"Totally Mysterious Christmas" by Sugoku Fushigi
Most people are familiar with the festive side of Christmas celebrations—the decorations, the lights, the giving of gifts, and family gatherings. But when it comes to the true meaning of Christmas; well, in a word, it's a mystery. Just ask Kaori, Kikka, and Kirari, three Japanese girls caught up in a magical mobile phone drama called "Totally Mysterious Christmas", created by Sugoku Fushigi.
In Episode 1, Kaori, Kikka, and Kirari find themselves transported all the way back to first-century Bethlehem, where they encounter a young mother who just gave birth to a very special baby. The girls return to Japan for Episodes 2 and 3, finding their way to certain Christian celebrations that feature some additional surprises. Each episode is about 14 minutes in length and can be watched with both Japanese and English captions.
After watching, you're invited to leave a comment or share the link with a friend. You might also wish to check out Sugoku Fushigi's website, which can be found at http://sugokufushigi.org. A mobile phone compatible version of "Totally Mysterious Christmas" is available to download there.
By the way, did you know that many Japanese families celebrate Christmas with Kentucky Fried Chicken and strawberry shortcake? According to the Japan Times, "The custom of fried chicken originated back in the 1970s, when KFC launched a successful Christmas advertising campaign. Fried chicken was more familiar to the Japanese than turkey, yet was still unusual enough to satisfy the growing trend to embrace Western pop culture. As for strawberry shortcake, its delicate texture is probably more popular than stodgy fruitcake, while its red and white colors fit right in with the holidays." These might be fun to add to our Western celebrations!
