In the wonderful world of anime, we can see Christmas from the Japanese point of view. The Japanese see Christmas as a holiday for couples. The Bible says that a marriage should reflect God’s love for His woman, the church. So maybe this makes sense! This isn’t the first time an anime has given us a cute Christmas date episode. treats the “Christmas date” in a slightly different way this time, since the focus is not only on the awkwardness of first love but also on Tomo’s very being a woman! Let’s see what this funny but surprisingly deep show has to say about being a woman and how it relates to the Bible.
Tomo’s Christmas Date Crisis!
Tomo is having a rough time on the day of her Christmas date. Why does she feel this way? It’s a long story. Let’s begin with the beginning! It’s already tough when you have a crush, but it’s even worse when they don’t see you as a girl! After a long time, Tomo has been trying hard to get her old friend Jun to notice that she is a girl. The first thing she did was ask her friends for help, especially her best friend Misuzu! Misuzu tries to help Tomo with her project, but things don’t go as planned. Misuzu means well, but by making Tomo act, speak, and dress in ways that conform to commonly held ideas of gender, she hurts her and her sense of self-worth. She even tells Tomo that it would be easier for her if she just turned into a boy instead of trying to be a girl. What a letdown for a young woman who is in trouble! By the time we get to the Christmas date, Misuzu has seen that what she did was wrong and has told Tomo she’s sorry for trying to change her into someone she’s not. But Tomo’s fears about being a woman are still there…
Jun’s denial of his feelings!Misuzu’s mistake!
But Misuzu wasn’t the only one who made things harder for Tomo by accident. Jun did too! Jun has always had a hard time seeing Tomo as a girl because he used to think of her as “one of the guys.” But as time went on, his feelings for her turned into love for who she is. The fact that they are both becoming adults so quickly makes things more difficult. Even though Jun can’t think of Tomo as just a friend anymore, he doesn’t want to lose the close bond they’ve always had. Therefore, Jun chooses to ignore his growing feelings for Tomo and tries not to see them that way instead of facing them. She thinks Jun doesn’t see her romantically because of this. Do you see how important it is to talk to each other here?
Luckily, just in time for Christmas, they finally figure out how to talk to each other again, and we get to the confession! Now is the time everyone has been waiting for: It’s sweet and fits great with how Tomo and Jun are together as they share their thoughts and feelings. Now everything should be fine, right? Do you agree?!
Boy/Girl (lack of) communication! Confessions and expectations!
It should be, though. But once more, there is a breakdown in communication, and more importantly, expectations start to get in the way again. So this is where the identity problem starts! Tomo has picked this special Christmas date as the night she will lean over and make out with Jun without him knowing! She doesn’t know how to make this happen, though, because she tends to be awkward. Her friends decide to give her more “advice” by selecting a “romantic” movie. Toyo agrees that now is the best time to kiss Jun, but it takes her a while to get the nerve to do it. When she finally does, a sex scene in the movie surprises her. She decides not to kiss him because she thinks he’ll get the wrong idea. I feel like Tomo can’t win!
Awkwardness at the movies!
Tomo and Jun finally have a heart-to-heart at the end of a very awkward and tense date. She tells him that she wanted to surprise him with a kiss but didn’t feel confident enough in her gender to do so. In response, Jun says that he has no problem at all seeing her as a woman. Tomás, her dad had dared him to a fight over the right to date her, so he was quiet during their date! As planned, the fight takes place, and Tomo and Jun beat Tomo’s dad. This gives Tomo the chance to give Jun the biggest kiss she’s ever wanted.
Fight for Tomo!A dream come true!
Wow, Tomo-chan is a girl! It ends on a happy and uplifting note, but it also tells us something important about how women see themselves when others expect them to be a certain way. Tomo and Jun are both having problems with how they think about women and relationships in the real world. Jun is afraid of losing their friendship because he has ideas about how pairs should act and how boys and girls should talk to each other. For Tomo, wanting to be seen as girly is a way to get Jun’s attention. She thinks that how she looks, acts, and sounds determines her worth as a woman and as a love partner. Even though Tomo and Jun finally understand how each other feels and make a deep confession, these cultural standards still make their special Christmas date awkward. To fully own the new confidence she is finding in her relationship with Jun and having a more open and understanding friendship with Misuzu, Tomo will need time to get over her fears.
Just like Tomo, many of us have felt the pain and effects of gender stereotypes on our interactions with other people. Cultural standards can make us feel insecure about our relationships and who we are, even if they come from close friends or family members who mean well (like Misuzu). But, as Misuzu learns about Tomo in the end, each of us is unique and has a special job to do in the world (Romans 12:4–8).
Tomo’s despair!
Misuzu’s regret!
Friendship rekindled!
It’s exciting that Tomo is starting to figure out who she is through her new relationship at Christmas, because that’s what Christmas is all about. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, God gives us the gift of being identified with Him, which makes us God’s children. The best part is that God already knows our hearts exactly, unlike Misuzu who has to learn how to see Tomo properly while hurting her friend. He knows who we are because He planned us and our purpose before we were born (Psalm 139:13–14). It’s not just about big things like our job or calling; it’s also about the little things that make us happy and excited. He joins us in our interests and hobbies, and He can show us how He can use them for His glory when we take Him up on His offer.
Another interesting thing about Tomo’s journey is that the way she acts as a woman is based on the Bible. The identity that God gives us is much broader than the feminine identity that is shaped by society norms. One example is Proverbs 31, which gives a full account of a good woman. I think Tomo and I would both be glad to hear that wearing high heels is not one of them! Instead, this text talks about how women should be “hardworking,” “strong,” and “helpful.” It ends by saying, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.” God’s Word gently tells us that as women, our worth doesn’t depend on how we look, how “tomboyish” or “feminine” we are, or other things that society thinks women should be like. What makes us unique is our relationship with Jesus, our desire to help others like Christ did, and our readiness to love well each day. God is so kind to give us this wonderful gift for Christmas.
Tomo’s story tells us that gender stereotypes shouldn’t decide how valuable we are as women. Tomo doesn’t fit the typical cultural mold of a worldly woman, but her man likes her for the unique traits and beauty that make her “herself.” We are all different, and God made us all beautiful in our own way. If a girl likes camo and sports more than pink heels and glittery dresses, that’s fine. Same goes for a guy who likes music and dancing more than football and hunting. The fact that we are different is a Christmas gift from our Heavenly Father. Let’s be thankful for it this Christmas!
