Interestingly, Amazon is attempting to sell Japan on Black Friday this year, which is a fascinating example of culture diffusion intermediated by commerce.
It’s a not-real holiday which exists the day after a real holiday and which achieved prominence because of commercial pressures to make use of a shopping-friendly weekend, and Amazon says “Hmm basically none of that translates but Japan isn’t opposed to spending money *shrug*.”
Previous examples of cultural diffusion include Christmas, which is Japan’s Valentine’s Day, and more recently Halloween, which is essentially a “young’uns let their hair down” version rather than the traditional kid-focused US deployment of the holiday.
Incidentally for Amazon’s Black Friday they’re discounting black products and products with black in the name.
“No, you’re pulling my leg.”
“No, you’re pulling my leg.”
