Japan is the country that consumes the most KFC on Christmas Day, with an estimated 3.6 million families ordering "party barrels" during the festive season. The tradition began in 1974 after a successful "Kentucky for Christmas" marketing campaign, making it a staple holiday meal rather than a traditional turkey.
KFC Japan expanded the promotion nationwide in 1974 with its long running "Kentucky for Christmas" (Japanese: クリスマスはケンタッキー) or "Kentucky Christmas" (Japanese: ケンタッキークリスマス) advertising campaign. Eating KFC food as a Christmas time meal has since become a widely practiced custom in Japan.
The major markets for KFC include China (10,000 stores), the United States (4,213 stores), Japan (1,140 stores), India (1,000 stores), South Africa (960 stores), the United Kingdom (928 stores), Thailand (853 stores), Malaysia (770 stores), Indonesia (742 stores), Australia (699 stores), and Canada (639 stores).
Japan's obsession with eating KFC fried chicken for Christmas has become pretty well-known by now, but this year, The Colonel took things to the next level by opening up an actual sit-down Christmas restaurant in Tokyo!
What country traditionally eats KFC on December 25th?
The tradition of eating KFC on Christmas in Japan originated in the 1970s thanks to Takeshi Okawara, the manager of the first KFC in the country, who popularized the concept of enjoying fried chicken in place of traditional Christmas fare after overhearing an expat's longing for turkey during the festive season.
How KFC Became a Christmas Tradition in Japan - Cheddar Examines
Why does Japan eat KFC on Christmas?
Japanese people eat KFC for Christmas because of a brilliant 1970s marketing campaign, "Kentucky for Christmas," that filled a cultural void, as turkey was scarce and Japan lacked established Christmas traditions; the easy-to-order fried chicken became a beloved, convenient festive meal, further cemented by Colonel Sanders' resemblance to Santa and nostalgia-inducing jingles.
Topping the list by a wide margin, China stands as KFC's largest market. By the end of 2023 and into early 2024, the country boasted roughly 10,000 KFC outlets, making it the global front-runner by store count.
Japanese Christmas meals famously center around Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), a tradition started by a successful marketing campaign in the 1970s, often accompanied by strawberry shortcake for dessert, making it a unique, commercially driven holiday food culture rather than a religious one. Other popular choices include pizza, special Christmas cakes, and even other Western-style party foods.
Japan's obsession with KFC went so far they made an entire buffet restaurant. Yep, Japan has a KFC buffet that you probably didn't know about and it's actually really popular with the locals.
KFC's brand is ranked #130 in the list of Global Top 1000 Brands, as rated by customers of KFC. Their current valuation is $32.95B. McDonald's's brand is ranked #85 in the list of Global Top 100 Brands, as rated by customers of McDonald's.
The chain's success in China can be attributed to its ability to adapt its menu to local tastes, offering items like rice bowls, congee, and hot pot alongside its classic fried chicken. China hosts approximately 10,000 KFC outlets as of 2024, making it the largest market for KFC outside the U.S.
The three-day Christmas period generates approximately ¥6 billion in revenue: roughly 5% of annual sales concentrated in 72 hours. The numbers reveal the power of this ritual: KFC operates just 1,165 stores in Japan, yet ¥6 billion comes from a few December days.
Japan celebrates Christmas as a secular, commercial, and romantic holiday, not a religious one, focusing on couples' dates, dazzling illuminations, and unique traditions like eating KFC fried chicken and strawberry shortcake, with Christmas Eve being a major romantic event and Christmas Day reserved for family New Year's celebrations instead.
Yes, eating KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) for Christmas is a huge, widespread tradition in Japan, started by a clever marketing campaign in the 1970s when turkey was hard to find, turning fried chicken into a festive holiday meal that millions pre-order weeks in advance.
As of 2023, there are over 1200 KFC locations scattered across the Land of the Rising Sun, and the chain is recognized as something of a gastronomic institution by generations of Japanese people.
In which country is it popular to eat a KFC festival meal for Christmas?
In Japan, enjoying KFC at Christmas has become a cherished tradition that dates back to the 1970s. As Western-style Christmas celebrations began gaining popularity, there wasn't a clear food custom tied to the holiday, and turkey—common in Western countries—was difficult to find.
From roast meat and mashed potatoes, to turkeys, mashed parsnips and all sorts of salads – there are so many different choices. There are also lots of traditional dishes such as curries and satay which are added in their Christmas menus for some exciting flavours.
Only about 1% of Japanese are Christians, but most Japanese families do celebrate at Christmas time, by putting up a small tree or eating a cake even though for most of them the day doesn't have religous significance. Japanese children especially like Christmas, and many of them receive Christmas presents.
What fast food chain is often eaten on Christmas Day in Japan?
It may come as a surprise to know that family Christmas traditions in Japan include ordering a KFC fried chicken bucket! The tradition began in the 70's and now every year around 3.6 million Japanese people sit down to eat KFC fried chicken for Christmas.
