This time of the year, holiday cheer is in the air with staple ¥¯¥ê¥¹¥Þ¥¹ (Kurisumasu, Christmas) songs from (Wamu!, Wham!) and (Maraia Kyar¨©, Mariah Carey) being played almost nonstop to Japanese shoppers.

J-pop has its share of holiday tunes, too. Tracks like ¡°¥¯¥ê¥¹¥Þ¥¹?¥¤¥Ö¡± (Kurisumasu Ibu, Christmas Eve) by ɽÏÂß_ÀÉ (Yamashita Tatsuro, Tatsuro Yamashita) and ¡°¡± (Koibito ga Santa Kur¨­su, My Baby Santa Claus) by ËÉÈιÈÓÉÃÀ (Matsut¨­ya Yumi, Yumi Matsutoya), however, focus more on the romance of the holiday.

Receiving an Ôù¤êÎï (okurimono, gift) is always delightful, no matter who it¡¯s from. But giving can sometimes be a more satisfactory reward, and one great example of a ´ÈÉÆ»î„Ó (jizen katsud¨­, philanthropic activity) that I recommend making a ¼Ä¸¶ (kifu, donation) to is for (Bukku Santa, Book Santa).