J-pop vocalists dress up as Miss Claus.

In Japan, Christmas is less about good tidings towards all mankind and more about good dates, as Christmas Eve is widely held to be the most romantic night of the year. But even dateless men can experience a little yuletide cheer thanks to the idol singer industry, Japan’s foremost provider of fantasized companionship.

Much to the delight of their fans, in recent days a number of J-pop idols have been appearing on social and mass media dressed in wintery Santa-themed outfits, including Yuki Kashiwagi, from reigning champ of the idol scene AKB48.

Also donning a red velvet ensemble was Sayaka Yamamoto, from AKB48’s Osaka-based sister group NMB48.

The E-girls idol conglomerate consists of 20 members and three sub-groups. A number of the vocalists, including Aya of the Dream subgroup, surprised passersby with an unannounced Christmas-themed performance next to Shinjuku Station on December 23.

We’ve had our eye on Kanna Hashimoto for quite some time, and the “one in a millennium” idol earned even more attention for the monochrome Christmas costume she wore during her group Rev.fromDVL’s tour-opening concert in Nagoya on December 22.

And from the world of television, models and media personalities Hinako Sano and Ayane Hotta let their Christmas smiles shine on TV Asahi’s London Hearts variety show…

https://twitter.com/anlgc/status/679269180118470656

…and newscaster Misato Nagano, currently attached to Fuji TV’s Mezamashi TV morning program posed with a slice of scrumptious cake, the traditional ending to a Christmas Eve meal in Japan.

They may not have the same effect as an actual date, but hopefully these photos, like that modestly sized slice of cake Nagano is holding, are enough to tide lonely singles over until their next chance for real-life Christmas romance comes up in 12 months.

Source: Grapee