Christmas in Japan

My older daughter told me her third grade computer class project is to research Christmas customs of other countries (calm down, Civil Libertarians, its a parochial school). The kids got to pick which country, but a Chinese boy picked China ahead of her, so she chose Japan. Hmm, I told her, the Japanese celebrate Christmas by eating Kentucky Fried Chicken. She gave me the stink eye and said "You're making that up."

I assured her I wasn't making it up. I am privy to some strange KFC lore due to the fact that we live in Colonel Sander's hometown. But this phenomena is well-documented, as my daughter learned from her research. Japan is only 1% to 2% Christian, so the Christmas they celebrate is pretty much appropriated from other countries. I was surprised to find its a romantic holiday, where couples traditionally go on a sweetheart date on Christmas Eve, whether its to KFC (where reservations are required) or to a hotel. Leave it to me to use my child's homework as blogfodder.

KFC Christmas Ad


Maybe KFC is big for Christmas because Japanese ovens are too small for turkey.

Joi Ito says its because KFC represents an upscale American-style splurge.

Or is it all marketing?

News just came out yesterday that Mitsubishi bought KFC Japan. I wonder what kind of changes this will bring to the traditional Christmas dinner....

Here's one expatriate's experience of Christmas in Japan.

Unusual Christmas gift items available in Tokyo.

Another traditional Japanese Christmas dish is the Christmas cake. Here's a recipe.

BTW, the story of the crucified Santa is an urban legend. ....Or is it? (Thanks, Taro!)

OBLIGATORY CHICKEN JOKE

A man was driving down the road and noticed a three legged chicken racing along beside his car.

When he looked at the speedometer he realized that the chicken was running over 75 miles per hour. The amazed driver followed the chicken for several miles until the chicken turned down a gravel road. The driver followed the chicken to a huge poultry farm. All around the farm there were three legged chickens as far as the eye could see.

The driver stopped his car and then seeing the farmer feeding the chickens he asked him about the three legged chickens.

"Well you see," started the farmer, "I am a genetic engineer and the leg is my favorite piece of chicken. It is also the favorite piece of my wife and my son. I got tired of having everybody fighting over the leg at dinner so I just developed a chicken with enough legs for us all."

"What a great idea!"said the driver, "How do these three legged chickens taste?"

"Well, "said the scientific farmer, "I don't know. I've never been able to catch one!"

Merii Kurisumasu!

Thought for today: Why did the chicken cross the road? To prove to the possum it CAN be done!

The original version of this post first appeared on December 6, 2005.

humor links Christmas funny Kentucky Fried Chicken KFC Japan customs Japanese dinner

Comments

[Taro at news.3Yen.com]

>>"BTW, the story of the crucified Santa is an urban legend."<<

Although authoritative anti-hoax websites such as Snopes.com say crucified Santa is an urban legend, that's not exactly true and complete story.
Fun-loving Japanese advertising people have had fun making the myth into reality. Read the rest of the story the Santa Claus crucified upside down during 1986 season at the South entrance of the Lumiere department store in Tokyo’s Shinjuku station here: http://news.3yen.com/2007-12-07/crucified-claus-merii-kurisumasu/

[robert bourne]

hey I think I know that deisel fried chicken place..nothing like a little axle grease in the batter to liven it up...:):)

[SushiFeathers (w/side of slaw)]

My pet rock has spent two Christmases in Japan with an American writer who -- among her many endeavors -- teaches English to the Japanese, and does a column on Japanese customs from the gaijin (foreigner) perspective in a couple Japanese newspapers (and online).

Seymour's not a very good interview, though (rather stolid, as pet rocks go).