Japanese Christmas Cake Explained

Another Christmas tradition in Japan (aside from going to KFC) is eating strawberry shortcakes. The popular Japanese pastry shop Fujiya says they sold Christmas cakes when they opened their first store in 1910. However, these early cakes were dense and filled with dried fruits, in line with Western tradition. In the 1950s, as refrigerators became more common, Fujiya began selling strawberry shortcakes—sponge cakes covered with fresh cream. They suggest that independent pastry shops may have already been selling Christmas cakes before Fujiya, but the company was instrumental in popularizing the concept.

Growing up in Japan, I do not recall eating cakes of any kind for Christmas. So, I figured I should try one. I decided no Japanese Christmas cake could be more authoritative than the ones from Fujiya, so I went to the store near my mom’s house to pick one up this afternoon. They had several types of Christmas cakes, including a chocolate version, but I opted for the classic one.

When I opened the box, I was surprised to find birthday candles. Upon reflection, it made sense: it’s Jesus’ birthday, after all. Perhaps some Japanese people sing the birthday song for Jesus and blow out the candles. This is a tradition I can see catching on globally.

Christmas in Japan is a much bigger deal now than it was when I was growing up. Christmas “illumination” is everywhere and often more impressive than in New York, yet only about one percent of Japanese people are Christian. The vast majority are not religious but aren’t exactly atheists either. They are best described as “apatheists”—indifferent to the existence or nonexistence of God. I’d argue it is this indifference that allows them to commercialize Christmas—or any religion, including their own (Shintoism and Zen Buddhism)—to this degree. Their attitude toward religion is best summarized by a story involving Niels Bohr:

A visitor came to the home of the famous physicist and noticed a horseshoe hung above the entrance. When asked if the professor believed horseshoes brought good luck, he replied, “No, but I am told that they bring luck even to those who do not believe in them.”