Why is KFC Big in Japan?

According to KFC Japan, it all dates back to 1974 after a KFC Japan sales team member overheard a foreign customer complain about not being able to get turkey and making do with fried chicken for Christmas.

Why KFC so popular in Japan?

KFC benefited from the economic boom in Japan during the 1980s, and grew to 1,000 outlets with annual sales of $1.2 billion by 1993. However, the rapid expansion of outlets saw franchisees competing for market shares with each other, and around 100 outlets closed down in the mid-1990s.

Is KFC different in Japan?

KFC is considered more expensive and luxurious, compared to other fast food places in Japan. In Japan, you must be certified as a "chicken specialist" in order to make chicken. Certification takes 3 months, and your knowledge and skills are tested every year.

Is KFC better in Asia?

Kentucky Fried Chicken has more than 5,600 locations in China alone, making it by far the most dominant American fast-food chain in the country. According to Business Insider, KFC holds 11.6 percent of the fast-food market in China — double that of McDonald's and lightyears ahead of any other US-based chain.

Why is fried chicken popular in Japan?

Although turkey is traditional, not many families had the space to roast a giant bird as most Japanese kitchens are very small. So people opted for chicken instead. Karaage chicken was already a popular dish at that time, so it made sense that the masses took a liking to American-style fried chicken.

How KFC Became a Christmas Tradition in Japan - Cheddar Examines

Why is Colonel Sanders famous in Japan?

In the 1970s they began running Japanese TV ads implying that the Colonel's buckets were a standard means of celebrating Christmas with family. The concept caught on in a big way. “My Old Kentucky Home” became, in Japan, a Christmas song.

Why are there KFC statues in Japan?

However, instead of the individual leapers representing the players, over 5,300 fans plunged into the canal. Many KFC outlets in Kobe and Osaka moved their Colonel Sanders statues inside until the series was over to protect them from rabid Tigers fans.

Why do Japanese eat chicken for Christmas?

So where did the fondness for crispy fried chicken at Christmas time come from? The origin story has different versions. Some say that Takeshi Okawara, who managed the first KFC in Japan, untruthfully marketed the chicken as a traditional American Christmas dish, according to CNN.

Why is KFC so popular in China?

KFC appeals to Chinese consumers by adapting its menu to local tastes. It offers everything from congee (rice porridge) to egg tarts. While Americans may associate KFC with being cheap fast-food, in China the brand is perceived as high quality.

What country eats KFC for Christmas?

It's that time of the year again: the illuminations have gone up and the first Christmas bucket orders are being placed at KFC. Wait, what? Yes, you read that correctly: Christmas and KFC are completely intertwined in Japan.

How do you say KFC in Japanese?

ケンチキ {noun} [slg.]

Who eats KFC for Christmas dinner?

The history of Christmas KFC in Japan

KFC has been the ultimate Japanese Christmas food since December 1974, just four years after the first KFC store arrived in Japan.

What is the most popular meal at Christmas in Japan?

As turkey is difficult to find in Japan, the staple dish for Christmas in Japan is chicken. Many restaurants offer special limited-edition Christmas chicken menu items for eat-in or takeout. This is usually fried or roast chicken, and may contain sides as well.

What does Japan eat for Christmas?

Every Christmas season, an estimated 3.6 million Japanese families treat themselves to fried chicken from the American fast-food chain, in what has become a nationwide tradition. A bucket of KFC chicken has been the go-to dinner for Japan since the 1970's, when KFC launched their “Kentucky for Christmas” campaign.

Does Japan celebrate Christmas?

Christmas in Japan: Facts and traditions. Christmas is in the air! While it isn't a national holiday in Japan, since only about 1 percent of the whole population in Japan is Christian, it's still felt throughout the country.

Is KFC a tradition in Japan?

While the design of the bucket and the sides may change each year, KFC's famous fried chicken stays at the center of the party bucket, and the Christmas holiday in Japan. Kentucky for Christmas is a Japanese tradition that's here to stay.

What is the meaning of Kentucky?

Kentucky. / (kɛnˈtʌkɪ) / noun. a state of the S central US: consists of an undulating plain in the west, the Bluegrass region in the centre, the Tennessee and Ohio River basins in the southwest, and the Appalachians in the east. Capital: Frankfort.

How many families does Japan have?

The Population Census shows that Japan had 53.33 million private households (excluding "institutional households" such as students in school dormitories) in 2015, showing a consistent increase since the initiation of the Census.

What is the most popular fast-food in Japan?

The Most Popular Fast Food Chains in Japan

By any measure, McDonald's is the king of Japanese fast food, with a whopping 2,900 branches nationwide. Far behind in second place is Sukiya, with over 1,900 locations in Japan.

Why did KFC fail in India?

Authorities in the Indian state of Kerala have shut down a restaurant of fast-food giant KFC after a customer complained that he had been served a chicken meal containing live worms.

What is the busiest KFC in the world?

With that said, it's really no wonder why the company's most successful KFC location is located in China. The Beijing Railway Station KFC holds the distinction as being the busiest in the world.

Which country consumes the most KFC?

The major markets for KFC include China (7,166 stores), the United States (3,943 stores), Japan (1,140 stores), Russia (979 stores), South Africa (955 stores), the United Kingdom (928 stores), Thailand (853 stores), Malaysia (743 stores), Indonesia (742 stores), Australia (699 stores), and Canada (601 stores).

Why does KFC taste different in different countries?

The interesting thing about KFC is how much it is localised to suit the local tastes and is modified to include some of the local food. This is down to the franchise model that KFC use and the freedom it gives to their franchisees to give each country its own 'flavour' of KFC.