With its unique customs, cuisine, and traditions, the New Year is firmly rooted in Japanese culture as one of the most important holidays of the year. Christmas, however, has also gradually found its way into the hearts of many people in Japan as a time of celebration.
To encourage students to explore and share their diverse perspectives on these annual festivities, the International Exchange Team of Tokyo Tech’s Peer Life Coaches, a student assistant group affiliated with the Student Success Support Section, Student Support Center, organized three events between December 10 and January 16 at Hisao & Hiroko Taki Plaza (Taki Plaza), the student hub on Ookayama Campus. These cultural exchange events focused on the following topics:
- What does this look like to you? Exploring diverse views among students
- Christmas in Japan: Unique customs that have taken root in the country
- Everyone’s New Year: Sharing ways of spending the year-end and New Year holidays
What does this look like to you? Exploring diverse views among students
Christmas is a celebration that brightens up homes of various cultures across the world every year. On the other hand, it is often forgotten that there are numerous regions, cultures, and people who do not celebrate Christmas. This project aimed to raise awareness regarding the diverse views that people tend to overlook in their daily lives, and to explore different perceptions of Christmas and other phenomena. Participants were encouraged to introduce their own customs and cultures while learning about the diverse perspectives that exist within the Tokyo Tech student population.
A bare fir tree without any ornaments was set up on the 1st floor of Taki Plaza, together with a notice board where students could comment on what they saw — a Christmas tree or simply a regular tree — based on their perspective, culture, and customs. After speaking to participants about the absence of Christmas in certain regions and cultures of the world, the International Exchange Team invited students to comment on whether they celebrate Christmas, and if so, how they spend the “festive season.” Some said they decorate a tree and eat cake, others said they exchange gifts, eat pizza, and watch movies. The session provided a great opportunity for those present to learn more about different ways of thinking about the period that some of us know as Christmas.
Students shared if and how they celebrate Christmas
Poster on meaning of certain numbers and colors in different cultures
On the B1 floor of Taki Plaza, event organizers also displayed posters that explained how certain objects and broader concepts such as colors and numbers are viewed very differently depending on culture or geographical region.
Christmas in Japan: Unique cultural aspects that have taken root in the country
Students writing and reading Christmas wishes
In Japan, Christmas has little religious significance to the majority of its people, and is viewed more as a neutral event to reaffirm bonds between people. Family members and close friends tend to exchange gifts with one another. In line with this custom, this second event invited students, staff, and faculty members to write down and share what they desired in the “What do you want for Christmas?” corner.
A total of 221 participants submitted their Christmas wishes. Some asked for physical gifts such as earphones or video games, but others had more abstract hopes such as a higher GPA, love, holidays, and world peace. One particularly emotional message posted by several international students was the wish to visit loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the continued challenges posed by the pandemic, the expressions of hope and communication between students brought a lively atmosphere to Taki Plaza.
May everyone’s wishes come true!
International student submitting his Christmas wish
In addition, participants were invited to design their own ornaments and decorate a Christmas tree set up next to the festive wishes corner. An instant camera was also made available so that students could dress up in Santa Claus gear and eternalize the moment.
Participants creating their own ornaments
Two international students with their Santa poses
Tree decorated with students’ original ornaments
Participants having fun with instant camera
Everyone’s New Year: Student share ways of spending the year-end and New Year holidays
The International Exchange Team of Tokyo Tech’s Peer Life Coaches currently consists of students from Cameroon, South Korea, China, Singapore, Japan, and Peru. For this event, each of the members introduced how the year-end and New Year period is spent in their home regions and within their families. In Peru, for example, people often decorate Christmas trees and eat a sweet bread called paneton. In South Korea, it is not uncommon to perform rituals that celebrate past ancestors and to eat tteok guk rice cakes. In China, many people like to decorate the environment in red and to share large meals with family members.
Introduction to New Year’s celebrations around the world by Peer Life Coach International Exchange Team
While introducing their own customs, organizers also asked the participating Tokyo Tech students to describe how they spend their year-end and New Year holidays. Some said they go back to their parents’ home and watch the popular televised Red and White Song Battle, while other stated that begin making plans for their spring vacation.
At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect us all, these three events provided Tokyo Tech students with a safe, comfortable environment where they could learn about the diverse customs and cultures of different people and regions.
Comments from participants
Graduate-level student from Pakistan
“Many people celebrate Christmas in my home country of Pakistan. Every year in Pakistan, I spend Christmas Eve with my family. I’m going home for the first time in a while this Christmas, and I’m looking forward to spending time with my family.”
Bachelor-level students from Peru and Columbia
“It feels strange not to be able to attend mass even though it’s Christmas. Oh, and it is also peculiar that everyone eats chicken around this time of year. At home, we often eat fruit because Christmas falls in the summer season and fruit is readily available.”
Bachelor-level student from Japan
“In Japan, Christmas time is about making cake orders, decorating Christmas trees, and eating chicken. I didn’t know that there are cultures that don’t celebrate Christmas at all. It was interesting to learn that Japan has developed a unique culture for Christmas, much like for Halloween and Valentine’s Day.”
The Student Support Center’s Student Success Support Section and the International Exchange Team of Tokyo Tech’s Peer Life Coaches will continue to plan and hold various exchange events and projects at Taki Plaza and other venues.
