Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.
Christmas is celebrated in a big way in Japan too.
This is the Christmas tree in the town near my house.
It was very beautiful.

But Christmas is not a holiday in Japan. Haha
Many Japanese people are not Christians, so the event of Christmas has been established in a slightly incorrect way. Haha
We have holidays on December 31st and January 1st, but I think Japan probably has fewer holidays at the end of the year compared to other countries.
In fact, the only day I can take a full day off is January 1st. Haha
The store is closed from December 31st to January 2nd, but I have work outside the store, so I end up having time to work.
Well, in my case, I do it because I like it. Haha
I'm sure there are many different ways to spend Christmas and welcome the New Year around the world.
In Japan, we also count down on the night of December 31st.
We line up at the shrine and make our first visit of the year.
There are street vendors near the shrine, and it's a special day when many people are walking and moving around in the cold middle of the night in the middle of the winter.
It's a bit like a Western Christmas market.
But this is a Japanese version of it.
If you are in Japan on December 31st, please visit a large shrine near you.
You can experience a Japanese Christmas market. Haha
I wonder if Westerners spend this time at home with their families?
A big Christmas tree and a fireplace, a movie-like scene like that comes to mind.
Speaking of movies, I've seen a lot of movies so far.
I have a lot of them, but I like movies that teach the truth of life like "Intouchables" and "The Shawshank Redemption", and I also liked mafia and gangster movies like "The Godfather" and "Goodfellas".
I also liked love movies like "The Notebook", "My Sassy Girl", "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", and "Chasing Amy".
When I was young, I also liked "Glory Daze" and "200 Cigarettes".
Looking back on it, I realized that I actually liked Ben Affleck a lot. Haha
I also liked "In Her Shoes" and "Almost Famous".
And the other day I was watching "Armageddon".
Oh, Ben Affleck is in this one too. Haha
Honestly, even back then, it was a movie where you could predict the plot as you watched.
It wasn't complicated at all, and it was very easy to predict what was going to happen next.
But even so, I find myself crying every time I watch it. Haha
I cry every time I watch it. Haha
This is a movie that's trying to make you cry, and I fell for that plan, and I cry every time I watch it. Haha
The story isn't particularly sensitive or complicated, it's just a simple movie.
But because it's a simple movie, I cry many times.
Love and sacrifice, just watching it makes me cry.
I think I like these uncomplicated, simple but powerful works more now than when I was younger.
Maybe it's because I get more emotional and sensitive as I get older. Haha
I want to be someone who can protect the people I care about, even if it means risking my life.
But I don't think I could play that role.
That's why I always cry when I watch that scene.

So, Merry Christmas everyone.
Have a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year.
I'd like to introduce a recommended patisserie for those of you spending time in Japan.
ASTERISQUE in Yoyogi-Uehara.
The cakes and sweets here are delicious, so if you're in the Tokyo or Setagaya area, be sure to give them a try.
You can enjoy a happy time enjoying sweet and delicious treats that make the most of the flavor of the ingredients. Haha