Do Japanese have KFC for Christmas?

Since launching its first Christmas campaign in Japan in 1974, Kentucky Fried Chicken has successfully managed to make having fried chicken for Christmas a national tradition that lives on to this day.


Do they eat KFC at Christmas in Japan?

KFC Japan's busiest day is usually December 24, on which they usually sell about five to 10 times more than typical days. "As Christmas approaches, KFC commercials play on TV -- they look very delicious. We order early then go to the store at the designated time to pick up our bucket," says Naomi.

What do the Japanese eat at Christmas?

5 things that are eaten on Christmas day in Japan
  • KFC / Chicken dish. Since it is hard to get turkey in Japan, chicken is eaten on Christmas day. ...
  • 2 . Christmas cake. ...
  • Pizza. Pizza is just known as a party meal and some people order pizza and eat it on Christmas day.
  • Potato salad. ...
  • Cream stew.


Why do Japanese eat KFC on Christmas Day?

The manager of Japan's first KFC in the 70's was inspired to market KFC as a Christmas meal when he overheard some foreigners reminiscing on how they missed turkey dinner at Christmas. KFC called the campaign “Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii or Kentucky for Christmas and the idea took off!

What is the most famous meal for Christmas in Japan?

And in Japan, Christmas means KFC. On December 25th every year, you'll find millions of Japanese people sitting down to a hearty meal of KFC fried chicken, with orders placed with the restaurant months in advance. It's all thanks to a very effective marketing campaign that began in the 70s.


How KFC Became a Christmas Tradition in Japan - Cheddar Examines



What is the most Christmas meal in Japan?

Over 80% of respondents to a recent online survey by a Japanese shopping information site operator said they plan to celebrate Christmas by eating chicken, with most preferring to buy takeout rather than cook.

Is KFC popular in Japan?

The most common meal of choice on Christmas Day is the traditional Christmas dinner, usually with a roast Turkey. But that's not the case everywhere. In Japan, KFC has become the Christmas meal of choice for millions of families every year.

What are 3 Christmas traditions in Japan?

Christmas in Japan: Facts and traditions
  • 2.1 Japan Christmas Cake.
  • 2.2 KFC: Japan's biggest Christmas meal.
  • 2.3 Winter illuminations.
  • 2.4 Japanese Christmas Markets.
  • 2.5 The Disney Christmas Spectacle.


What is the most popular holiday food in Japan?

Favorite Japanese Holiday Foods
  • Japanese New Year's Favorite: Osechi Ryori.
  • Springtime: Hinamatsuri and Chirashi Zushi.
  • A Spring Ritual: Cherry Blossoms, Sakura Mochi, Onigiri and Miso.
  • And, then, there's KFC for Christmas.
  • End the Year with Toshikoshi Soba.
  • Japanese Pancakes: Enjoy Okonomiyaki Year Round.


Do Japanese people think Americans eat KFC for Christmas?

So where did the fondness for crispy fried chicken at Christmas time come from? The origin story has different versions. Some say that Takeshi Okawara, who managed the first KFC in Japan, untruthfully marketed the chicken as a traditional American Christmas dish, according to CNN.

What American fast food does Japan eat on Christmas?

One of the most beloved Christmas meals in Japan is Kentucky Fried Chicken. A phrase you might hear over the Christmas holiday if you're in Japan is kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii, or “Kentucky for Christmas.” Colonel Sanders and his famous recipe have been a huge hit in Japan since the first restaurant opened.


What country eats fried chicken on Christmas?

The fried chicken party bucket went national in 1974 with the slogan ケンタッキーはクリスマス! (Kentucky is Christmas!), cementing the connection between fried chicken and Christmas in the minds of many Japanese.

What is Japan's number 1 food?

1. Sushi. Sushi is the most famous Japanese dish and the first thing people think of when they think of Japanese cuisine.

What are the 3 main foods in Japan?

These are the seven pillars of the typical Japanese meal:
  • Rice.
  • Noodles (ramen, soba, somen, and udon)
  • Vegetable including sea vegetables and daikon radish.
  • Soy (soy sauce, tofu, miso,edamame)
  • Fish such as salmon, mackerel.
  • Green tea.
  • Fruits, like tangerine, persimmons and Fuji grapes.


What are Japan's top 3 favorite foods?

Food Spotlight: 5 Traditional Dishes from Japan
  • Sushi. A popular dish in Japan, sushi is also well loved in the Western world. ...
  • Tempura. Tempura is commonly made by deep-frying seafood, vegetables, or prawns in vegetable oil after applying a coating of egg, water, and wheat flour. ...
  • Sashimi. ...
  • Miso Soup. ...
  • Soba and Udon Noodles.


What is Santa called in Japan?

In Japan Santa is known as サンタさん、サンタクロース / Santa-san (Mr Santa) or サンタクロース / Santa-Kurosu (Santa Claus). (Another Japanese gift bringer is Hoteiosho, a Japanese god of good fortune from Buddhism.

What religion is in Japan?

The Japanese religious tradition is made up of several major components, including Shinto, Japan's earliest religion, Buddhism, and Confucianism. Christianity has been only a minor movement in Japan.


Is Christmas a big deal in Japan?

Since Christmas isn't a national holiday, big crowds and packed hotels are scarce. This is a fun time to travel to Japan to see the gorgeous “illuminations” and markets all over the country. Though Japan does not view Christmas as a religious holiday, it is still celebrated as a way to reunite families.

Who eats KFC for Christmas?

The 'Kentucky for Christmas' slogan was part of a marketing campaign in 1974 for the chicken franchise, and now every year around 3.6 million Japanese people sit down to eat KFC fried chicken for Christmas.

What do Japanese call Kentucky Fried Chicken?

Commonly called “Kentucky” (ケンタッキー) in Japan, KFC has become part and parcel of the fabric of Christmas in Japan.


What is in the KFC Japan Christmas?

So even today, KFC's 'Party Barrels' remains a Christmas hit in Japan. The standard bucket combination in this category—with its eight pieces of chicken, a side and a dessert—rounds off to ¥4,000 (Rs2,300), when the order is placed in advance.

Do the Japanese eat a cake on Christmas?

In Japan, Christmas cake is traditionally eaten on Christmas Eve. The cake is simply a sponge cake, frosted with whipped cream, often decorated with strawberries, and usually topped with Christmas chocolates or other seasonal fruits, and a Santa Claus decoration.

What do Japanese eat for breakfast?

Traditional Japanese breakfast usually follows the style of a Japanese set meal, with the staple being rice and miso soup and ohitashi (boiled vegetables) served as side dishes. Natto (fermented soybeans), pickles, and grilled fish are often also served on the side to help complement the rice.


What is Japan's favorite snack?

One of the most popular snacks in Japan, Jagariko are brittle potato sticks in a cup with a peel-off lid. Among the wide array of flavors, you're sure to find a favorite!