According to OpenTable Japan’s survey, 70.3% of men in their 20s and 30s will spend Christmas without a significant other. Women however fare much better, with 57.5% left without a hand to hold.
Making the rounds online in Japan are call outs to cancel Christmas:
Notification of Cancellation of Christmas
Christmas, planned to take place on December 24 & 25, 2013 has been cancelled. Please note that public display of affection between men and women are banned during this period.
There are even some manipulated images of news broadcasts to make it look as if the holiday really has been cancelled, claiming that Santa has gone missing or has died.
A similar event happened in Valentine’s Day season, reasoning being that there was a risk of chocolate influenza, or that women confessing their love to men was no longer appropriate in a society with gender equality.
It’s interesting how Japan reacts to Christmas, as it is a holiday with strong family and religious ties in the Western world. Since Japan’s majority is secular with some practicing Buddhism or Shinto, Christmas has become a holiday for lovers, basically a second Valentine’s Day, so much so that many are willing to settle for temporary relationships just for the occasion. Are you ready?
[Iza via 俺的ゲーム速報@JIN]