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The Surprising Japanese Christmas Tradition Focused On Fast Food
Christmas looks different everywhere
Japan does not celebrate Christmas like most developed nations. I know, because I lived there. Christmas is not even a national holiday in Japan. Christmas in Japan is an odd facsimile of Western Christmas. There are sales and decorations but not much festivity. Malls will put up a Christmas tree but there is no focus on Santa, no religious bent, and no massive hubbub around the holiday.
But there is one thing about Christmas that Japan made wholly their own and that is their insistence on eating American fast food.
It is not as though fast food is foreign in Japan. It has become pretty common (even if they do not eat it as much as we do.) There are McDonald’s all around Tokyo. Mr. Donut is a common foreign breakfast item.
What is unique is the Japanese tradition of feasting on Kentucky Fried Chicken for Christmas.
In Japan, the Colonel loves Christmas. It’s finger lickin’ good. And nearly everyone agrees. Christmas means Kentucky. And Kentucky means Kentucky Fried Chicken.
