Jingle Bells (Japanese Christmas Customs Parody)

The Savage Muse Blog: http://ana.savagemuse.net

The Savage Muse Extras (Omake): "Jingle Bells (Japanese Customs Parody)"

A musical parody of Japanese Christmas customs sung in the tune of Jingle Bells. Stupidity ensues.

All music was used without permission for non-profit fun. Please don't sue. Much Love!

***

Here are some culture notes and references in the order of appearance:

oseibo: Refers to the winter gift-giving season and/or the actual gift itself; gifts you give to out of obligation to like co-workers, bosses, teachers, etc.

Hotei Osho: One of the Seven Lucky Gods that happen to share the same characteristics of Santa Claus, so the Japanese as adopted him to represent Santa Claus.

Christmas Cake: Typically a sponge cake covered with whipped cream and topped with strawberries. Sometimes can just be any cake with something very festive (like a snowman or Santa Claus) thrown at the top with a sign that says, "Christmas Cake". Sometimes, like a birthday, Japanese people would put candles on it, make a wish, and blow them out.

KFC: Since 1974 and KFC's successful ad campaign, eating chicken here reigns supreme as the festive food for Christmas. This year, McDonald's tried to take advantage of the chicken mania and had a special promotional chicken meal.

Romantic Miracles and JR Rail: Initially, Christmas was promoted to be a family-based event and commercials focused on happy children and the elderly. However, in 1988 JR Railways Tokai ran a series of romantic themed commercials ("Christmas Express") and its success became the pioneer to all things Christmas and romance related.

Last Christmas: The original by WHAM! and in 2008, the popular pop boy band EXILE released a Japanese cover.

Christmas boots: A Japanese take on Christmas stockings. These boot shaped cardboard containers are filled with little toys and snacks.

Beethoven's 9th Symphony, 4th Movement: Ode to Joy is as popular of a holiday song as much as All I Want for Christmas is You and Last Christmas.

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[LukeBasarab]

I love this song XDDD So funny and educative. Japan is such a weirdly awesome country :P

[AnaTheSavageMuse]

@LukeBasarab Thanks for the compliment!

[languageandhumor]

大変よく出来た、アナ先生。 And such a wonderful Julie-Andrews-with-a-Canadian-­accent singing voice as well. I'm glad you got the Col. Sanders statues dressed up as Santa in there. There wasn't a KFC near me when I lived in Japan, but it was always so strange to see at KFC when I'd go to Kyoto's Kawaramachi area around Christmas time. (Plus, I think he's only about 5 feet tall, so it's strange year round.)

I hope that's not a man who's late in the "CM," as the girl (Eri Fukatsu) was only 15.

Yoi otoshi o!

[AnaTheSavageMuse]

@languageandhumor Thanks for the compliment. Also, I am surprised that you could tell I am Canadian. Good ear!

[languageandhumor]

@AnaTheSavageMuse "Also, I am surprised that you could tell I am Canadian. Good ear!" No, your "abOUt a man" diphthong was too subtle in the song for me to notice. I looked at your blog and saw the "colour" and "grade five" (vs. my American "fifth grade")--and then the parts where you say you're from Canada made me fairly certain you're from The True North strong and free.

Have you seen the "Christmas in Japan" music video by other expatriates in Japan? It's fun: watch?v=lmCrIZeob4w

[AnaTheSavageMuse]

@languageandhumor Thanks for the link! Ah, yes. We would say both here in Canada (re: Fifth grade versus grade five), but "colour" is definitely the British spelling which is what we do here. Er, there.

[Professicchio]

Great video, unfortunately it looks like the rest of the world is quickly going the same way as Japan when it comes to Christmas.

[Rhyminggaijin]

:) i think this year i will eat some KFC for xmas

[effik3]

good stuff!

[AnaTheSavageMuse]

@jakejake561 Thanks for the compliment. Also, if you expand the notes on the video, I wrote a description of the cultural references I use for the video. You can also find the same explanations on my blog.

[jakejake561]

HAHA ! OH GAWD ! I LOVE THIS ! I was wondering who Hotei Osho was XD but oh wells..