Why Christmas in Japan Is All About Fried Chicken

Christmas in Japan doesn’t come with religious weight for most people. Around 98% of the population isn’t Christian, so the holiday has turned into a fun cultural event—more “seasonal celebration” than sacred ritual.

One running joke among Japanese people is that we honestly believe everyone overseas is eating fried chicken for Christmas dinner. I assume this comes from one of the greatest marketing victories in history: KFC arrived in Japan and brilliantly tied itself to Christmas. Result?

Now the entire country treats fried chicken like the official holiday mascot.

Families buy buckets of chicken, or they make their own karaage at home. And alongside that chicken sits the other Christmas icon: the strawberry shortcake. Soft sponge, whipped cream, strawberries. Simple. Sweet. Universally loved.

Stores are packed, KFC has its busiest day of the year, and city streets are glowing with winter illuminations. It’s not the Christmas you might know from home—but that’s the charm. It’s Japan’s version: playful, sparkly, fried-chicken-scented.

If you’re visiting during winter and joining a Tokyo food tour, you’ll catch glimpses of this quirky food tradition all over the city.

Japan’s Christmas may not be traditional, but it’s delicious—just in its own way.