People across Japan celebrated Christmas Eve in a variety of ways on Saturday, from getting in touch with the animal world, to simple acts of charity.

In central Mie prefecture, visitors to an aquarium watched Selena the dugong being fed her favorite treat, seaweed.

At a zoo in neighboring Wakayama prefecture, Fuhin the Panda was given a Christmas treat made of ice.

Pandas are native to the highlands of China and are resilient to cold. Fuhin seemed to enjoy her frigid gift.

For many people this year, the cost-of-living crisis has cast a shadow over the end-of-year holidays. To bring about some joy, a group in Tokyo supporting children from low-income families handed out Christmas cakes.
Tanaka Masashi of the Heart Ribbon Association, the event organizer, says he wants the children to enjoy Christmas.

In Fukui prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast, a group of children at a day care center received toys as an early Christmas gift.

The facility, located in a downtown district, takes care of children whose mothers work until midnight. Nursery owner Kakinoki Yuki says the rising prices have hit people hard, but for single-mother families, the impact is a lot more severe.

The donated toys were provided by families whose children have grown up. The volunteer group refurbished them as Christmas presents.