Here’s the crazy reason KFC is the traditional Christmas dinner in Japan
Japanese Christmas dinner is finger lickin’ good, but why does everyone go crazy for the festive fried chicken?
Bored of the usual roast turkey with all the trimmings? Fancy embracing another culture’s Christmas fare?
Well if you decide to go authentically Japanese on December 25, you’ll be heading down to your local KFC for a bargain bucket.
Every year the Japanese flock to indulge in the Colonel’s recipe chicken for a bucket of his finest.
But why has this happened? Is it because the Colonel’s trademark white beard makes him look a little like Santa Claus? Or because they’ve realised that fried poultry is always better than roasted?
No. It is actually because some clever marketing exec struck gold in 1974 when he started the “Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii” campaign, which translates to “Kentucky for Christmas”.
The idea came when a group of tourists in Japan couldn’t track down a Christmas turkey and one suggested that a KFC was the best alternative.
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The company realised the marketing potential and launch its first Christmas meal which was the delicious combo of Chicken and wine.
Today their Christmas offering include cake and Champagne as well as the Colonel’s secret recipe chicken.
Despite an estimated one percent of the population being Christian, the meal has become synonymous with the day and people come in their droves to collect their bargain buckets.
Lines can be up to two hours long and people often pre-order in advance
