What do the Japanese eat for Christmas dinner? The answer is chicken, especially Kentucky Fried Chicken. The Japanese adopted the celebration of Christmas from the West, but previously there were not many customs associated with it besides presents and a special Christmas cake. In 1974, KFC started advertising chicken for Christmas. The idea came from a foreign customer saying that he eats chicken on Christmas while in Japan because turkey is not available. It is quite rare that a company's advertising campaign is so successful that it becomes a Japanese custom. Japan is the only country in which KFC offers set meals for Christmas. The most popular item is called the, " Party Barrel," which includes chicken, salad and a cake. Even though it has to be ordered in advance, the stores still get long line-ups around Christmas.
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Comments
Awesome! That is very interesting!
this explains why I’ve seen Japanese eating fried chicken during the Christmas holidays in popular movies.
I once saw KFC mentioned in an anime and it surprised me. Now I understand why it was mentioned!
I have an exchange student staying with me from Japan this year. She tells me that her family has the KFC for Christmas tradition also! I think that this is hilarious as KFC’s in the state of Kansas are usually closed for the Holiday. So in order to maintain her tradition, we’re going to have to pick it up for her a day early!
Actually, I’ve been in the Philippines about three years and they also have Christmas menus at KFC here. It’s not as big a thing as it is back in JP, but it’s present here as well.
Yes, the KFC dinner in Japan is delicious, I’ve actually eaten it in Japan before.
We also have an article about celebrating Christmas in Japan , if readers are interested. It just talks more about how the holiday is seen in Japan vs the U.S.
I remember reading about this in 2002 & think its interesting i like KFC But wouldn’t want to go on christmas day, beside Every Restaurant is cloed in the US on christmasday. But IF i was in Japan i wouldn’t mind going
I was trying to tell this to my sister but she didn’t believe me. . . until I showed her a japanese christmas commercial which involved KFC