In Japan, it's uncommon for people to roast turkeys or eat dishes commonly associated with a European Christmas on 25 December.
Japanese people are much more likely to eat Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) or any other type of fried chicken on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
The tradition of sorts shaped up in the absence of other Christmas constants in Japan, where there isn't a majority of Christians, with Shintoism, Confucianism and Buddhism being the country’s major faiths.
And, 25 December is also not a public holiday.
In 2018, KFC Japan posted all-time high sales of roughly 10 per cent of its annual turnover for the entire year for the five days from December 21 to 25. Source: Getty / Yuichi Yamazaki
Orders for 25 December must be placed months in advance and people queue up outside takeaway outlets.
Wasabi, soy and other culturally-appropriate condiments are served with the fried poultry.
Around the 1960s, as Japan's economic growth started to pick up after the Second World War, Western foods that were more expensive and luxurious, such as fried chicken, gained popularity.
Karaage chicken was already a popular dish at that time, so it was easy for the public to be convinced to try similar types of fried chicken.
The 1970s saw a huge boom in the popularity of US goods including fast food stores and companies trying to sell more products by jumping on the Christmas-theme bandwagon.
KFC launched its first 'Colonel for Christmas' ad campaign in 1974 and ran similar ads in subsequent years, essentially creating a Christmas tradition through a marketing campaign.
The brand's red and white colours were an easy fit for a Christmas campaign.
Ryoma Ono, a Japanese international education influencer living in Australia told SBS News that red and white are colours symbolic of happiness in Japan.
He adds that when he lived in Japan, he used to reserve a strawberry cake every year and eat it with his family.
"Of course, people spend time with their families, but many people also spend time with their loved ones and friends. They enjoy beautiful illuminations, go shopping, and exchange Christmas gifts," he said.
Sydney-based Japanese chef Harunobu Inukai. Credit: Yusuke Oba
He told SBS News that his family in Japan celebrate Christmas on the 24 December.
"All restaurants are very busy and booked out," he says.
"Roast turkey with cranberry sauce is not at all popular in Japan.
"I think this is because turkey has not been raised in Japan for a long time. It is very difficult to eat turkey at Christmas in Japanese restaurants. It is also very difficult to buy turkey in supermarkets," Inukai adds.
He says popular Christmas foods are chicken, strawberries and strawberry cakes, "which are very easy to buy in Japan" and they have tastes that Japanese people like.
However, speaking for himself, Inukai says he has by now "been Australianised" and eats oysters, lobster, Tasmanian salmon sashimi and, of course, fried chicken on Christmas.
Tokyo resident Chie Tobita told SBS Food in 2021 that Christmas in Japan is more about festive fun than spiritual meaning.
Likened to a blend of New Year’s Day and Valentine’s Day, 25 December has become known as a day of romance in Japan.
It’s where singles have house parties (featuring chicken on the table) or date each other at fancy restaurants, while couples with young kids who want to enjoy a Western celebration stay at home and eat fried chicken.
“We have grown up watching Christmas celebrations on American TV and in the movies,” Tobita said.
“The actors are usually eating turkey at Christmas, so that is something people try to do in Japan. But instead of eating turkey, we have chicken as it's a similar meat.
“When you go to the supermarket, you see grilled or fried chicken being sold at Christmas time. There are lots of ads on TV for fried [take away] chicken."
We also think that Colonel Sanders looks a lot like Santa Claus, especially when he is dressed in red clothes on TV for Christmas commercials.
"So to us, Christmas time is when you eat chicken.”
In collaboration with SBS Japanese and SBS Food.
