Why do Japanese eat KFC for Christmas? | A close look at Japan

"A Close Look at Japan" is a column set up by Chen Yaoshi, a writer living in Japan, in the interface news, telling about Japanese business and culture.
People in northern China eat jiaozi on the winter solstice, while Japanese eat KFC on Christmas. Trying to eat KFC on Christmas Eve is like trying to eat Haidilao at seven o’clock in the evening, because there are long queues at the gates of KFC, and no one has provided free tea, watermelon and manicure services.
However, even if you can’t get in line, there are ways. Many families will choose to go to the store or order a family bucket online to eat at home. After all, Christmas Eve should be spent with their families. Figures provided by the American fast food industry show that from December 20 to 25, 2018, KFC stores in Japan earned about 63 million US dollars, and Christmas Eve was a crazy night for KFC, with sales usually four or five times that of usual.
This phenomenon is a bit ridiculous. When I first spent Christmas in Japan, I was shocked by the long queue at the gate of KFC-KFC is called fast food for China people, and it is generally favored by couples of children and college students. Why did KFC become a Christmas dinner in Japan? Is it because the Japanese can’t afford to eat turkey and take KFC to deal with it?
In fact, it is not because the Japanese can’t afford to eat turkey, but because there is no turkey in Japan. In 1970, the first KFC in Japan opened, and the business was bleak. At that time, Japan’s economy had developed at a high speed, and KFC, which provided standardized and high-quality services, did not attract the attention of Japanese consumers.
But the Japanese like to celebrate Christmas. In the long time and space, this festival from the west has been widely accepted by the Japanese. In fact, the concept of Christmas spread to Japan during the Meiji Restoration. In 1892, Masaoka Shiki, a master of Japanese literature in Meiji period, wrote that "after Laba is a noisy Christmas". Just like what we said, "Don’t be greedy for children, it’s the year after Laba".
Although in the following years, whether Christmas should be celebrated has aroused widespread discussion in society, the theory of the opponents is very clear: Japan is not a Christian country, so why should it be celebrated? How should Japan’s own traditions be preserved?
However, Yanagita Kunio, the father of Japanese folklore, thinks that Christmas is just a traditional winter night activity in the East, covered with western pop elements … and the East has a tradition of celebrating the winter solstice night since ancient times. ….
It means that everyone is happy, so why be so serious? The Japanese people don’t care so much, and happiness is the most important thing. They soon enjoyed the fun of Christmas. Since around the 1910 s, Santa Claus, Christmas concerts and dances have come in droves, and major commercial organizations have tried their best to carry out various discounts and promotions. The whole December was immersed in a cheerful atmosphere.
Back to KFC. Before and after Christmas in 1974, KFC played a brainwashing slogan: "Of course, we must eat KFC at Christmas." I didn’t expect this strategy to be a great success.
It is said that this idea came to the manager of KFC in his dream at that time. After waking up, he quickly took a notebook and wrote it down. In addition to this slogan, he also suggested that KFC should launch Christmas package barrels during Christmas to attract consumers.
It is said that another reason is that several westerners living in Japan complained that they didn’t have a turkey dinner in Japan at Christmas, and the manager had a brainwave. So, buddy, come and have a KFC dinner. Anyway, it’s all chickens.
Since then, it has become a tradition to eat KFC in Japan for Christmas. In fact, there is commercial significance behind this. Although the Japanese have a long history of Christmas, they have not formed a unique culture, and what to eat at Christmas has always been a blank in the market. For example, it is a habit and custom to have a family reunion dinner and watch the Spring Festival Gala in China during the Spring Festival. But what to eat at Christmas, the Japanese have never had a fixed habit. Until KFC’s marketing strategy changed this situation.
Moreover, KFC in Japan later strengthened its Christmas significance. They said that KFC’s grandfather looked like Santa Claus … So more Japanese chose to see this KFC grandfather who looked like Santa Claus at Christmas.
Besides eating KFC, if you happen to be in Tokyo, it is definitely a big loss not to see the brightly lit city on Christmas Eve. Whether it is a commercial block or a small park, this day will be shrouded in gorgeous lights containing whimsy and creativity. The images of reindeer, Christmas tree and Santa Claus will be displayed in various forms, and the trees on the roadside will also be lit by various colors of lights.
A few years ago, on Christmas Eve, I walked alone in Marunouchi Street in Tokyo, and was deeply moved by the romance at night. It is said that more than 200 trees on this 1.2-kilometer-long road are lit with shining lights, and there are about 930,000 light bulbs here to illuminate my Little Paradise.
In fact, we don’t have to be too critical of the festivals that emerge from time to time today. The background of their existence may be the planning of businesses, such as shopping, eating and having fun. But what about this? The important thing is, if real life makes you feel bored, what’s wrong with having fun in a festive atmosphere?
(Note: This article only represents the author’s personal views. Editor’s mailbox: zhoujing@jiemian.com)
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Fashion is a reincarnation, and these elements are hot again.

Fashion,

Seems to be the most fickle thing in the world,

Last season’s fashion trends are just familiar to me.

Next season’s pop elements will follow immediately.

Fashion trends change every season,

But at the same time, fashion is a reincarnation.

Elements that were popular a long time ago may be warming up again today.

We often see something similar on the Internet.

"It turns out that the most fashionable ones are our grandmother and mother."

"Looking through mom’s closet,

You can see the fashion this year.

So,In a sense,

Fashion is a cycle after cycle.

For example, the beautiful national goddess Brigitte Lin,

The hard photos of the last century are still super amazing.

Sling v-neck jumpsuit,

Pure and sexy are just right,

With hairband and a little black bag,

Simple plain clothes and proper fashionistas,

And this kind of jumpsuit is very popular in recent years.

Anyone who doesn’t have one or two,

It’s really Out

Brigitte Lin also loves to wear heroic suits.

Capable, fresh and handsome.

And this neutral trend has been in the fashion circle in recent years.

Also cited by various big coffees,

Let us feel the elegance and handsomeness of women again.

Cycling pants are all the rage this summer.

From the street to the show,

Become a versatile item for fashionistas of all walks of life.

For elongate leg lines,

Highlighting the waist-hip-leg ratio plays an excellent role.

But did it occur to you,

The late princess Diana

I have already interpreted it to the fullest.

Princess Diana’s life is legendary,

And her dress style also leads the fashion trend.

Even today, it is still fashionable and bright.

This green wave tunic dress with white background is fresh and charming.

With a roll-up hat,

The neck is decorated with exquisite choker,

Any one is a popular style at present.

A generation of goddess Joey Wong, fashionable and temperament,

Her style has been madly imitated by girls.

As early as 30 years ago,

She has put on piles of socks and small white shoes.

And this kind of collocation is also popular in recent years.

Waist check jumpsuit suspender short skirt,

Fresh and sexy merger,

It’s still standard in summer,

There is always a reason why plaid elements are enduring.

After all, it’s so beautiful.

Fashion is like a cycle,

Many things that were popular in the past are immersed in it for a period of time.

Will return to the wave of fashion.

No matter how to pursue the latest things,

What remains in the end are the most classic elements.

Stripes have always been a popular element in fashion circles.

Never disappeared in fashion,

Never even dimmed,

Regardless of the times,

Sweeping the fashion circle regardless of season.

Striped shirts have appeared in Hepburn’s daily photos more than once.

Marilyn Monroe always wears sexy clothes,

Striped shirts are no exception.

Nowadays, more colors and styles are used.

The beauty of stripes remains the same.

Summer is the most exciting season to wear striped shirts.

Especially blue and white stripes,

Especially suitable for showing the vitality of summer,

Full of youthful and lively breath,

Age is reduced and there is a sense of closeness.

Striped Tee is the simplest and easiest item to build.

You can go out of the street with a pair of jeans or shorts at will.

Over size, hem knot, small dew shoulder

All kinds of wearing methods get up at will,

Easily add points to your look.

And for people who want to be thin,

Vertical stripes are the best choice.

Stretch the lines of the whole body,

Makes people look thin and straight,

Very good shape modification.

Don’t like large stripes,

It can also be decorated with only a small area.

Stripes on collars, cuffs and belts,

Can show personality very well.

No one will ask whether black and white collocation is popular.

Because it naturally exists in fashion.

I believe many people were killed 25 years ago,

This set of photos of Gong Li at the seaside in Cannes was amazing.

Black and white, seemingly simple,

But it has been amazing for decades.

Ms Chanel once said:

"I often say that black is all-inclusive, and so is white.

Their beauty is impeccable and absolutely harmonious.

At the dance,

Women in black or white are always the focus. "

A seemingly unchanging black and white match.

In fact, I have tried all kinds of styles and forms.

Although the combination of black and white is not as eye-catching as color items,

But it has always stood in the fashion world and never went out of fashion.

As the saying goes, less is more,

Black and white collocation just explains this.

People who like simplicity,

There must be an inherent feeling for black and white.

Black and white collocation,

Release different styles through different fabrics and styles,

Or fashionable and capable, or dignified and elegant,

The only constant is the innate sense of fashion.

Plaid is one of the classic English elements.

Since the 1950s and 1960s,

Plaid elements have already occupied the fashion circle.

In many old photos,

We have all seen those graceful girls,

Use plaid to interpret the elegance of that era.

Plaid is also one of Hepburn’s daily preferences.

The fresh plaid makes her feel girly.

Princess Diana is also a fan of plaid.

Different styles wear different temperament,

Show the nobility and sweetness of the royal family,

These clothes are full of fashion even now.

Until today,

Plaid is still the most representative fashion symbol,

Is a frequent visitor to the fashion trend every year.

Different patterns, sizes and combinations,

Give fashion unlimited possibilities.

Large plaid makes people look calm,

And the small plaid,

It looks more low-key and introverted.

A vintage plaid suit,

It should be a versatile must-have item.

With casual items,

Fresh and handsome, simple and stylish.

And dressed in plaid,

There will be a strong visual impact,

Combining formal and fashionable elements,

Let your temperament soar.

We often say that fashion is a cycle,

Because of the popular elements,

It always comes back in a different fashion.

That’s because,

True beauty has never been eliminated,

And the real classic,

Will make time last forever.