- Title: JAPAN: "Official" Santa Claus from Finland meets and greets children
- Date: 16th December 2009
- Summary: YOKOHAMA, JAPAN (DECEMBER 16, 2009) (REUTERS) SANTA CLAUS WALKING ON STAGE AND WAVING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SANTA CLAUS SAYING: "Merry Christmas!"
- Embargoed: 31st December 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVAEXC96OYAZ0TI0DGSLRZFIQVYV
- Story Text: Japanese children are visited by Santa Claus who traveled all the way from Lapland, Finland, to hear their Christmas wishes.
With Christmas just around the corner, Santa Claus made a quick stop in Japan on Wednesday (December 16) before completing his list of who is naughty or nice.
The "official" Santa Claus, traveled all the way from the Lapland Province in Finland, to meet Japanese children and hear their Christmas wishes.
"Merry Christmas!" Santa greeted a crowd of young children and their parents that had gathered at a mall in Yokohama to tell him their Christmas wishes.
Each child took turns taking pictures with Santa Claus.
Some smiled, others pouted and many babies ended up crying on Santa's lap.
Four-year-old Koki Himeda had been waiting for so long to meet Santa he could not help but smile.
"Santa was really cool," said Himeda after a photo session with Santa Claus.
Many children whispered their wishes into Santa's ear as he listened carefully to each and every one of theim.
Five-year-old Yura Iwamoto said he told him Santa he was old enough to get something other than a toy.
"I told him I want a camera for Christmas!" said Iwamoto, who also added that he will stay good till Christmas.
Until then, Iwamoto and children across Japan will be waiting patiently for their presents from Santa Claus to arrive on Christmas day.
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