Kuchikomi Dec. 09, 2008 - 08:57AM JST ( 14 )

Back in the days when females were expected to be married by their early or mid-20s at the latest, the term “kurisumasu keeki” had a negative connotation, the context being that because the uniquely Japanese confection referred to as a “Christmas cake” was essentially unsellable from Dec 26, the same could be implied for women beyond the age of 26.

But Nikkan Gendai (Dec 9) has observed another phenomenon: this year, the business downturn aside, it appears that Christmas cakes and traditional “osechi” New Year’s dishes can be expected to sell like proverbial hotcakes.

“Around the end of November, we started getting a flood of orders, maybe three times that of a year ago,” a food sales staff for the Gurunavi website operated by Gourmet Navigation Inc is quoted as saying. “In typical years, people spend their New Year’s overseas or at a hot springs resort. But due to the recession, a lot more people are likely to be staying home.”

A source at the Lawsons convenience store chain concurs, saying that company expects sales of “osechi” items to increase 1.5-fold over the previous year. And word has it that main branch of the Mitsukoshi department store is already sold out of deluxe Christmas cakes priced at 15,750 yen.

Popular confectioner Hironobu Tsujiguchi, known for his collaboration on a “jewelry Christmas cake” is quoted as saying half his orders come from male customers. Many appear to be ordering cakes to be sent to their offices. Apparently with staff cuts due to the recession, staff are being obliged to take on a heavier workload, and it would seem that treating the gals at the office to a slice of cake is the least a boss can do to show his appreciation for their extra efforts.