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Original poster

KFC for Christmas Dinner in Japan

35 replies

StealthPolarBear · 26/12/2018 19:37

This year I have learned this the tradition in Japan through a Facebook post, a BBC news item and a book I'm reading. It seems to the the popular fact to share this year.
Yet as it's tradition it's presumably been this way for the last couple of decades. Why is this fact everywhere in 2018 but not before?

OP posts:
homemadecommunistrussia · 26/12/2018 19:41

Stuff like that happens to me all the time- I learn a fact and then find references to it everywhere.

homemadecommunistrussia · 26/12/2018 19:45

Baader-Meinhof phenomenon apparentlyConfused

Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 26/12/2018 19:45

Exactly! It's really bugging me. It's like someone is pulling strings somewhere...

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Events & celebrations
Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 26/12/2018 19:46

Ooh will Google after bedtime story

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Cherries101 · 26/12/2018 19:57

Fried chicken is a relatively new phenomena in not just Japan but across East Asia. It wasn’t long ago that KFC or American diner type places were the only places that were trusted to do it properly. (Indian restaurants in East Asia didn’t have a good reputation amongst East Asians of Japanese / Chinese descent mostly because of racism, even though they tend to be more popular amongst tourists).

Remember, over there Christmas isn’t part of their ‘traditions’ — even 15 years ago it wasn’t particularly celebrated unless you were christian. So a ‘traditional Christmas’ doesn’t mean anything for non-Christians. Most Japanese don’t really do fried chicken or Christmas in a way we would recognise!

Notreallyhere23 · 26/12/2018 20:02

Don’t know if this link will work but this is where I learnt about it a few years back

BertieBotts · 26/12/2018 20:03

I've known about this for years, we even made our own fake KFC along with the roast one year for Christmas. It's not just this year.

sakura06 · 26/12/2018 20:11

The only time I spent Christmas in Japan, we did have KFC for Christmas lunch. I don't think it was particularly a huge thing in Japan though, and I was very annoyed! I missed turkey and all the trimmings.

amusedbush · 26/12/2018 20:21

I’ve known this for a long time but I’ve always wanted to go to Japan and have done a lot of research. My best friend also lived there for a few years.

AlexaShutUp · 26/12/2018 20:28

I lived in Japan for years and spent several Christmases there. I do remember hearing that there had been a very successful advertising campaign promoting KFC at Christmas, but I don't think it was really a "thing" in any of the places where I lived. What I did see everywhere were the Japanese Christmas cakes with lots of strawberries and whipped cream!

Mehrry · 26/12/2018 20:30

Expat here. Don't believe everything you read on the Internet. It's sensationalisn.

Some may eat KFC but a whole many more millions won't be.

Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 26/12/2018 21:47

The fb post was from someone living in japam

However my point is mostly that. How much is genuine and how much is string pulling

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Mehrry · 27/12/2018 11:01

Or people making massive stereotypes. It happens a lot with expats and journalists

Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 27/12/2018 11:35

But why this year, not at any point in the last few

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ChristmasRaven · 27/12/2018 12:49

I was there in 2016 for a few months and KFC had a pre order system where you put down a time slot to collect on the day. They did a Christmas pack with chicken (weirdly no fries!) a chocolate cake and a decorative ceramic plate! It was fun. It's not something "everyone" does but was clearly popular enough to require pre booked slots, and this was a good way out of the city so it wasn't that it was super busy there.

Mehrry · 27/12/2018 12:55

Probably the media wanting some silly stories to fill space, Stealth or a KFC PR campaign

Many Japanese takeaways offer a that service Christmas. It's just part of their efficiency.

ChristmasRaven · 27/12/2018 12:58

I don't think it's as common as the media would have you believe but I don't believe it's as uncommon as Mehhry would have you believe! lol. I didn't see pre order available at any other places. Christmas day is a normal day there. Generic restaurants don't need to do anything special for Christmas.

Mehrry · 27/12/2018 13:07

Your comparing your experience in one presumably large city on one day to the rest of the country.... OK then

BlackCatSleeping · 27/12/2018 13:13

I live in Japan. Fried chicken and strawberry shortcake are very popular and are usually eaten on Christmas Eve. KFC is very popular and Is best ordered in advance to avoid the massive queues. A lot of people buy chicken at the supermarket or other places though. Christmas Day in Japan isn’t such a huge deal though and many places take down their decorations on Christmas Day as Christmas Eve is seen as the main event. Christmas Eve is also seen as very important for young couples to go out on dates.

ChristmasRaven · 27/12/2018 13:16

I'm not sure why you're getting so het up over this? That was just the last Christmas I was there. I've spent many months each year there for several years now and stayed in lots of different places. I also have a lot of Japanese friends. So it wasn't just a one off experience. Just my last one. But ok, it obviously means a lot to you so it's all made up! No one eats KFC for Christmas Smile

Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 27/12/2018 13:20

I think some of you are missing the point. I believe it. I am just wondering why this year it is mentioned everywhere I look.
As a pp mentioned, probably a KFC marketing campaign.
So is strawberry shortcake part of the meal? I love it but haven't had it since I was a child, thank you for reminding me!

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FissionChips · 27/12/2018 13:22

I’d really love KFC on Xmas dayXmas Sad

Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 27/12/2018 13:24

Can you not go for KFT instead? :o

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Beansonapost · 27/12/2018 13:27

@StealthPolarBear

It's called algorithms. You read an article perhaps off Facebook or while using Facebook and now you will be inundated with Japanese kfc Christmas.

It's not new. While living in China I visited a friend who is an ESL it's a thing and we had to preorder. I loved it.

Fried chicken is not a new phenomenon in Asian countries... western fast food is.

The best fried chicken is in South Korea... fried chicken and beer! Yum

BlackCatSleeping · 27/12/2018 13:51

I saw pre-order for fried chicken at Family Mart the convenience store. I don't know how popular it was though.

I made whole roast chicken this year. My husband was rather disappointed, but did enjoy the meat pie I also ordered. He had never eaten it before.

Fried chicken is very popular in japan. I'm not sure how long the KFC at Christmas has been popular, but a few decades at least.

I'm not sure why this has suddenly popped up on your Facebook feed though. I'd probably blame the Russians though, just to be on the safe side.