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Kentucky Fried Christmas in Japan

Merry Christmas, friends and readers! I hope you’re all enjoying Christmas in the Japanese traditional manner – by eating some Kentucky Fried Chicken.

The economy is still in the toilet this year, so it appears that KFC has been marketing small Christmas meals this year to couples who are choosing fast food over expensive restaurant meals:

The “home party” set for couples was being sold for 2,000 yen. When the report aired a few weeks ago, KFC was already reporting a 30% increase in X-mas meal reservations compared to last year.

Meanwhile, Kentucky Fried Chicken’s X-mas commercial for this year has focused on the traditional target market of families with kids. The children dancing in this video remind Mom & Dad that they want to eat some KFC:

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Related non-Christmas clip: KFC was recently promoting a special set that came with Peter Rabbit collectible plates and cups.

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22 comments - What do you think? Posted by James - December 24, 2009 at 10:18 pm

Categories: General Japan Tags:

tako

I asked around my friends if they eat KFC at the Christmas, but non of them said they do. I think this is some kind of marketing.
KFC should have paid money to the media so that they would make a news about this crap.

http://www.japanprobe.com James

Do your friends have kids?

Back when I taught elementary and junior high, most of the kids said they ate chicken on Christmas. They were split about half and half between KFC and Mos chicken.

tako

No, they are from my college.

I don’t watch TV and my family don’t celebrate Christmas, so I did not know this Japanese tradition.
I googled about the origin of this crap and found out it on KFC’s website.

http://www.kfc.co.jp/qa/index.html

It basically says, back in 1970′s, KFC was suffering form slow growth of sales since Japanese people did not have the custom of eating chickens with bones by hands.
After the Osaka Expo, the American lifestyle spread as the economy grow. KFC tried to sell chickens as cool and American stuff.
One day, a Gaikokujin customer came to KFC in Aoyama, and told the staff that

「日本ではターキーが手に入らないので、ＫＦＣのチキンでクリスマスを祝おうと思う」
“I cannot get the turkey in Japan, so I’ll celebrate Christmas with KFC’s fried chickens.”

After this, the manager of KFC decided to campaign on Christmas to spread the idea. Dumb, Gaijin! It’s YOU who started this crap!!!

Maybe, as I’m Japanese, I should go and get some KFC to explore Japanese culture.

Polidis

Tojo, you are incorrect. The manager started this ‘crap’ to “campaign on Christmas to spread the idea.” It is also your fault the Americans retaliated post 07/07/1941!
Ajapa

What’s happened in Tanabata on 1941?

hk

I’m on tako’s side as a 110% Japanese. When I was a kid in ’80s, my mom used to cook special ‘big’ karaage for me on Christmas Eve, but never bought KFC’s. Don’t be brainwashed by mktg stuffs. Only I can admit about Christmas culture is chicken something is to Japanese kids what Turkey, ham, eggnog, etc. are to American.
Ajapa

When I was a kid, there are no KFC nor Mos Burger near my house! James should have asked if KFC exists around there.

lq

My two Japanese friends who are both 30 years old (married couple) always eat KFC at Christmas. :/ Maybe your friends have better taste.

time

i wonder if this sort of campaign will work in the states. im craving some kfc from watching the cute ads.
http://www.smallfish-bigpond.com Kerensky97

Nothing in that report surprises me except this part.

“KFC was already reporting a 30% increase in X-mas meal reservations compared to last year.”

Reservations?! Who reserves a meal at KFC? I know that Japan hasn’t turned into a Demolition Man style future where Taco Bell is a fancy restaurant.

I hope the 30% increase is a fourth confused person calling in this year mistaking KFC for a restaurant.

hl

Probably reserved meals for pickup.
Like a pre-arranged carry out order.
Places like KFC, Church’s, Popeye’s etc will take larger orders ahead of time.
I wonder if it is something like that.
ini

hmm

still swearing or have you finally learned how to use the Three Shells?
lq

Not reservations to eat in–people take the food home to eat. They mean orders placed in advance, essentially.

http://www.binary-apotheosis.com/blogs/index.php Rob A

I’ll have the Obama bucket please.
Dr. Obvious

I used to work at the White House, but now I help get your chicken on.
asdafdfasfasffda

In christams you are supposed to eat HAM, it also pisses of pussies who are afraid of HAM.

Weirdo

Holidays evolve as time goes on and depending on the place and people. If any of you think that the current iteration of “Christmas”(a.k.a. Dies Natalis Solis Invicti/Winter Festival/Yule) with the fat jolly red/white coat man (coca cola)worshiping the (re)birth of Jesus(Sol)is the original deal, you are sorely mistaken.

http://briandeutsch.blogspot.com Brian

Here’s a look at the “traditions” in Korea (cake and bad hats):

http://briandeutsch.blogspot.com/2009/12/tis-season-for-hats-and-cake.html

It’s a tough holiday to take, watching one of our most important ones turned into a couple’s holiday for no apparent reason.
Carlos

First of all, Japanese can eat as much Chicken as they want, Christmas is still a generic, fallacy of a Holiday in Japan, if you even want to call it that. As an American, personally, I like KFC, NOT the Japanese version and Not everyday of course, but on certain occasions, why not?
Chicken is chicken, fried is fried, Karaage is fried too, the same! Nothing different. (except for the col. 11 secret herbs and spices) More power to the marketers in Japan at KFC that are capitalizing on this holiday.

I on the other hand believe that you can’t have a traditional American style Christmas without certain items, Chicken is OK (Turkey which I bought at Costco and will smoke today on my BBQ grill) but if you don’t have the following: Family(yes, even the ones that piss you off from time to time) Mashed potatoes w/gravy, Macaroni with cheese, Beets, Carrots(whipped)Greens, Peas, Corn, Giblets, Stuffing(lots of it!) Ham (Honey baked), Cranberry Sauce, Baked/BBQ Beans, Rolls, Muffins, Spinach Casserole(NOT Tuna) Yams, Salads, Fruit Salads, Wine, Beer, Eggnog, Apple/Pumpkin/Pecan or Sweet Potato pie.
…and a bottle of Pepto, just to be safe side.

Now I can truly enjoy the holidays and the real meaning behind Christmas!

boxingday

Now I can truly enjoy the holidays and the real meaning behind Christmas!

Indigestion?

Carlos

That too! Wouldn’t hurt to watch The Grinch or its a Wonderful Life!
jc

Followed by a cholesterol checkup.

Kentucky Fried Christmas in Japan

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