Last year I spent Christmas surrounded by family, huge amounts of food and spiced rum. I also spent New Years Eve out and about in London with friends watching the fireworks and welcoming in the New Year: 2014. Only a year has passed but it feels like it’s been much longer. It’s now 2015, and I’ve spent both holidays in my university dorm relaxing and resting my body from partying nights before both days.
My Christmas holidays and New Years Eve were both fun, but quiet. It’s not a bad thing, I was able to stay at home, scrummage together a dinner to eat with my flatmates and speak to family on Skype. But it was definitely different to what I’m used to and what all of us exchange students are used to, due to being in another country.
It’s interesting too. Observing Christmas and New Year’s spirit in Japan was quite an experience. Most people here celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve, with their romantic partners, eat fried chicken… and that’s if they celebrate it at all. But Japan, well Osaka, does go the extra mile for the commercial Christmas spirit. And though it wasn’t as in-my-face as back home, downtown Osaka did have some pretty lights and winter sales going. My local supermarket had some big sales, but I was too busy trying to get knocked off my feet by little old ladies rushing for the already prepared fried chicken to notice so much.
By comparison, New Year’s is definitely a bigger spectacle in the UK. And though, ashamedly, I didn’t leave my building, I was very much informed by all the Facebook statuses, Instagram pictures and Snapchat photos from friends in various places partying and doing the countdown together. I instead decided to do what I knew I won’t be able to do when I return back home; I watched Downtown Gaki no Tsukai Batsu Game (a comedic variety show that lasts 6 hours) while it aired on TV.
So yes, maybe I was a little bit composed and boring this year, however I still had fun! I’ll be getting back to some crazy, jam-packed nights and tourist adventures in due time.
But until then, happy holidays everyone, and enjoy the New Year!!
@daKUROMAMA
Read more about Rei’s time in Japan here.
The post What’s It Like Spending The New Year In Japan? appeared first on Live Mag UK.