冬の風物詩（fuyu no fuubutsushi) 6 Special Attractions of Winter

日本のクリスマス (nihon no kurisumasu)  Christmas in Japan

The oldest Christmas tree since 1950(Beppu)

The biggest tree in Japan (USJ in Osaka))

Most people in Japan, not only Christians, enjoy celebrating Christmas regardless of their religion by exchanging presents with family and sweethearts and by eating together. The strategy of department
stores and businesses, which is to stimulate consumer desire, has created this sort of Christmas culture.

By the end of November, large trees decorate shopping districts and the advertising for Christmas sales in department stores and shopping street arcades is in full swing.

In Usuki City

日本の料理 (nihon no ryoori) Japanese Cuisine 5

お好み焼き（おこのみやき, okonomiyaki)

Okonomiyaki is a Japanese-style pancake usually grilled on teppan (an iron plate).  It is made from batter with a variety of ingredients such as bits of pork meat, seafood, egg and chopped cabbage.


Cooked okonomiyaki is topped with ingredients that include otafuku/okonomiyaki sauce (similar to Worcestershire sauce but thicker and sweeter), aonori (seaweed flakes), katsuobushi (bonito flakes), Japanese mayonnaise, and pickled ginger (beni shoga).