Well, the year is coming to a close. Though I didn’t make it back home for Christmas, I was able to get a little bit of that Christmas feeling here in the land of the rising sun. The picture below is of my employees and me at a mall near my office.
ML Japan staff in Queens Mall
Most of Japan celebrates Christmas like we do Valentine’s Day. It’s a big date night and lots of people propose. The big holiday of course is the New Year. Most of Japan shuts down for a few days on either side of the 1st (this year from Dec. 29-Jan. 4) and heads back home to spend time with family and friends. Quite a bit of sake, beer, wine, and anything else that will get one plastered beyond silliness is consumed and good food is enjoyed.
Also, there is a tradition of doing a deep cleaning of one’s home and workplace. You know, cleaning all those things that you have put off all year long!
One thing we don’t have is snow. The mountains get it, but down here on the coast it just gets really cold. I suppose that is a blessing considering the incredible amount that the Northwest got this year. Have fun shoveling all that!
At any rate, I wish everyone the happiest and safest of holiday seasons!
Cheers,
Captain Adam