Japanese KFC Christmas
An unexpected Christmas tradition has taken root in Japan: families across the country celebrate the holiday by sharing a meal from Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). This custom, known as "Kentucky for Christmas," has become so ingrained that many Japanese people consider it synonymous with the holiday season.
This tradition dates back to 1974, when KFC launched a marketing campaign in Japan promoting fried chicken as a Christmas meal. Takeshi Okawara, the manager of Japan's first KFC restaurant, initiated the idea after overhearing foreign customers lament the absence of turkey for Christmas. He began marketing a "party barrel" as a substitute, which resonated with both expatriates and locals. The campaign's success was immediate, and KFC's Christmas offerings have since evolved into elaborate dinner packages, including chicken, shrimp gratin, and cake.
Today, KFC Japan's Christmas sales account for a significant portion of the company's annual revenue. The demand is so high that customers place orders months in advance to secure their meals, and long queues form outside KFC outlets on Christmas Eve, the busiest day for KFC Japan.
Dr. Merry White, a professor of anthropology at Boston University specializing in Japanese culture, notes that the tradition reflects Japan's adaptation of Western customs. "The Japanese are masters of borrowing from other cultures and making it their own," she explains. "KFC at Christmas is a prime example of how a foreign tradition can be transformed into something uniquely Japanese."
This phenomenon also highlights the role of marketing in shaping cultural practices. KFC's campaign filled a void in Japan's holiday customs, offering a tangible way to celebrate Christmas in a country where the holiday is not traditionally observed. As a result, Colonel Sanders, often dressed as Santa Claus during the season, has become a familiar figure in Japan's festive landscape.
"3.5 Million Families in Japan Order KFC for Christmas Every Year - Here's Why," People, December 25, 2024. "Xmas queue you'll only see in one country," News.com.au, December 4, 2024."Why millions of people in Japan eat KFC on Christmas Day," USA Today, December 24, 2024. "How 'Kentucky for Christmas' began in Japan," KFC Global.
