees, a cherry-cheeked Santa Claus and the ritual of gift-giving is irresistible to the Japanese who have taken to celebrating Christmas on a superficial level. You can hardly blame them for wanting to participate in such an entertaining religion.

But the Japanese have adjusted Christmas to their own liking. Santa-san enters the house through the window and brings one gift to each child on Christmas Eve, which he leaves on the child's bed.

To read the full article, go here.

Japan Christmas

Above, the Shibuya 109 building all decked out. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For a country with under 2% calling themselves Christian, I found it interesting to see so much of Japan with Christmas decorations.

Last December, I visited Japan with most of my activities confined to Tokyo for The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan-related business and Niigata for rest and relaxation. I stayed at two hotels and both had a Christmas tree in the lobby.

Here's some photos of Christmas decorations I saw:

Above, the Mitsukoshi Department store at Ginza Crossing. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Christmas trees adorn Ginza sidewalks along Chuo Dori. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, yours truly in front of a sushi restaurant near the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo. Note the Christmas decorations on the restaurant's window.

Above, the Wako Department store in Ginza. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Godzilla Continuity Error?

While perusing the original Japanese version of Godzilla (1954), I saw something that I never noticed before.



During Godzilla's rampage in Tokyo, the Wako Department Store in Ginza is demolished by the beast after the clock on the building gongs the hour (above picture). A scant minute or so later, there is a shot of the burning Tokyo skyline with Godzilla in the background (in the form of a puppet). In this scene, Ginza is clearly shown including what appears to be the Wako Department Store with its clock tower INTACT.

Above, could this (see arrow) be the Wako Department Store clock tower in Ginza in a scene AFTER Godzilla already destroyed it?

Could this be a little continuity error?