In many countries around the world, Christmas is both a religious holiday and an important time for families to gather and enjoy a lavish dinner (including roast turkey and ham). However, here in Japan, Christmas has evolved in a completely different way. Christmas in Japan is a highly commercialized and glamorous celebration that prioritizes romantic events and a unique food culture over religious significance.

What surprises foreign visitors to Japan the most is the Christmas dinner table. In Japan, it is customary to eat fried chicken, especially Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC ), instead of turkey, and the Japanese style is to gather around a gorgeously decorated cake.

This time, we will delve deeper into the charm of Japan, thoroughly explaining how "KFC and cake" became established as a Christmas food culture that is unique in the world, and the Japanese collective consciousness, commercial strategies, and unique sense of food that lie behind it.

Why fried chicken replaced turkey: "The magic of the colonel"

The phenomenon of KFC chicken becoming synonymous with "roast turkey" at Christmas in Japan is a frequent topic of discussion in overseas media. This unique food culture is not simply a fad, but a result of a combination of clever marketing and the circumstances of the Japanese dining table, truly a "Colonel Sanders magic."

A clever marketing strategy: "KFC for Christmas"

This custom dates back to the early 1970s, when a KFC store manager overheard a foreign customer say, "We can't get turkey for Christmas, so let's celebrate with fried chicken instead." He was inspired to create a marketing campaign.

The campaign "Kentucky Fried Chicken for Christmas!", launched in 1974, was based on the simple concept of "If there's no turkey, eat chicken." This campaign was accepted in Japanese society, where people admired the Western culture of Christmas but the tradition had not yet taken root, as a "new Christmas tradition that was easy and anyone could follow."

KFC sold a special package called the "Christmas Barrel" which included chicken, salad, cake, etc., and families and couples flocking together to buy this quickly became a status symbol for Christmas in Japan. Even today, it has become such a national event that queues form at KFC stores on Christmas Eve and it is impossible to get one without a reservation.

Japan's Living Environment and Food Efficiency

Japan's living environment and eating habits are also deeply involved in the background that has helped drive the spread of KFC.

First of all, turkey is not common in Japan, is difficult to obtain, and is expensive. Also, it is extremely difficult to roast a large whole turkey in a typical Japanese home oven. In contrast, fried chicken is readily available and requires little effort to prepare, and the style of sharing bone-in chicken fits in with the Japanese sense of community and the "joy of sharing" that is familiar from izakaya culture and other such places.

In this way, KFC has successfully combined the two elements of "Western longing for Christmas" and "Japanese lifestyle" to create a unique food culture.

The aesthetics of sparkling decorated cakes

Along with fried chicken, the main attraction of Christmas in Japan is the gorgeously decorated Christmas cake, which is typically a sponge cake spread with fresh cream and decorated with strawberries and other fruits and chocolate.

The happiness of "strawberries and fresh cream"

While Western Christmas cakes tend to be heavy, such as stollen, bûche de Noël, and pound cakes, which are made with plenty of dried fruits and nuts, Japanese cakes are characterized by their lightness and not being too sweet. In particular, the combination of white fresh cream and red strawberries can be said to be the pinnacle of Japanese cake aesthetics. This simple, visually auspicious combination of red and white colors, which combines a sense of cleanliness and elegance, has captured the hearts of Japanese consumers.

Christmas cakes are a symbol of happiness, creating the extraordinary atmosphere of Christmas. The time spent with family and loved ones, surrounded by cake and lit candles, is recognized as the most romantic and special moment of the year. For this reason, patisseries (Western-style pastry shops) compete to create the most elaborate, artistic cakes of the year for Christmas.

Cake expiration dates and the "end of Christmas"

Christmas cakes in Japan also have their own social significance.

In Japan, cake is a symbol of Christmas, so it is ideal to buy it on Christmas Eve (December 24th) and eat it all by Christmas Day ( December25th).In the past, cakes that were left over after the 25th were associated with unsold items or past their expiration date, and were the subject of negative jokes. This custom reflects the rapid change in Japanese society, where people immediately switch their attention to preparing for the New Year (decorating for the New Year and cleaning) after Christmas, as well as the collective respect for seasonal changes.

  Why Christmas in Japan is "Romantic"

Why has Christmas in Japan become a romantic event that focuses on lovers rather than families, as in America and Europe?

Acceptance as an "event" in secular countries

Japan is a secular country with few Christians. Therefore, Christmas is not celebrated as a day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, but as the most colorful and joyful winter event, and only the best parts of foreign cultures have been imported.

As youth culture developed after the period of rapid economic growth, the romantic Western image of Christmas portrayed on television and in movies came to be consumed as a special occasion for a date. The act of exchanging gifts and having a special dinner (KFC and cake!) amidst glittering illuminations became established as a romantic ritual for couples to confirm their love for each other.

Christmas Markets as a Date Spot

In recent years, authentic European-style Christmas markets have begun to be held in Japan, and are becoming popular date spots. The atmosphere of a market, where people can enjoy food and miscellaneous goods from the food stalls with a beer or mulled wine in hand, is an important element for young people and couples in Japan to spend a special winter evening. These places also create a sense of the extraordinary, setting the stage for increased romance.

Tips for foreign tourists to enjoy Christmas inJapan

If you are visiting Japan in December, be sure to experience this unique Japanese Christmas.

• Book early atKFC: While lining up at a KFC on Christmas Eve (December 24th) is one thing, to ensure you get your hands on some chicken, we recommend booking a "Christmas Barrel" in advance, either online or in-store.

• Don't underestimate convenience store cakes: While high-end patisserie cakes are also excellent, the quality of Christmas cakes sold at Japanese convenience stores is extremely high. You can easily try the Japanese combination of fresh cream and strawberries.

• Head to the basement of a department store (depachika): From mid-December onwards, the basement food section of a department store (depachika) becomes a veritable battlefield for Christmas cakes. You can see limited edition cakes by famous pastry chefs and gorgeous decorations at a glance. You'll definitely get a sense of Japan's aesthetic sense towards food.

• Look for romantic illuminations: Large-scale illumination events are held in major cities such as Roppongi and Ebisu in Tokyo, and Umeda in Osaka. After enjoying chicken and cake, you can enjoy the romantic side of Japanese Christmas by visiting a beautiful light event.

summary

Christmas in Japan is a wonderful example of how a culture imported without any religious background has been fused with the Japanese people's collective consciousness, commercial strategies, and delicate aesthetic sense to elevate it into a uniquely "JAPAN-style" culture.

At first glance, the combination of fried chicken and cream cake may seem odd, but this dish embodies the strength of Japanese culture, which is to "flexibly adopt trends and make them fit into our lives," and the aesthetic of "presenting the extraordinary in a thoroughly glamorous way."

If you have the opportunity to experience Christmas in Japan, don't just dismiss this unique food culture as something unusual, but try to think about the Japanese sensibilities and social structure behind it. The moment you bite into a sweet cake with a fried chicken bone in one hand, you will surely be able to experience the profound charm of Japan as a country.

So, this winter, be sure to try "JFC (Japan Fried Chicken) & Cake" and enjoy a romantic Japanese evening!

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