I'm not sure if we can say KFC is the Christmas Tradition in Japan, but I am sure that a lot of people in Japan have KFC for their Christmas meal on CHRISTMAS EVE. (When they talk about Christmas, Christmas Gathering, Christmas Dinner etc. in Japan, they are most likely talking about Christmas Eve.)
And just in case you are not aware, Christmas is not a public holiday in Japan.
All the shops and restaurants including KFC are open as usual on the Christmas Day.
Here are some information for you about KFC Christmas in Japan.
What do you think? Do you think we can say KFC is the Christmas Tradition in Japan?
1. Christmas Menu at KFC in Japan
2. Articles about Japanese KFC Christmas on English Language Media
3. Articles about Japanese KFC Christmas on Japanese Language Media
Christmas pack "Kernels Christmas" | KFC [In Japanese]
1. Christmas Menu at KFC in Japan
KFC Christmas 2022 [In Japanese]
https://www.kfc.co.jp/lp/xmas/
※The Early bird deal ended on 11 December 2022.
※Christmas related online pre-orders ended on 22 December 2022.
Party Barrel Original 4,480yen:
4 Types of Cheese Special Chicken Doria
Original Chicken 8pcs
Smooth Double Fromage Cake
Party Barrel Variety 4,480yen:
4 Types of Cheese Special Chicken Doria
Original Chicken 4pcs
Chicken Tender 4pcs
Smooth Double Fromage Cake
Christmas Pack Pair 2,580yen:
Chicken Nuggets 5pcs
Chicken Tender 4pcs
Original Chicken 2pcs
BBQ Chicken
Christmas Pack A 4,180yen:
Chicken Nuggets 10pcs
Chicken Tender 4pcs
Original Chicken 5pcs
BBQ Chicken 2pcs
Christmas Pack B 2,980yen:
Chicken Nuggets 10pcs
Chicken Tender 4pcs
BBQ Chicken 2pcs
Christmas Pack S 2,980yen:
Chicken Nuggets 10pcs
Chicken Tender 4pcs
Original Chicken 5pcs
BBQ Chicken Combo 1,980yen:
Chicken Nuggets 5pcs
Chicken Tender 4pcs
BBQ Chicken
Chips(Fried Potato) L
Premium Series:
Premium Roast Chicken with Gravy 6,200yen
Roast Chicken Leg 1,280yen
Roast Chicken Thigh with White Aauce 1,380yen
2. Articles about Japanese KFC Christmas on English Language Media
How KFC became a Christmas tradition in Japan [CNN]
Kate Springer, CNN • Updated 23rd December 2022
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/kfc-christmas-tradition-japan/index.html
*It says KFC Japan pulled in 6.9 billion yen between 20 Dec and 25 Dec in 2018. Their busiest day is "usually December 24, on which they usually sell about five to 10 times more than typical days".
It's very interesting to read the history of KFC in Japan and how they became the Christmas tradition in Japan.
Why Japan celebrates Christmas with KFC [BBC]
By Eric Barton 20th December 2016
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20161216-why-japan-celebrates-christmas-with-kfc
*It's an article from December 2016, but it says that 3.6 million Japanese families eat KFC!!! (BTW, the population of New Zealand, where I live, is 5.123 million (2021).)
"... Every Christmas season, an estimated 3.6 million Japanese families treat themselves to Kentucky Fried Chicken, in what has become a nationwide tradition..."
It also says about the KFC Japan's marketing plan in 1974, 'クリスマスにはケンタッキー(Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii / Kentucky for Christmas).
I left Japan in the mid-1990s, so it became the Christmas tradition while I was still there, but I don't recall it... (Maybe I was already an outlier back then.)
3. Articles about Japanese KFC Christmas on Japanese Language Media
2022“ケンタッキークリスマス”スタート、絵皿付きパーティバーレルや五穀味鶏ローストチキン、バーベキューチキン・チキンテンダーなどのクリスマスパックも/日本KFC
2022/12/23
https://www.ssnp.co.jp/foodservice/497602/
Details of the KFC Christmas Menu by Shokuhin Sangyo Shimbunsha(Food Industry Newspaper)
Because it's on the weekend this year, they expected higher demand.
【人生初】ケンタッキーの「クリスマスチキン」3品を食べ比べてみた結果 → あまりにガチすぎてカーネルおじさんの顔を忘れかけた
2022/12/23
https://rocketnews24.com/2022/12/23/1737214/
According to the author, eating KFC at Christmas is in Japanese DNA... ("クリスマスにケンタッキーを食べるのは日本人だけ」みたいな話をよく聞くが、こればっかりはもう仕方ないのよ。DNAに刻まれちゃってるのよ")
The auther has already tried this year's 3 types of KFC Christmas chickens, and wrote a review on them.
「日本人はクリスマスにケンタッキーを食べると聞いて開発しました」 スペインのKFCが日本の独自文化に刺激を受けて“オタクバーガー”を発売
2022/12/14 15:00
https://nlab.itmedia.co.jp/nl/articles/2212/14/news119.html
*This is an interesting one. A Japanese artist (contemporary Kirie(papercutting) artist) found about that KFC in Spain has launched a new "Otaku Burger" inspierd(?) by the Japan's tradition of eating KFC fried chicken at Christmas. I'm not sure if they understood the Japanese word 'Otaku' correctly though...
That's all!
Have a Very Merry Christmas with or without KFC, everyone!
And just in case you are not aware, Christmas is not a public holiday in Japan.
All the shops and restaurants including KFC are open as usual on the Christmas Day.
Here are some information for you about KFC Christmas in Japan.
What do you think? Do you think we can say KFC is the Christmas Tradition in Japan?
1. Christmas Menu at KFC in Japan
2. Articles about Japanese KFC Christmas on English Language Media
3. Articles about Japanese KFC Christmas on Japanese Language Media
Christmas pack "Kernels Christmas" | KFC [In Japanese]
1. Christmas Menu at KFC in Japan
KFC Christmas 2022 [In Japanese]
https://www.kfc.co.jp/lp/xmas/
※The Early bird deal ended on 11 December 2022.
※Christmas related online pre-orders ended on 22 December 2022.
Party Barrel Original 4,480yen:
4 Types of Cheese Special Chicken Doria
Original Chicken 8pcs
Smooth Double Fromage Cake
Party Barrel Variety 4,480yen:
4 Types of Cheese Special Chicken Doria
Original Chicken 4pcs
Chicken Tender 4pcs
Smooth Double Fromage Cake
Christmas Pack Pair 2,580yen:
Chicken Nuggets 5pcs
Chicken Tender 4pcs
Original Chicken 2pcs
BBQ Chicken
Christmas Pack A 4,180yen:
Chicken Nuggets 10pcs
Chicken Tender 4pcs
Original Chicken 5pcs
BBQ Chicken 2pcs
Christmas Pack B 2,980yen:
Chicken Nuggets 10pcs
Chicken Tender 4pcs
BBQ Chicken 2pcs
Christmas Pack S 2,980yen:
Chicken Nuggets 10pcs
Chicken Tender 4pcs
Original Chicken 5pcs
BBQ Chicken Combo 1,980yen:
Chicken Nuggets 5pcs
Chicken Tender 4pcs
BBQ Chicken
Chips(Fried Potato) L
Premium Series:
Premium Roast Chicken with Gravy 6,200yen
Roast Chicken Leg 1,280yen
Roast Chicken Thigh with White Aauce 1,380yen
2. Articles about Japanese KFC Christmas on English Language Media
How KFC became a Christmas tradition in Japan [CNN]
Kate Springer, CNN • Updated 23rd December 2022
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/kfc-christmas-tradition-japan/index.html
*It says KFC Japan pulled in 6.9 billion yen between 20 Dec and 25 Dec in 2018. Their busiest day is "usually December 24, on which they usually sell about five to 10 times more than typical days".
It's very interesting to read the history of KFC in Japan and how they became the Christmas tradition in Japan.
Why Japan celebrates Christmas with KFC [BBC]
By Eric Barton 20th December 2016
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20161216-why-japan-celebrates-christmas-with-kfc
*It's an article from December 2016, but it says that 3.6 million Japanese families eat KFC!!! (BTW, the population of New Zealand, where I live, is 5.123 million (2021).)
"... Every Christmas season, an estimated 3.6 million Japanese families treat themselves to Kentucky Fried Chicken, in what has become a nationwide tradition..."
It also says about the KFC Japan's marketing plan in 1974, 'クリスマスにはケンタッキー(Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii / Kentucky for Christmas).
I left Japan in the mid-1990s, so it became the Christmas tradition while I was still there, but I don't recall it... (Maybe I was already an outlier back then.)
3. Articles about Japanese KFC Christmas on Japanese Language Media
2022“ケンタッキークリスマス”スタート、絵皿付きパーティバーレルや五穀味鶏ローストチキン、バーベキューチキン・チキンテンダーなどのクリスマスパックも/日本KFC
2022/12/23
https://www.ssnp.co.jp/foodservice/497602/
Details of the KFC Christmas Menu by Shokuhin Sangyo Shimbunsha(Food Industry Newspaper)
Because it's on the weekend this year, they expected higher demand.
【人生初】ケンタッキーの「クリスマスチキン」3品を食べ比べてみた結果 → あまりにガチすぎてカーネルおじさんの顔を忘れかけた
2022/12/23
https://rocketnews24.com/2022/12/23/1737214/
According to the author, eating KFC at Christmas is in Japanese DNA... ("クリスマスにケンタッキーを食べるのは日本人だけ」みたいな話をよく聞くが、こればっかりはもう仕方ないのよ。DNAに刻まれちゃってるのよ")
The auther has already tried this year's 3 types of KFC Christmas chickens, and wrote a review on them.
「日本人はクリスマスにケンタッキーを食べると聞いて開発しました」 スペインのKFCが日本の独自文化に刺激を受けて“オタクバーガー”を発売
2022/12/14 15:00
https://nlab.itmedia.co.jp/nl/articles/2212/14/news119.html
*This is an interesting one. A Japanese artist (contemporary Kirie(papercutting) artist) found about that KFC in Spain has launched a new "Otaku Burger" inspierd(?) by the Japan's tradition of eating KFC fried chicken at Christmas. I'm not sure if they understood the Japanese word 'Otaku' correctly though...
That's all!
Have a Very Merry Christmas with or without KFC, everyone!
Comments