In Japan, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) is huge!
Sure, in America, we have watched the corny KFC commercials of comedians dressed up as Colonel Sanders and we have grown up with the “Finger Lickin’ Good” slogan and the restaurant is more or less a fast food chain for those jonesing for fried chicken.
In Japan, they have a different type of branding that promotes family and couple bonding over fried chicken. But there is one thing that KFC Japan has the admiration of many Japanese over KFC America and that is, Christmas dinner is about KFC!
I know, it may be surprising to many of you. But considering that Japanese don’t have the same love for turkey, cranberry sauce, mash potatoes and gravy, KFC Christmas is the way to go and it has been that way since 1974.
And from December 23 through December 25, 2017, KFC Japan earned over $6 billion yen ($53 Million in the US) which is the equivalent to 24 million pieces of chicken sold.
And in 2018, just from December 20-25, KFC made 6.9 billion yen ($63 million), making Christmas 2018 the largest sales for KFC Japan. And 2019 may even surpass that!
Kentucky Fried Chicken Japan’s success for over 30-years can be thanked to its marketing campaign.
Christmas in Japan is more like an extended Valentine’s Day. For one, only 1% to 2% of the population are Christian, so the way people celebrate Christmas in America is much differently in Japan. Japan it’s about illuminated areas, major sales, Christmas cakes and it’s about love, relationships and family.
From as long as I have seen KFC Japan’s commercials on television, the company starts earlier, promotions and music artist or talent collaborations go in full force and there are two Japanese Christmas songs that people identify with Christmas.
And many people are posting their Kentucky Fried Chicken Christmas for 2019 on YouTube! Enjoy as we head to KFC to pick up some fried chicken!
