For many in Japan, Christmas dinner isn’t complete without a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken. This unusual tradition, where millions of families opt for KFC over traditional holiday meals, has become a cultural phenomenon. Each year, approximately 3.5 million Japanese households choose KFC for their Christmas celebrations, as reported by the BBC. Long lines snake around blocks as eager customers wait to get their hands on the festive fast food. Pre-orders, starting as early as October, are a testament to the popularity of this crispy Christmas tradition. This fried chicken feast serves as a unique alternative to the roast turkey dinner commonly enjoyed in other cultures during the holidays.
Christmas is not a widely celebrated religious holiday in Japan, with only about 1% of the population identifying as Christian. However, many embrace the festive season in a secular way. While some celebrate Christmas similarly to Valentine’s Day, focusing on romance, others have adopted the KFC tradition, making it a central part of their holiday celebrations.
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The origins of this unique tradition date back to 1970, when the first KFC opened in Japan. According to a KFC Japan spokesperson, the manager of the inaugural restaurant, Takeshi Okawara, overheard foreigners expressing their longing for turkey during Christmas. Inspired by this, Okawara conceived the idea of a Christmas “party barrel,” filled with fried chicken. In 1974, the “Kentucky for Christmas” (Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii) campaign was launched, solidifying the tradition of enjoying KFC on December 24th.
Over time, the KFC Christmas tradition evolved from simple buckets of fried chicken to elaborate Kentucky Christmas dinner packages. These packages now include a variety of items, such as chicken, shrimp gratin, cake, and more. The festive spirit extends beyond the food itself, with Colonel Sanders, the iconic face of KFC, often seen sporting a red and white suit during the Christmas season, further drawing parallels to Santa Claus.
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While Japan embraces its unique KFC Christmas tradition, KFC continues to innovate in other parts of the world. Recently, a new chicken tender-focused restaurant called Saucy opened in Orlando, Florida. This venture, unlike traditional KFC establishments, specializes in crispy chicken tenders served with a selection of 11 signature sauces, a nod to KFC’s famous 11 herbs and spices. This demonstrates KFC’s ongoing efforts to adapt and evolve while staying true to its core offerings.
