Posted on 12/24/2020 10:26:00 AM PST by 11th_VA
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Picture Christmas dinner, and staples like ham, turkey, potatoes, and cookies might come to mind for many Americans.
For families in Japan, however, a much different and very “bluegrass” meal comes to mind: a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken.
No, really.
What started as a pretty ingenious marketing plan by KFC back in the 1970s has created a December 25th tradition for millions of Japanese families each year.
The campaign encouraged families to swap turkey—which isn’t common in Japan—for a KFC dinner. It worked: according to the BBC, about 3.6 million families in Japan eat KFC each Christmas now.
We heard from Mitz Nabekura, a WakeUp11 viewer, who lived in Japan himself and still has family there.
When his dad and stepmom came to visit for Christmas in 2017, they were shocked and disappointed to learn that the “Kentucky” tradition they loved in their home was not in fact celebrated in Kentucky after all.
“They said, ‘really?! I can’t believe it! This is America!” recalled Nabekura. “Of course, when they got off the airplane the first thing they saw was the Colonel Sanders statue at the KFC there [in the Muhammad Ali airport] and they got really excited and said they had to take a picture with him.
“They were very disappointed that on actual Christmas day nothing here was open including KFC," he said. "So we got them the bucket of [KFC] the night before and they were able to eat that.”
(Excerpt) Read more at abc10.com ...
I think the change was a combination of the lower quality chickens they grow today (compare to the good ones from Costco) and I’m guessing they switched to some kind of nasty canola frying oil or something else.
Whatever it is, there is a definite difference, and it isn’t nearly as good as it was back in 1970.
Good Seasons Italian Dressing Mix is supposedly a good match for the “11 herbs and spices” the Colonel uses
thanks, will definitely try that - as long as it doesn’t have garlic in it- yuck
just looked it up- yep- garlic and onion- but i can make homemade mix without hte garlic-
So this year, because of travel schedules of family, we had Christmas dinner (standing rib roast) on the 23rd.
My elder adult son, who lives in town, has wanted to do Chinese food for Christmas for years...”Peking duck! Just like in A Christmas Story!”
So we are doing Chinese food for dinner tomorrow night. Guess what they don’t have...
My friend in Australia goes to KFC more for the hamburgers than the chicken... he didn’t believe it when I told him that KFC here in America doesn’t even serve burgers.
Duck!! LOL.. have fun.
Costs a damn fortune. I avoid the place.
Actually, it’s the “Annual Gift Man” who welcomes you to Christmas Dinner at KFC.
There’s a rumor New York Jews stated a tradition of eating Chinese on Christmas because Chinese Restaurants were the only ones open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Now it’s a tradition...
It’s like an American traveling to China and being disappointed they could not find egg rolls and Kung Pao chicken.
thats good on tri-tip too marinate overnight
I know......imagine working in the factor that produces American food.
Bet employee theft is handled harshly.......
That's my second favorite item on the menu after the chicken. Everything else is a distant third or worse.
Before the weak flu panic Vegas rocked during Xmas with thousands of Japanese tourists. Cheap rooms and most Japanese aren’t Christians.
LOL, my wife was going to stop at the KFC nearest our home last night but it was “reservation only”. People had been calling in for two days earlier to reserve their orders.
But it’s not just KFC. Chicken has become “the” Christmas eve/day main dish and all the supermarkets have cheerfully climbed on board.
Me? I’ll be happy to wait until Saturday when all those overstocked places slash prices. I’ll pick up a nice whole bird for half price and roast it for Sunday dinner.
Merry Christmas Everyone!
KFC is owned by Chinese now.
KFC owned by YUM China. So is Taco Bell and Pizza Hut under the same company.
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