KFC and Christmas? How this unusual combination became tradition in Japan.

To us, the American fast food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) is nothing more than a “once in a while” cheat meal. Boasting it’s $5 Fill Ups, $3 Famous Bowls, and 8 piece Bucket Meal, it’s become one of the leading fast food chains in the entire nation. We’ve become so accustomed to seeing Colonel Sander’s face as we drive past our local KFC to the point where we pay no mind. So, why in the world has Kentucky Fried Chicken and Christmas become synonymous together in Japan? I celebrated my Christmas in Tokyo this year and I decided to take a deep dive on this unusual cultural phenomenon. After doing some research and talking to locals, I discovered that this tradition arose from clever marketing from KFC. While we celebrate the holidays with a Christmas tree and gift giving, the Japanese never established a Christmas tradition that unified the country. That was until KFC capitalized with the “Kentucky for Christmas” campaign in the 1970s that featured large party buckets that were to be shared between family and friends. In Japanese culture, it’s important to share meals between those close with you as it’s a way to strengthen an everlasting bond. I interviewed Giyu Tomioka, a 19 year old Tokyo native who has been eating KFC every Christmas. He said, “I’ve been eating KFC every Christmas for as long as I can remember. To be able to share a delicious meal with my family upholds the values I cherish. Also, it gives me a little taste of what it’s like to be American!”

Personally, seeing American and Japanese culture fuse together in this unlikely way helps illustrate the respect each nation has for each other. While Japanese culture integrates into our country with things like ramen, sushi, and anime; America is able to integrate itself into Japan with things like KFC. Isn’t that marvelous? As I look deeper into seeing just how big this tradition is, I was shocked to read some of these statistics regarding KFC sales. According to Japanese news site SoraNews24, it’s estimated that from 12/23-12/25, all KFC locations in Japan created a revenue of over 6 billion yen ($53 million USD). To put that into perspective, that is about 24 million pieces of chicken sold to these hungry Japanese families. After finding about all of this, I knew I had to go to KFC in Shinjuku City to truly find out what the rave is all about. On Christmas Eve, I went around dinner time only to be met with a massive line out the door. After waiting about 25 minutes in line, I finally got my Party Barrel to share with my friends and family. At around 4,000 yen ($38 USD), I was overwhelmed with the sheer amount of food given to me. It featured a gigantic bucket of chicken, a salad, and even a Christmas cake. After eating my delicious meal, I finally understood why this tradition is able to last despite it’s original intent for marketing and selling a product. To the people of Japan, it’s being able to sit around a dinner table and share a feast among those you love. Overall, this was definitely one of my most unique Christmas experiences. I never thought I would replace my turkey and mashed potatoes with a bucket of KFC but here we are. Still, I loved this experience and I will be sure to do it again next year. Until next time!

-Paul Osbourne