"Happy Merry Christmas"

It's everyone's favorite time of year again, and even in Japan, lights adorn trees, seasonal signs are hung from department store buildings, and obscenely large amounts of people crowd every shopping center in the city.

But unlike America, where gift-giving is as sacred as Christmas Day itself, in Japan Christmas is more of a couples' holiday, a time to spend with that special someone, not your distant relatives. Gifts may be exchanged between couples on Christmas, but not between family members.

It's New Years that the Japanese really get excited about. New Years is the most important holiday in Japan, and people exchange gifts for the sake of the new year, not Christmas. Children receive money from their parents, and adults give gifts to people to whom they feel socially indebted, like their boss or a neighbor.

I had heard from a friend that Ginza had some especially lovely seasonal decorations up, so I decided to take a short day trip to explore the area. Ginza, often referred to as Tokyo's Fifth Avenue, is one of the premier shopping centers in the world. I saw Gucci, Prada, Dior, Armani, and countless other designer stores. The most iconic building in Ginza is the Waco department store, which sits at the main intersection above Ginza Sation.

Because it was a Saturday, the main shopping streets were closed to the traffic and totally packed with pedestrians. I didn't really do any shopping (as if I could afford Dior), but instead went around taking pictures of the decorations. Many other Japanese were taking pictures as well, so I didn't feel so much a tourist.

And though it has nothing to do with the holiday season, I have to include this: as I was walking to the nearby Hibiya Park, I spotted a Japanese man standing near the entrance of a building dressed head to toe in cowboy gear. Now, I never go up to people and ask to take their picture, but this was waaaaay too good to resist! I explained that he looked like he was from Texas, and I really was from Texas, so could I take a picture. He agreed, and a nearby man who overheard offered to take one of both of us. So behold: a real Texan and a wannabe Texan! Can you tell which is which?