It’s almost here! Christmas is coming soon, and all the festivities of the holiday season are upon us. To me, I really enjoy it since you see most people getting into it at the same time. Whether it’s decorating a tree, hanging lights, buying gifts, or looking for anime or video game related Christmas figures to place on your desk at work (wait, not everyone is doing that? I guess it’s just me…), it’s just a fun month!
When we were given the list of which anime to write about, I saw that Wotakoi was on the list. What a coincidence that episode 6, “Bleak Christmas,” was the one I left off on. I last wrote about this anime some months back, so I forgot a little about what was going on. Their Christmas episode wasn’t so much based on the season, but more about when they stopped believing in Santa Claus (Charles covered that yesterday) and the importance of spending time with one another.
The first half of the episode is about Narumi and Hirotaka, the two main characters who work together in the same company and are now dating, hiding out from the rain. The rest is just minor chit-chat with the other couple, Kabakura and Koyanagi, which wasn’t too interesting for me. Around the end of the episode though, Narumi and Hirotaka bump into Hirotaka’s brother, Nao, who is dressed as Santa Claus and serving Starbucks coffee. It reminded me of the Salvation Army volunteers outside with their bell, but instead of a bell, they have coffee!
They talked about some happy memories the brothers shared, but Hirotaka made a funny jab at him. He told him the reason he didn’t have a girlfriend is that he wasn’t noticed much.
Nao tells them he now understands why everyone is happy during Christmas. The feeling we get when we put a smile on someone’s face is what makes him happy, which got me also thinking about Christmas. Whether someone is a Christian or not, the miracle of the season is still felt. This time is all about Christ, so His love pours out into others one way or another even if we don’t notice it!
1 John 4:7-11
7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.
Real love comes from God because is the literal source of love. I believe that’s why many people try to do kind acts to others, give gifts, be politer, and other actions like that during this last month of the year. There’s something special in the air, and I give all the glory to God for it.
The episode finishes off with Kabakura and Koyanagi eating at a nice restaurant in the evening. She comments that she hasn’t fully forgiven him for not doing anything special with her last Christmas, but she got him a limited edition toy he wanted anyway. She wanted to spend quality time with him but since he blew her off the last time, he made up for it this year.
This part also reminded me of spending Christmas with friends instead of family, as my wife and I have a very little family. Her family lives in South America, and I only have my mother and a few cousins who live on the other side of the USA from me. That’s literally it. So many times we have spent Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner at the homes of friends with their relatives which is great, but just not the same. I wonder if many Japanese spend Christmas either alone or hanging out with their buddies as the characters in Wotakoi do.
However you spend your Christmas, with friends, family, or even by yourself (which I wouldn’t recommend!), make sure it’s a memorable one! Go to an event in your city, watch some funny movies, play in the snow (if you have any), make a new recipe, try something new. Don’t let it be a day where everyone is doing something enjoyable and you’re not. Even if you are by yourself, play some video games or do something fun. Let not a year go by that you don’t spend Christmas being thankful for God’s blessings over your life, and all that He has given you.
Have a Merry Christmas and may His presence and peace be with you every day of your life.
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Day 7: Get ready for Taiga, as we dive into Toradora tomorrow!
Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku can be streamed on Amazon Video
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1. I did 1 John for a Bible project! 2.Peace be with you! ☮️✌🏻 3.I say peace ✌🏻☮️be with you at church!
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