My daughter spent 2 years living in a rural village in Japan (in Fukushima Prefecture where the much discussed nuclear reactor is, as a matter of fact). The people there were absolutely wonderful to her I know that is not the case nationwide, where foreigners often remain suspect
The day she left, half the village came out to the train station to see her off, had hosted parties, teas, luncheons and dinners to celebrate her farewell and to thank her for her contribution to their children’s lives as a teacher of English. Gifts you wouldn’t believe! So I have a soft spot in my heart for those people.
One Christmas she came home, and upon arriving at Reagan National was astonished at how minimally it was ‘done up’ for the holiday vs. Tokyo and even her little village. See, at Reagan National and across the US we don’t want to offend anyone!
Nice story...yes, Christmas has become an unpopular word in our society. Department stores have to be careful how customers are greeted with a safety phrase of Happy Holidays. One has to sort through the boxes of cards to find one that is printed with Merry Christmas and not just Happy Holidays/Seasons Greetings.
The sounds of Christmas have also been revised. Perhaps we just should move to Japan.