Telegram Group Search
Japan's first Santa Claus
December 24, 1874, Hara Taneaki was baptized by the missionaries, and out of gratitude, he was enthusiastic about having a grand Christmas, and began preparations under the guidance of the missionaries. After thinking about what to do with Santa Claus,
he ended up with a feudal lord-like style, wearing a kamishimo, a sword, and an Omori wig. The person who played the role of Santa was a man named Toda Tadaatsu (an evangelist at Kanazawa Tonomachi Church), and this seems to have been the only time Santa appeared.
Kamishimo is a type of formal Japanese clothing for men, and a sword means a sword. In a word. There are no elements of Santa Claus at all.
アジアの曙
Japan's first Santa Claus December 24, 1874, Hara Taneaki was baptized by the missionaries, and out of gratitude, he was enthusiastic about having a grand Christmas, and began preparations under the guidance of the missionaries. After thinking about what to…
But just imagine it. It was the first time in Japan that someone cosplayed as Santa Claus. People at that time had no knowledge of what Santa Claus was, and could only imagine.
If you imagine "What is God?", you imagine a wide variety of gods, and there is no absolute, single answer.
Santa Claus must have been an important person, so I imagine they decided on Yoshidono because of this connection to important people.
At the Christmas venue, a cross made from a mandarin orange was hung from the ceiling, but it was quickly removed after people from the US Embassy got angry. Hara was a native of Edo, and there is also a story that he did it as if he was holding a festival at Kanda Myojin Shrine.
The following year, a Christmas event was held under the auspices of Hara Taneaki, and it is said to be the first Christmas in Japan hosted by a Japanese person.
A Japanese boy dressed up as a Navy admiral greets Santa Claus - circa 1930s
Axis Santa
The Japanese Army celebrates Christmas.
Christmas tree and wreaths decorated in the barracks dining hall.
Shot from the Japanese Army's 1944 film Kato hayabusa sento-tai.
New Year's ceremony of Japanese troops on the border with the Soviet Union. Soldiers look toward Tokyo and salute the emperor. 1939
Postcards celebrating the New Year in Japanese-occupied China. 1939
Japanese New Year's cards during the war.
New Year's cards are drawn with the aerial combat of the Type 96 carrier-based fighter.
Japanese and other magazines during the war "Kokumin Sannensei" 1941 New Year Special Edition
The Japanese Army provided "rations" to celebrate New Year's and other occasions, and other considerations were given to creating a festive atmosphere on the front lines.
There were also canned alcoholic beverages to provide comfort to soldiers.
Japanese naval soldiers making Mochi to celebrate the New Year
Mickey Mouse New Year's postcards in prewar Japan
New Year's cards from Mickey Mouse, Betty Boop, and Norakuro in prewar Japan
New Year's postcard featuring the Japanese Navy
2025/01/01 08:58:28
Back to Top
HTML Embed Code: