A Man Dressed As A Christmas Tree Runs Around Tokyo [Video]
A British man is running around Tokyo dressed as a Christmas tree. It’s quite the unique scene, and he’s causing quite a buzz around the area and in news outlets around the world, according to CNN.
“There are many areas of the city that are beautifully illuminated with Christmas decorations, but there are also areas where there are not, so I thought wouldn’t it be great to take the fun and wonder of these illuminations into those areas and spread the Christmas cheer,” he told the news outlet.
His mobile Christmas tree routine was enough to put smiles on people’s faces across the city. He even had light-up shoes and a digital display wrapped around his forehead like a headband. He gave high fives, took pictures, and ran around the city like there was some sort of Christmas 5K.
His name is Joseph Tame, and he runs a small video production and digital media business.
“The reactions range from sudden burst of laughter to a couple of people have screamed in surprise and in delight,” Joseph said. “A lot of people just say ‘What? What? What are you doing?’ And I tell them I’m being a Christmas tree.”
His costume needed 99 batteries, 30 meters of wiring, and a complex aluminum frame. He started dressing up and running around last week.
“Even as I speak to you now there’s a crowd of people taking photos and everybody wants to take photos with me. One of the main things is to break the social barriers. Tokyo is a great city but people keep to themselves. It brings people to get together. On the train, it’s just wonderful. Everybody is just transfixed.”
Man runs around Tokyo dressed as a Christmas tree: https://t.co/KMsPd394LM
— CNN International (@cnni) December 22, 2015
Joseph Tame previously gained some attention in Tokyo when he wore windmills on his head during marathons. Christmas isn’t a holiday that’s celebrated in Tokyo, but Joseph says he will be running around the city anyway to try and spread the Christmas spirit.
“Most people are working on Christmas Day in Japan but hopefully with the costume they can also see a bit of Christmas on the day,” he said.
This man is celebrating #Christmas in Tokyo by running around dressed as a Christmas tree. https://t.co/dXhDECZHlF pic.twitter.com/KJ5sRau0c7
— FOX8 WGHP (@myfox8) December 22, 2015
It’s not uncommon for certain countries to turn a blind eye to Christmas. In fact, the Blaze reports that citizens of the oil-rich nation of Brunei could face up to five years in prison for excessively celebrating Christmas.
“During Christmas celebrations, Muslims following that religion’s acts — such as using their religious symbols like cross, lighting candles, making Christmas trees and singing religious songs, sending Christmas greetings, using signs praising the religion, putting up decorations or creating sounds and doing anything that amounts to respecting their religion — are against Islamic faith,” the leaders said.
The leaders are concerned that the excessive celebration of Christmas could move Muslims away from their own faith.
“These enforcement measures are … intended to control the act of celebrating Christmas excessively and openly, which could damage the aqidah (beliefs) of the Muslim community,” the Ministry of Religious Affairs said.
However, the leaders said that non-Muslims were allowed to celebrate Christmas just as long as it wasn’t excessive or displayed openly to Muslims.
When Joseph Tame’s acts are put into context for the rest of the world, it gives us all a new perspective on the ability to celebrate our holidays freely. Tame is only trying to spread smiles through this popular holiday, and, hopefully, he will continue this act of running around as a Christmas tree again.
[Image via YouTube]
