Ah, Christmas in Japan

Did you know that Christmas is, next to Valentine's Day, the most popular Date Night in Japan?

(from: http://www.date-navi.com/xmas/index.html)

And that the most famous 'Christmas Dinner' is brought to you buy Kentucky Fried Chicken?

Well to show they've finally gotten the 'true' spirit of Christmas, Japanese are more and more discovering the joy of giving. Yes, commercialized Christmas is here.

So much so that consumer loan sharks (bank-like institutions that make individual loans for outrageous fees, kind of like a credit card cash advance) are now getting in the act.

I saw this shocker on the train this morning:

(Children never forget what they got from Santa.)

(The memory of being stiffed by Santa lasts for 3 years.)

Merry Christmas. Suckers.