5 Festive Facts About Japanese Christmas Cake

So what's the deal with Japanese Christmas Cake? Since knowing stuff makes things taste better, here are a few facts to whet your appetite.

Christmas Eve in Japan is celebrated more like Valentine’s Day in America and Europe. In the weeks leading up to Christmas and on the day itself, young couples bask in all things lovey-dovey. Couples often stroll around to see the illuminations, wander around the Christmas markets and eat the obligatory Japanese Christmas cake.

However, Christmas cakes in Japan are not rich, fruit-laden or even spiced with ginger. Instead, they are light sponge cakes covered in whipped cream and decorated with fresh strawberries. And they’re delicious. Though seemingly plain, there’s much to be said about the infamous Japanese Christmas cake.

With just a week left until Christmas, here are five festive facts to enjoy before scoffing your face with cake!

1. Japanese Christmas Cake Can Be Found Everywhere

© Photo by iStock: holgs

Japanese Christmas cake is so dominant in the culture that during the festive season, it is literally sold on every corner. Don’t believe me? Just visit your nearest 7-Eleven. During the month of December, I guarantee you will find various Christmas cakes frosted with mounds of fresh cream, ruby red strawberries, and a variety of chocolate or plastic holiday ornaments, including Santas, snowmen, angels, wreaths and holly at each location.

2. There’s Emojis For It

The Japanese Christmas cake is featured not once but twice as the only cakes in our smartphone emoji selection. Yes, those are no ordinary cakes—with whipped cream and strawberries—that’s Christmas cake! You’re, of course, free to use them all year round, though.

3. It Has Vulgar Connotations

© Photo by iStock: violet-blue

Once December 25 rolls around, Japanese Christmas cakes become heavily discounted—a fact that started the awful Japanese slang term, “Christmas cake.” It scornfully refers to unmarried women past their 25th birthday. Basically, once you’re over 25, you’ve reached your “best before” date and are “no longer wanted”. Savvy Tokyo writer Tabitha Wilders discusses this in her article about Japan’s age obsession, so feel free to read it!

4. The Color & Shape Are Symbolic

© Photo by iStock: Keys

White, red and round; what do these words remind you of? If you said “Japanese Christmas cake,” well done for reading the above. But what I’m actually referring to is the national flag! The white icing topped with strawberries alludes to the white background and red circle (representing the sun, not strawberries) that make up the Japanese emblem.

5. It’s A Status Thing

© Photo by iStock: Yagi-Studio

According to David W. Plath’s in The Journal of American Folklore (yes, there’s a whole academic discourse around the Japanese Christmas), the cake was a way for Japan to emulate American post-war prosperity, encapsulated by the image of a family sit-down Christmas dinner. But the main attraction isn’t the turkey; it’s the cake—a sugar-laden, cream-filled representation of everything that Japan was trying to achieve in the years following World War II when food, especially luxury items like sweets and cakes, was scarce.

Elizabeth Sok, another Savvy Tokyo writer, has written more about Japan’s affectionate Christmas cake history, too, so if you’re interested, check that out.

Where Can I Try Japanese Christmas Cake?

To be honest, I haven’t tried baking one myself. When it comes to fancy cakes, I’m more of a “buy it, throw it on a cheap plate, Instagram it and pretend-you-made-it-yourself kinda’ girl.” But if you do want to give it a go yourself, it’s as simple as looking up a simple sponge cake recipe, covering it in cream and topping it with strawberries.

Savvy Tokyo also offers a variety of holiday-themed recipes, including a healthier take on Christmas pudding balls and this gluten, dairy and sugar-free “White Christmas” treat.

For cakes of the ordinary does-the-job variety, try your local supermarket (or even convenience store, if you’re in a hurry). To push the boat out, department stores and boutique patisseries design their own celebration cakes that look almost too good to eat (almost). Check out our recent list of Christmas cakes in Tokyo at all price points for the best picks on offer this year as well as some stollen options.

Our saliva-inducing guide to Tokyo’s top dessert shops is also a good place to start your search.

Have a very happy cake-eating holiday everyone!

This article has been updated and republished for 2024.

Comments