In fact, I got roped into playing Santa Claus at a local orphanage for several years running because they expected their Santa to be lighter skinned. I didn't mind doing it. The kids were great and the staff invited my family along. Even though I spoke quite passable Japanese, they wanted me to ham it up by speaking mostly English which my daughters would interpret for them.
During the years we were there (1988-2002), Disney stopped the release of the original Song of the South in the United States . . . which was the main reason we got the Japanese version.
That is funny. I had no idea whatsoever that you live/lived in Japan.
I managed to get hold of the original version years ago when the internet was just becoming another tool of the masses.