While we were already busy filling our faces with fried chicken, our friends over at JapanCulture•NYC – still with a few hours to go until December 25 arrived – sent us a few snaps of their own office Christmas tree before packing up for the holidays. For a site based in New York City and that’s all about Japanese culture in the area, we probably shouldn’t have been surprised that they put a cute, Japanese twist on the traditional ornaments, but this tree brought huge smiles to our faces.
With tiny octopuses, smiling onigiri riceballs and even Kumamon dressed as Santa, this is probably the best cross-culture Christmas tree we’ve seen this season, and we’re thoroughly jealous.
Check out these snaps courtesy of JapanCulture•NYC:
▼East meets West with Christmas lights, ukiyo-e prints and traditional Japanese dolls
▼ Okinawan beer!? Even in Tokyo we’re not drinking that! Jealous!
▼ The tree itself
▼ OK, it’s very pretty, but it seems fairly standard so far…
▼ Wait, is that Date Masamune as an onigiri rice ball!?
▼And a Yuzu manju!!! OK, an ordinary Christmas tree this is not!
▼A smiling Japanese kitty between the branches
▼ A sakura cherry blossom ornament in bloom
▼ And, of course, a traditional Christmas octopus handing from a branch!
▼ Even Kumamon – Kumamoto Prefecture’s now famous mascot – makes an appearance!
I think we at RocketNews24 need to pull our socks up next year – these guys are thousands of miles away from Japan and they put on a far better show than us!
For more Japanese culture in the Big Apple, head over to JapanCulture•NYC. Thanks for sharing the pics, guys!
Photos: JapanCulture•NYC
We celebrate Christmas with the worst tree we could find
Japanese convenience store Christmas cakes are cuter than ever!
Behold: the saddest Christmas tree in all of Japan
How to make a super simple, super cheap, no-floorspace Christmas tree with stuff from Daiso
12 culinary delights from Japan that you can find in New York City
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
We found possibly the quietest Japanese-style hotel in Tokyo’s bustling Shinjuku district
7 great places to see Mt. Fuji from without having to climb it
Japanese thug wear from Birth Japan perfect for those breaking bad next year
Japanese restaurant serves meals to diners via a moving steam locomotive train
Miss World Japan: The great-times-20-granddaughter of samurai lord One-Eyed Dragon
Toy Story Hotel opening at Tokyo Disneyland resort this year
Giant Clodsire Pokémon plushie comes with up to 32 Woopers in super size, super cute set【Pics】
Japan’s oldest largetooth sawfish in captivity back on display in Mie Prefecture
Shimane has a secret hot spring town that feels like stepping into an old Japanese film
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
Starbucks Japan releases new zodiac chilled cup drink for 2026
7-Eleven Japan’s ramen-cooking robot whipped us up a bowl of noodles【Taste test】
Cyberpunk anime meets traditional culture in Ghost in the Shell gold leaf Japanese changing screens
Hello Kitty Choco Egg figures are an adorable trip through three periods of Japanese pop culture【Pics】
Japan’s otoshidama tradition of giving kids money at New Year’s gets a social welfare upgrade
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” are Tokyo’s newest over-the-top ramen innovation
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Mr Sato’s Xmas Challenge: Assemble a Christmas tree in 30 seconds
Chiba railway cars’ Christmas lights are more lap dance than Lapland, say Japanese netizens【Pics】
Tokyo’s Super Mario Christmas decoration displays are super cool【Photos】
W.T.F. Japan: Top 5 strange things Japanese people do for Christmas【Weird Top Five】
Hospitalized Japanese mom needs Pokémon fans’ help to make Christmas special for Eevee-loving kid
This smiling seal will help you get through summer in more ways than one
Japanese YouTuber whips up a sugary sweet Pokémon creation to fill viewers with Christmas cheer
Humbug! Japanese wives in international marriages share what they hate about Christmas overseas
The pets of Japan wish you a happy new year (some are happier about it than others)【Photos】
Disney’s Japanese New Year’s plushies and figures are ready to make oshogatsu cuter than ever
Our Japanese-language reporter asks foreigner how Christians feel about Christmas in Japan
Bloomberg’s video makes Japanese business etiquette seem way more complicated than it really is
Daruma Man: The Japanese gacha capsule toy series we never knew we needed
Leave a Reply