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For those of you who can’t read Japanese – Happi Harroween!!
Yes, I know it’s still the middle of October, but here in Japan, Halloween is catching on in a big way.
From pumpkin flavored cappuccinos and pastas in Tokyo’s trendiest cafes and restaurants to witches and wizards adorning the window displays of even the most upscale of department stores, the Japanese are embracing the Halloween spirit.
It’s not hard to see why.
The Japanese are some of the world’s most avid consumers, with fine dining and shopping being something of a national obsession. And, let’s not forget about the fact that foreign trends are always the height of fashion in Japan.
Being an American, I’ll be the first person to say that the last thing the world needs is more McDonald’s and Starbucks on every single street corner from London to Tokyo. But, it’s hard not to love Halloween, especially since it’s the perfect excuse to wear a silly costume and blow your diet on gobs of candy.
Take for instance the Halloween party I threw for my students this past Saturday night.
When I’m not writing blogs for Gadling or on the road for Lonely Planet, I’ve been known to teach English from time to time. Of course, learning English is more than just cramming vocabulary and learning the difference between the simple past and the progressive past.
(Actually, I’ve never been that good at grammar, which is probably why I avoid trying to teach it all costs!)
Anyway, learning English should be about creating natural environments for students to practice their language skills in, which is why international parties are all the rage here in Tokyo.
Anyone who’s ever studied a foreign language can attest to the fact that it’s easier to speak when you’re absolutely hammered. There’s something about copious amounts of alcohol in the bloodstream that seems to awaken the brain, depress your inhibitions and loosen the tongue.
Needles to say, copious amounts of alcohol were imbibed at the first annual Halloween costume party at my English school. The night started out with yours truly, decked out in my best Matrix-inspired devil’s costume, welcoming everyone to the party, doing a keg stand and thus setting the standard for the madness that followed.
If there are any doubts about Japanese people’s ability to drink alcohol, I would urge you to spend a few drunken crazy nights here in Tokyo.
Yes, Japanese people do turn red when they drink alcohol, which is actually a minor allergy caused by a faulty enzyme. And yes, Japanese people do tend to puke fairly early on in the night, though the famous ‘boot and rally’ is something of a source of pride here.
But, I can assure you that the Japanese people party like it was their job, which is probably why my liver has slowly started failing me since moving to Japan. In spite of my Eastern European blood, my Japanese friends always set the pace, which is usually more alcohol than any sane individual should consume in one night.
Perhaps this is why I can’t remember most of the Halloween party…
Fortunately, I took a lot of pictures, and even though I’m not sure what’s going on, it does seem like everyone is having fun, right?