Well, they celebrate Christmas the same as how it's becoming in the West: as an entirely commercial holiday. Our Christmas, where everyone in the family gets together and exchanges presents, is their New Year; their Christmas is more like our New Year (an excuse to get drunk, mostly).
A couple of weeks ago we saw the first Christmas decorations being sold in the home store, and about three days ago I heard the first Christmas music being played in a shop. It was one of those moments when you hear Mariah Carey's voice singing "I don't want a lot for Christmas..." and you feel like curling up in a ball and screaming NOOOOOOOOOO...
Generally my rule is: If it's not December, it's not Christmas yet. When it becomes December, I shall give in and buy a very small fake Christmas tree from the 100 yen store to put in my room, but until then I shall not acknowledge it.
Oh, hang on... by writing this, was I acknowledging it?
