Christmas Eve in Japan

Christmas Eve has been hyped by the T.V. media as being a time for romantic miracles. It is seen as a time to be spent with one's boyfriend or girlfriend in a romantic setting, so fancy restaurants and hotels are often booked solid at this time. It is often also a time when girls get to reveal their affections to boys and vice versa. Because of this, extending a girl an invitation to be together on Christmas Eve has very deep, romantic implications. Christmas seems to be closer to the Western concept of St.Valentine's Day.


Christmas presents are exchanged between people with romantic commitments as well as close friends. The presents tend to be 'cute' and often include teddy bears, flowers, and scarves. Sometimes they are slightly expensive because of the relationship to the person to which they are given to. (i.e. rings and other jewelry). Christmas cards are also given to close friends.


For the more elderly couples, many hotels host dinner shows featuring major singers, actors, and actresses. Tickets to these shows, due to the season, are very pricey.


Christmas lighting and displays are often up at the end of October.  There is also a trend developing for make-it-yourself presents. (written by Billy Hammond)

Shōjo Manga

shōjo, shojo, or shoujo manga refers to manga marketed to a female audience roughly between the ages of 10 and 18. 

The name romanizes the Japanese (shōjo), literally: "little female". Shōjo manga covers many subjects in a variety of narrative and graphic styles, from historical drama to science fiction - often with a strong focus on human and romantic relationships and emotions. Strictly speaking, shōjo manga does not comprise a style or a genre per se, but rather indicates a target demographic. 

(definition taken from Wikipedia)

Shojo Beat, a shōjo manga magazine published by Viz Media in North America from 2005 to 2009.

Some of my favourite shoujo manga are: 

Absolute Boyfriend, Fruits Basket, Fushigi Yugi, Ouran Highschool Host Club, Tokyo Mew Mew (all of these manga have been made into Anime series except for Absolute Boyfriend, it has been made into a short Japanese drama live-action series called "Zettai Kareshi")