Elf/Dwarf Confusion

Posted by Jonelle Patrick on November 19, 2011 in Seasonal Goodness, WTF Japan? | Leave a comment

While we ‘re on the subject of Christmas in November, every year these sinister nodding dwarves appear outside the Meidi-ya supermarket in Hiroo. They’re definitely of the Snow-White-and-the-Seven variety rather than the elvenfolk who slave away helping Santa come across with the Christmas goodies. I learned today in my Japanese class that there’s a word for “little people,” but it doesn’t seem to discriminate between elves and dwarves.

Also, there’s the soundtrack. Soft music wafts from hidden speakers near the Xmas Dwarves, playing seasonal classics such as that unforgettable disco hit, “The Hustle” and (naturally) the theme from Totoro.

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