This time of the year, holiday cheer is in the air with staple クリスマス (Kurisumasu, Christmas) songs from ワム! (Wamu!, Wham!) and マライア・キャリー (Maraia Kyarī, Mariah Carey) being played almost nonstop to Japanese shoppers.

J-pop has its share of holiday tunes, too. Tracks like “クリスマス・イブ” (Kurisumasu Ibu, Christmas Eve) by 山下達郎 (Yamashita Tatsuro, Tatsuro Yamashita) and “恋人がサンタクロース” (Koibito ga Santa Kurōsu, My Baby Santa Claus) by 松任谷由美 (Matsutōya Yumi, Yumi Matsutoya), however, focus more on the romance of the holiday.

Receiving an 贈り物 (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 慈善活動 (jizen katsudō, philanthropic activity) that I recommend making a 寄付 (kifu, donation) to is for ブックサンタ (Bukku Santa, Book Santa).

ブックサンタはクリスマスを祝うのが難しい境遇にいる子ども達に本を贈る活動で、全国で1,868店舗の書店が参加しています (Bukku Santa wa Kurisumasu o iwau noga muzukashii kyōgū ni iru kodomo-tachi ni hon o okuru katsudō de, zenkoku de senhappyakurokujūhachi tenpo no shoten ga sanka shite-imasu, Book Santa is an activity that gifts books to children in circumstances where it is difficult to celebrate Christmas, and 1,868 bookstores nationwide are participating).

If a 本屋さん (honya-san, bookstore) — or, 書店 (shoten) — in your neighborhood has a poster advertising ブックサンタ, which is conducted by the NPO Charity Santa, you can donate books by purchasing them and asking, ブックサンタに参加できますか (Bukku Santa ni sanka dekimasu ka, Can I take part in Book Santa?).

Stores accept both Japanese and English books, including 図鑑 (zukan, encyclopedias) and 文庫本 (bunkobon, pocket paperbacks), as long as they’re in by Dec. 25. Donated books that can’t be delivered by then will be repurposed as 誕生日プレゼント (tanjōbi purezento, birthday gifts) for children later on. Book Santa’s online store also accepts donations up until Dec. 27. You can even apply for a Santa Claus position if you’re up for volunteering to dress up in a red-and-white 衣装 (ishō, costume).

As this charity’s slogan, あなたも誰かのサンタクロース (Anata mo dareka no Santa Kurōsu, You, too, are someone’s Santa Claus), describes, there are many ways to play Santa at this time of year. In Japan, multiple organizations use the expression あしながサンタ (Ashinaga Santa), inspired by Jean Webster’s novel, “あしながおじさん” (Ashinaga Ojisan, Daddy-Long-Legs), which is a story about a girl who grew up with support from a secret 恩人 (onjin, benefactor). The Japanese version of this 恩人 is sometimes disguised in a tiger-shaped 覆面マスク (fukumen masuku, face-covering mask).

児童養護施設で育ったレスラーが主人公の人気漫画・アニメ、“タイガーマスク” を名乗る匿名の寄付は社会現象になりました (Jidō yōgo shisetsu de sodatta resurā ga shujinkō no ninki manga/anime, Taigā Masuku o nanoru tokumei no kifu wa shakai genshō ni narimashita, Anonymous donations under the name Tiger Mask, a popular manga/anime featuring a wrestler who was raised in a children’s home, became a societal movement).

It started on Dec. 25, 2010, when a man donated 10 ランドセル (randoseru, firm-sided backpacks) to a child consultation center in Gunma Prefecture. The man called himself Naoto Date — the name of the protagonist in “Tiger Mask” — and similar 匿名の寄付 (tokumei no kifu, anonymous donations) began to be made across the country. Later, in 2016, a man named Masatake Kawamura came forward and revealed his identity, and when a boy who used the donated backpack advanced to university, Kawamura gifted him a suit.

While Kawamura has engaged in charity with his 実名 (jitsumei, real name) since, Tiger Masks still make random appearances across Japan. As recently as last month, Kamo, Niigata Prefecture, received 現金 (genkin, cash) that totaled ¥1.6 million. A person who called themselves 加茂のタイガーマスク (Kamo no Taigā Masuku, Kamo’s Tiger Mask) requested the money to be used for children.

能登半島地震からまもなく1年となる北陸では、北陸フードバンク推進協議会が子どもたちにクリスマスケーキを届けるクラウドファンディング、あしながサンタ2024を実施しています (Noto hantō jishin kara mamonaku ichi-nen tonaru Hokuriku dewa, Hokuriku fūdo banku suishin kyōgikai ga kodomo-tachi ni Kurisumasu kēki o todokeru kuraudofandingu, Ashinaga Santa nisennijūyon o jisshi shite-imasu, In Hokuriku, where the Noto Peninsula earthquake’s one-year anniversary draws near, the Hokuriku Food Bank Promotion Council is running a crowdfunding campaign called Ashinaga Santa 2024 to deliver Christmas cakes to children). The crowdfunding drive will end at 11 p.m. on Dec. 20, but the designated bank account accepts donations year-round.

のと鉄道 (Noto Tetsudō, Noto Railway) also kicked off a seasonal Christmas Train with local 幼稚園児 (yōchienji, kindergarteners) earlier this month, though illuminations inside the tunnel were canceled this year. A special train ride with Santa Claus and トナカイ (tonakai, reindeer) will be available on Dec. 21 with a prior booking.

The holiday spirit of gift-giving has been passed down by many 英雄 (eiyū, heroes). However you choose to disguise yourself, arranging a 贈り物 and 寄付 would definitely bring a 笑顔 (egao, smile) to someone who needs it this holiday season.