Why Is Japan’s Christmas a “Second Valentine’s Day”, and What Are Its Other Traditions?

Japan is known for its unique take on Christmas – a secular, commercial, and romantic holiday. But what are its origins? Why is it celebrated as yet another Valentine’s Day? Today, very few Japanese are Christian, mainly due to the historic policies of the ruling shogunate, which saw Christianity as a political threat to its authority and national stability, leading to its brutal suppression and a nationwide ban for over 250 years.