Quick Answer: Christmas in Japan is strongly associated with couples, creating pressure and loneliness for those spending it alone. The term "kuribocchi" (spending Christmas alone) reflects this social expectation. However, attitudes are changing—many young people now say they don't mind being alone on Christmas. Media and marketing since the 1980s shaped this unique "couples' Christmas" culture.
📌 Related Article: History of Japanese Christmas Culture
Why Did Christmas Become a "Couples' Day" in Japan?
Japanese Christmas developed differently from Western religious and family-oriented celebrations, evolving into a romantic event for couples. As someone who grew up in Japan, I was actually surprised when I learned that Christmas in the West is spent with family rather than a romantic partner.
Media and Marketing Influence
In the late 1980s, JR Central's "Christmas Express" TV commercial series was a major turning point. Dramatic scenes of couples living apart reuniting on Christmas Eve, set to Tatsuro Yamashita's song "Christmas Eve," created major buzz.
During the bubble economy era, customs like giving Tiffany accessories and dining at upscale restaurants became popular. Companies and media actively promoted this "couples' holiday" image, establishing "Christmas = a day for couples" as the norm.
Why Do People Feel Pressure to Spend Christmas with a Partner?
Many young women believe "Christmas is for spending with a partner or someone you like."
This social expectation can create pressure for those without a partner:
- Anxiety and stress: Many people feel anxious or stressed as Christmas approaches
- Inferiority from comparison: Seeing happy couples can make people feel "left behind"
- Social media impact: Posts of happy couples can trigger negative feelings
This psychological burden can lead to obsessive thoughts like "I need to find a partner before Christmas" or, conversely, distancing from friends who have partners.
What Does "Kuribocchi" Mean?
"Kuribocchi" is slang for "spending Christmas alone." The term itself carries a nuance that being alone is sad, and for many single young people, Christmas has been a day that highlights loneliness.
Changing Attitudes
However, views on "kuribocchi" are changing.
Many young people plan to spend Christmas alone, and many say they don't feel lonely about spending Christmas alone.
Common reasons include:
- "Christmas is just like any other day"
- "I want to relax alone"
When asked about ideal ways to spend Christmas, "staying home alone" ranked higher than "spending with a partner" in some surveys.
I don't mind it now, but when I was a student and more impressionable, I did spend some Christmases alone with mixed feelings. At the time, I felt left out by the festive mood around me, but looking back, it was just another part of growing up.
What Are the Risks of Christmas Eve Expectations?
Japanese Christmas Eve is considered a special romantic night for young couples. However, this overly sexualized atmosphere has negative aspects.
Impact on Young People
Some high school and college students engage in their first sexual experience on Christmas Eve, thinking "it's a special night." Without adequate knowledge or preparation, impulsive actions can lead to unwanted pregnancy or STI risks.
The Christmas spending mood can also raise concerns about sexual exploitation. This period's "special night" atmosphere may influence young people's decision-making and safety (contraception, consent, STIs). Specific realities vary depending on surveys and reports, so we avoid making definitive claims.
However, the Christmas fever of the bubble era has calmed somewhat. Reports and surveys discuss various aspects of love hotel occupancy rates on Christmas Eve.
How Do People React Online During Christmas Season?
During Christmas season, unusual reactions appear on social media. Hashtags like "#リア充爆発しろ" (explode, happy couples) and "#クリぼっち最高" (kuribocchi is great) circulate, with envious or hostile comments on happy couples' photos. I often see people labeled as "non-mote" (unpopular with the opposite sex) expressing their frustrations about Christmas online, often mixing genuine complaints with humor.
In the late 2010s, "Christmas Smashing Demos" were held annually near Shibuya Station, where groups of men chanted "Explode, happy couples!" while marching. They held signs saying "Down with relationship capitalism," functioning as a kind of social pressure release.
Meanwhile, the common belief that "suicides increase at Christmas" is actually contradicted by data. Multiple international studies show suicide rates decrease during Christmas and return to normal or increase after New Year. In Japan, more suicides occur in March (fiscal year-end) and June (rainy season) than in December. However, the loneliness of spending Christmas alone or feelings of inferiority from comparison can lead to serious depression or self-denial depending on a person's mental state, so caution is needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Christmas a "couples' day" in Japan?
Media and marketing from the late 1980s played a major role. JR Central's "Christmas Express" commercials and bubble-era consumer culture established the image of Christmas as "a special day for couples." While Christmas in the West is a religious holiday spent with family, in Japan it developed as a commercial event, creating this unique form.
Is "kuribocchi" a bad thing?
Not necessarily. Recent surveys show many young people say they don't mind spending Christmas alone. As values diversify, more people think "it's fine to enjoy Christmas without a partner." Choosing your own way to spend it is what matters.
How do foreigners view Japanese Christmas?
Many foreigners find Japan's "couples' Christmas" unusual. In the West, Christmas is a religious holiday spent with family, and the idea of it as a romantic day for couples is not common. You may hear questions like "Why do so many Japanese people spend Christmas with their partners?"
Cultural Context
Criticism of "Relationship Capitalism"
Japanese Christmas culture has been criticized as "relationship capitalism"—a structure that promotes the idea that "you're only worth something if you have a partner" and sells products and services to fulfill that need.
Like Valentine's Day, Christmas has been positioned by companies as "a day for couples" to stimulate consumption.
New Forms of Christmas
However, companies are beginning to adapt:
- Solo-friendly products: Lotteria's "Kuribocchi Chicken Pack" and other sets for solo diners
- Self-reward campaigns: Lumine's "Xmas for ME" campaign promoting self-gifts
Young people are also pushing back against relationship-focused Christmas. Hashtags like "#クリスマスなんてただの平日" (Christmas is just a regular day) appear on social media, showing a layer of people quietly observing the festive mood.
Many in Gen Z believe "you don't need a partner for Christmas." Even without partners, people are exploring new solo Christmas activities like buying themselves presents or engaging with their favorite hobbies.