This is Randi Hacker with another Postcard from Asia from the KU Center for East Asian Studies.

Traditionally, Japan has had two major religions: Shinto and Buddhism with Buddhism supplying the Shinto practitioners with the comfort of an afterlife. Christianity might not have much of a presence here but Santa–san does. He is everywhere during the Christmas season: high-fiving shoppers, posing for pictures, performing magic tricks and otherwise spreading the Christmas spirit which is more about spending than spirituality. Santa-sans are trained at the Santa-san academy – no, really – which teaches them, among other skills, how to reassure children that those sophisticated security systems in most Japanese homes will NOT prevent Santa-san from getting in. Merry Kurisumas. That’s Merry Christmas in Japanese.

From the KU Center for East Asian Studies, this is Randi Hacker. Wish you were here.