Why Do Japanese People Eat KFC on Christmas? The Real Story
People in Japan eat KFC on Christmas because of a very smart ad campaign. In 1974, KFC Japan started telling families “Kentucky for Christmas.” Fried chicken was easy to buy, turkey was hard to find, and Japan had no big Christmas dinner habit of its own. The idea stuck, and it is still going strong more than 50 years later.
Today, Christmas Eve is KFC Japan’s busiest day of the whole year. Here is how a fast food chain from Kentucky ended up on Japanese holiday tables.
How did KFC become a Christmas tradition in Japan?
It started with a sales problem and a clever idea. KFC opened its first real store in Japan, in Nagoya, in November 1970. Sales were slow at first. The manager of that first store was a man named Takeshi Okawara, and he later became the boss of KFC Japan.
The story goes that Okawara started selling “party barrels” of chicken as a Christmas meal around 1970. In 1974, KFC Japan took the idea to the whole country with its “Kentucky for Christmas” ads. TV commercials showed happy families sharing a bucket of golden chicken. Families liked it, and every year more of them did the same.
Why chicken and not turkey?
Turkey was the missing piece. In the United States and the UK, many families eat turkey at Christmas. In Japan in the 1970s, turkey was very hard to buy, and most home ovens were too small to roast a big bird.
Fried chicken was the next best thing. It felt Western and special, but it was easy to pick up on the way home. It also tasted a lot like karaage, a Japanese fried chicken dish people already loved. So it did not feel strange at all.
Who started the KFC Christmas idea?
Nobody agrees on one single story. There are a few versions, and they do not all match.
- The turkey story: Reports say a foreign customer once said they could not get turkey in Japan, so KFC would have to do. Someone at KFC heard this and turned it into a campaign. KFC has told a version of this story itself.
- The Santa story: Okawara has said he dressed up as Santa Claus and brought chicken to a Christmas party at a nearby school. The kids loved it, and more parties asked for the same thing.
- The “lie” story: Years later, Okawara said in a podcast interview that he regretted presenting fried chicken as an American Christmas custom, because it was not one. KFC does not agree with every part of his account.
What everyone does agree on is the 1974 campaign. That is when “Kentucky for Christmas” went national.
Why did it catch on so fast?
Timing was perfect. In the 1970s, Japan’s economy was booming. People had more money and loved new things from America, like fast food, ice cream shops and Western clothes.
Christmas was also a blank page. Only about 1% of people in Japan are Christian, and Christmas is not a public holiday there. So families had no old Christmas food to replace. KFC simply gave them one. On top of that, the Colonel Sanders statue outside each store looks a bit like Santa when it wears a red suit and hat, and stores still dress him up every year.
How big is KFC Christmas in Japan today?
It is huge. KFC Japan said in 2020 that December 24 brings about 10 times more customers than a normal day. AFP reported that about 3.6 million families order. CNN reported that KFC Japan made about $63 million between December 20 and 25 in 2018 alone.
Lines can stretch out the door, and people who did not order ahead may wait for hours. That is why most families book their meal weeks before Christmas.
What is in a KFC Christmas meal in Japan?
The star is the Christmas “party barrel,” a big box of fried chicken with sides and dessert. Sizes and items change every year, but here is what a typical one has looked like.
| What you get | Details |
|---|---|
| Fried chicken | About 8 pieces of Original Recipe chicken in the standard box |
| Side dish | Often a warm gratin (a creamy baked dish) or salad |
| Dessert | A small cake, such as a strawberry mousse cake, packed in its own section |
| Extras | A special Christmas box and, some years, a collectible plate |
| Price | Time Out Tokyo listed the standard 2025 box at ¥4,990 when ordered ahead |
Prices and items for Christmas 2026 depend on KFC Japan’s own announcement, so check the KFC Japan app or website for this year’s boxes.
When do you have to order KFC for Christmas in Japan?
Most people order in November. A KFC Japan marketing manager told AFP in 2025 that Christmas reservations usually start around the beginning of November. You pick a store and a pickup time, often on December 23, 24 or 25. Walking in on Christmas Eve without an order is possible, but the wait can be very long.
What is the “Curse of the Colonel”?
This is a fun side story that shows how famous Colonel Sanders is in Japan. In 1985, fans of the Hanshin Tigers baseball team were celebrating in Osaka. They threw a Colonel Sanders statue from a KFC into the Dotonbori river, because they thought it looked like one of their star players.
The team then went many years without winning the big title again, and fans blamed the “curse.” The statue was pulled out of the river in 2009. The Tigers finally won the championship again in 2023.
Who owns KFC in Japan?
KFC Japan is now owned by the investment firm Carlyle. The trading company Mitsubishi helped bring KFC to Japan in 1970 and ran it for many years. In 2024, Carlyle agreed to buy Mitsubishi’s stake.
A quick timeline
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1970 | KFC tests a stand at the Osaka World Expo, then opens its first store in Nagoya |
| 1974 | The “Kentucky for Christmas” campaign goes nationwide |
| 1985 | Baseball fans throw a Colonel statue into an Osaka river |
| 2018 | CNN reports about $63 million in sales from December 20 to 25 |
| 2024 | Carlyle agrees to buy KFC Japan from Mitsubishi |
Can you do KFC for Christmas in the United States?
Yes, if your local KFC is open. Hours on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day depend on each store, and many close early or for the day, so call ahead or check the KFC app. See what a bucket costs on our KFC menu with prices, and check our guide to restaurants open on Christmas. Want other fried chicken ideas? Compare the Popeyes menu, the Church’s Chicken menu and the Raising Cane’s menu. Planning ahead for Christmas Day? Read is Chick-fil-A open on Christmas too.
Frequently asked questions
Why do Japanese people eat KFC on Christmas?
Japanese families eat KFC on Christmas because of a 1974 ad campaign called “Kentucky for Christmas.” Turkey was hard to find, Japan had no Christmas dinner tradition, and fried chicken felt special and Western. The habit spread and is still popular today.
When did KFC Christmas start in Japan?
The KFC Christmas tradition went nationwide in Japan in 1974. That year KFC Japan launched its “Kentucky for Christmas” ads. Stories say the first Christmas chicken sales happened a few years earlier at the first stores.
Who started the KFC Christmas tradition in Japan?
Takeshi Okawara, the manager of KFC’s first store in Japan and later its CEO, is usually given credit. KFC also tells a story about a foreign customer who missed turkey. The exact origin is still debated.
How many people eat KFC on Christmas in Japan?
About 3.6 million families order KFC around Christmas, according to AFP. KFC Japan said Christmas Eve brings about 10 times more customers than a normal day.
Do you need to reserve KFC for Christmas in Japan?
Yes, reserving is the smart move. Christmas orders usually open around early November, and people without a reservation can wait in line for hours on December 24.
How much is a KFC Christmas barrel in Japan?
The standard Christmas box cost ¥4,990 when ordered ahead in 2025, according to Time Out Tokyo. Prices for 2026 depend on KFC Japan’s new menu, so check the KFC Japan app.
Is Christmas a holiday in Japan?
No, Christmas is not a public holiday in Japan. Most people work or go to school on December 25. It is a fun, non-religious celebration with lights, gifts, cake and, of course, fried chicken.
Prices are typical U.S. prices before tax and can vary by location. Menus Info is not affiliated with any restaurant mentioned. See how we check prices.
