What comes to mind when you hear "Christmas"?
A big tree, presents, a table full of delicious food, and Santa Claus...
“Father Christmas” is a specialty store for Christmas goods located in the Bikan Historical Area.
This store, which has the name that means Santa Claus in England, sells Christmas items all year round.
Christmas is said to be the time of year when you can feel the kindest emotions.
In the store “Father Christmas,” I felt love and prayer gathering in a heartwarming happiness.
Like a maze!? About 2,000 Christmas items with the best selection in Western Japan
Now, let's enter the store. Please be careful not to bump your backpack or bag!
Inside the store, about 2,000 Christmas items are lined up. It feels like a maze!
Father Christmas boasts the best selection of Christmas items in Western Japan. Customers come from Kansai and Kyushu as well.
There is an incredible number of ornaments (decorations used on trees). It seems that ornaments sell well until November.
Eighty percent of the Christmas goods in the store are directly imported from Europe and America.
There are also unique items that can only be found at Father Christmas.
These are ornaments made of glass from Inge-Glas in Germany.
Inge-Glas has been an ornament manufacturer since the 1860s. They are still handmade by artisans one by one.
Due to their beautiful luster, they are called “Christmas jewels,” and many fans look forward to them every year.
Also, pay attention to the Christmas trees scattered throughout the store! Each has its own theme.
The theme of this tree is “Circus.” It is decorated in reference to the arrival of the Kinoshita Circus in Okayama Prefecture in 2018.
The circus tent ornament is fun just to look at!
This large tree has the theme of “Pink.” According to the owner, Katsumi Goda,
“In recent years, the trend for trees in Europe has been pink, so we decided to incorporate it into the store.”
It seems that trees also have trends! As expected from Europe, the home of Christmas.
At the top of the pink tree is the angel Gabriel.
The angel Gabriel is said to be the one who told the Virgin Mary about the birth of Jesus Christ.
In Europe, it is common to decorate the top of the tree with it alongside the Star of Bethlehem.
And pay attention to the back of this tree as well. Let's go around to the outside of the store.
The “Thank You Tree” filled with gratitude
A large Christmas tree by the window can also be viewed from the outside.
The theme changes every year, and in 2017, it was Beauty and the Beast.
“This is a tree that I definitely want you to see,”
the owner recommended this tree first. Upon closer inspection, it seems to be more than just decorations.
The theme for 2018 is “Thank You.” It is named the Thank You Tree.
In the summer of 2018, Okayama Prefecture, centered around Mabi, suffered unprecedented flooding due to the heavy rain disaster in July 2018.
During that time, the support and help from volunteers and the Self-Defense Forces from all over the country were incredibly reassuring.
This Thank You Tree reminds us of that gratitude and emotion.
Photos of volunteers working diligently in the sweltering summer heat are displayed.
Their efforts provided kindness and courage to Okayama, Hiroshima, Ehime, and many other affected areas.
“I do not forget you” is the message that conveys, “I will not forget you.”
The ornaments express the gratitude of not forgetting the efforts of volunteers and the Self-Defense Forces. Thank you.
To always remember that we are supported by many people...
And truly, thank you, Merry Christmas to all the kind-hearted people!!
These words were attached to the Thank You Tree.
A beautiful tree filled with countless feelings of gratitude is a must-see.
Perfect snow globes for gifts. What keeps them clear forever?
The signature product of Father Christmas is the snow globe.
Collectors come from all over Western Japan seeking snow globes.
The snow globes handled by Father Christmas are mainly made by PERZY in Austria.
PERZY was founded in 1900 and is the oldest snow globe manufacturer in the world.
There are truly many types of snow globes, varying in size, price, and the miniatures inside!
In December, many people purchase them as gifts.
The snow globe featuring a Christmas tree in the center is actually a product that appears at the beginning of Keisuke Kuwata's music video for "Shiroi Koibito-tachi" (White Lovers)!
You can understand why one would want to use something with such transparency.
Typically, the water inside regular snow globes becomes cloudy over time, but the Purzy company maintains its clarity indefinitely.
The reason is that the liquid inside uses only natural water from the Alps!
Additionally, the fineness of the snow and the long duration of its suspension are characteristics of the Purzy company, which is also why there are many collectors.
The way the snow gently dances is a beauty that you could watch forever.
Since its founding, the snow globes have been handmade. The fact that no two are the same may also be part of their charm.
Father Christmas also offers a handmade snow globe experience.
You can create a snow globe to your liking. It is also recommended as a souvenir.
Nutcracker and Presepio: A Precious Collection
Father Christmas has many unique items on display.
The owner shared with us their top recommended collection among them.
Now, which one could it be?
The answer is the tallest nutcracker in the center. This one is made in West Germany.
It is a historically valuable doll made between 1949 and 1990, when Germany was divided into West and East.
The owner shared, "When I see this doll, I feel the preciousness and symbolism of peace."
This makes me re-recognize that Germany has a very significant history.
This is the Italian Presepio.
It is a model depicting the scene of the birth of Jesus Christ, and in Italy, it is more common to decorate with a Presepio than a tree.
They are mainly made of ceramics or glass, but there were also rare wooden Presepio.
I saw it for the first time, and each doll has its own expression, making me lose track of time while gazing at them.
Kurashiki and Christmas Have a Wonderful Connection
By the way, have you ever wondered why there is a Christmas shop in the Bikan Historical Area?
When I asked the owner, I received this response.
"Originally, the Kurashiki Glass workshop was making Christmas glass ornaments. They were exporting those glass ornaments to America. I believe Kurashiki is a place with a connection to Christmas."
Shinzo Kotani, who created Kurashiki Glass, initially made glass ornaments for Christmas.
It feels like fate that Kurashiki Glass was born after much trial and error from the workshop.
Also, take a look at the Santa Claus in a cape standing on the shelf.
This is an antique product made of ceramics, and it was made in Nagoya.
I am surprised that such wonderful products were made in Japan for overseas export.
The Meaning Behind the Catchphrase "Christmas All Year Round"
The catchphrase of Father Christmas is Christmas All Year Round.
It is a store where you can buy Christmas goods all year round and enjoy Christmas all year round. Before visiting, I had the impression that Father Christmas was just that.
From the owner's story, I felt an even deeper sentiment.
"The Christmas tradition in Europe includes preparing extra dinner seats for the poor,"
the owner shared.
The owner opened the store with the desire to convey the compassion, kindness, and warmth that flows beneath Christmas, and continued,
"Christmas is not just a transient event; it is the love of family that is passed down through every day."
"For example, among our customers, there are those who say, 'I want to give a Santa doll as a wedding gift,' and I think for Japanese people, who have a tendency to cherish things and pass them down through generations, Christmas is not something so distant."
"Each ornament is filled with the memories of those who have passed away. This one belonged to my grandmother, and that one belonged to someone else..."
In Europe, Christmas is about wishing for family happiness by cherishing each item and remembering the ancestors.
"We pass down love along with the items."
In 2018, the 24th year since the founding of Father Christmas, there was a major disaster in Kurashiki.
"First, we need to keep going and encourage people to visit the Bikan Historical Area. That’s where it starts. My body is tired, but I want to keep going no matter what,"
I felt that the owner's love for Christmas will surely become a force for recovery.
It is not a transient love; it is a love for Christmas that continues all year round. Perhaps that is what is embedded in the idea of Christmas All Year Round.
Father Christmas: A Place to Encounter Special Christmas Moments
I have loved Christmas since I was a child. I was the kind of child who would get excited and start decorating the tree from October.
While listening to the owner's stories in the store, I feel like I learned about a deeper and broader Christmas.
Decorating the tree, preparing the dining table, celebrating with family.
Each of these has meaning, and they are filled with prayers and wishes.
If you want to experience authentic Christmas, where would be the best place? When I asked,
"If you want to experience a traditional Christmas, Germany, especially Nuremberg, is famous. However, it is really cold, especially for women, so be prepared for the cold. Also, New York in America has incredibly flashy illuminations! You will be amazed by the scale,"
the owner spoke joyfully.
"Christmas is the love of family."
Because 2018 was filled with many sad and tragic events, we want to celebrate Christmas together.
And may all those affected, volunteers, and Self-Defense Forces have a happy and warm Christmas.
Such prayer-like feelings overflowed at Father Christmas.
You are sure to encounter a special Christmas. Have a wonderful Christmas.
Father Christmasのデータ
| 名前 | Father Christmas |
|---|---|
| 住所 | 4-11 Honmachi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| 連絡先 | 086-434-4668 |
| 駐車場 | なし |
| 営業時間 | 10:30 AM – 6:00 PM (Open until 7:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays) |
| 定休日 | 月 Closed on the following Tuesday if Monday is a holiday. |
| 支払い方法 |
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| ホームページ | Everyday is Christmas day |
