Anecdotes on the People and Culture of Contemporary Japan from the Perspective of an American Expat
A captivating, heart-warming, funny, and informative look at contemporary Japan, through the eyes of an American expat.
Ended
Every year at this time, I have people ask me 'How was your Thanksgiving?'
Maybe they forget I live in Japan, or they think I'm going to get the other 11 Westerners who live in Tambasasayama together for a turkey hunt. Not that I've ever seen a turkey here or any other Asian country. (We do have pheasants!)
As I write about in my new book, LIVE FROM JAPAN!, Japanese do "borrow" some of our holidays. Thanksgiving is definitely not one of them. Nor is the 4th of July.
There's a good reason for this.
Truth is, I can't find anything in the historical record about Pilgrims landing here. Last time ships arrived for a "cross-cultural exchange" was when the Mongols invaded in 1281. They didn't come here for a picnic or to trade blankets for beads. Plunder, pillage, and rape were the main items on their agenda.
Let me do some wild speculating and offer this: If we were to celebrate Thanksgiving here in Japan, it's infinitely more likely that you would see the platter above, than one with a big greasy turkey, as appealing as that is. Sadly, tuna, shrimp, octopus, and eel don't say 'gobble gobble' before being diced up and put to lie in state on a bed of rice. Maybe they say, 'blub blub'. Not sure.
Anyway . . . whatever you eat this precious American holiday, enjoy the time with the ones you love. Eat well, stay safe, be healthy . . . Happy Thanksgiving!
