Santa Kohei Yamashita has gone all the way to win the “Santa of the year 2014” title in Gällivare, Swedish Lapland. A Japanese report I read says that Santa Yamashita hails from Amakusa, where the contest to choose the Santa to represent Japan is held each year. Amakusa seems to have been chosen because of the long history Christianity there.

http://visitgellivare.wix.com/santa-winter-games