The Japanese Christmas Cake – A Not-So-Pleasant Surprise

When it comes to cakes, especially Christmas Cakes, the general consensus is that they are rewarding and celebratory wintry desserts. As is with other types of baked goods, cakes are in most cases used to lift the spirits of people through their flavours, ingredients and pretty ornamental decorations. However, the so-called “Japanese Christmas Cake” is both a layered and provocative term used to depict the morbid treatment of age and women in Japanese society.

The cake

Even though only 1% of the Japanese population is Christian, most of the country, specifically the major metropolitan areas in Japan, celebrate Christmas, engaging with the commercialistic snow-covered trees, starry tinsel and bright trainsets on display (Bruzek, 2014). The Japanese Christmas Cake is itself a beautiful and beloved confection, consisting of a sponge-based strawberry shortcake complemented by layers of lavish and rich cream (Japan Centre, n.d.). 

Historical insights

In being a highlight of the Christmas season, the cake stands out now as a symbol of prosperity, correlating with Japan’s “rise from ruins” post-WW2 (Bruzek, 2014). With Christian missionaries and American soldiers aiding with the rebuilding of Japan, they also brought over the love for rare but memorable sugary sweets. These were seen as a luxury for Japanese children who were facing the repercussions of a food shortage and a crumbling Japanese economy, furthering the Japanese idolisation of the wealthy American lifestyle. Consequently, the Japanese embraced this glamorous and ‘glitzy’ version of Christmas, something quite different to the originally Christian-themed holiday. With the fact that the cake integrates the national colours and shapes of Japan (red, white and round), it is fair to say that the cake and its symbols have become “ingrained in Japanese culture”, finding its place regularly in emojis and street corners (Bruzek, 2014).

Disguised Misogyny

In contrast, the notion of the Japanese 'Christmas Cake Rule' emerged during the 90s and 2000s, a much darker and demeaning ideology when compared to its blissful counterpart. This rule deemed women over the age of 25 as metaphorically ‘unsold’ and ‘too old’. Similar to how Christmas Cakes and accessories after the 25th of December are seen as futile and thus, get ‘left on the shelf’, the term has been applied to the field of gender stereotypes, common in traditionally conservative societies. Women who were unable to get married by 25 were depicted as being unwanted by society (Wilders, 2024). Although this supposed ‘rule’ has declined in use in line with the demographic trends of the Japanese population, conversations around age often lean towards marriage and families, which unfairly berates single women. This is a clear example of a double standard that is not unique to Japan, where unmarried women may be seen as ‘unwanted Christmas cake’, whilst unmarried men are simply described as being a ‘stud’ or an ‘old schoolboy’ (ReCupido, 2009).

Thus, while the Japanese Christmas Cake remains a beloved seasonal treat for global and domestic customers, its cultural symbolism reflects deeper societal issues, shedding light on the lingering age and gender biases that continue to shape perceptions of women in Japanese society today.

Bibliography

Bruzek, A., 2014. NPR The 12 Days Of Quirky Christmas Foods Around The Globe. [Online]
Available at: https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/12/16/369830094/a-christmas-cake-that-isn-t-about-christmas-at-all

Japan Centre, n.d. 5 Unique Japanese Christmas Traditions. [Online]
Available at: https://www.japancentre.com/en/blog/2018/12/10/5-unique-japanese-christmas-traditions?srsltid=AfmBOorxbhofUTfQBZWVg2SVAmZCLvHKIuvq7_YyT7i9XfDz8_9SdLLc

ReCupido, A., 2009. Huffpost: "Leftover Christmas Cake" and Other Anti-feminist Expressions. [Online]
Available at: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/leftover-christmas-cake-a_b_248364

Wilders, T., 2024. Savvy Tokyo. [Online]
Available at: https://sa tokyo.com/hafu-navigating-japans-age-obsession-as-a-half-japanese-woman/