Japan is known for the tradition of eating KFC on Christmas Eve.
The custom is a modern commercial tradition rather than an old religious practice. KFC entered Japan in 1970, and Takeshi Okawara, manager of one of the early restaurants, promoted fried-chicken “party barrels” as a substitute for the turkey dinner many Japanese customers associated with American Christmas celebrations.
KFC Japan expanded the idea nationwide in 1974 with the campaign “Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii,” meaning “Kentucky for Christmas.” The promotion turned buckets or party sets of fried chicken into a familiar holiday meal, especially for families and groups. Christmas Eve is particularly important for the custom, and advance reservations are common because demand is concentrated around the date.
The tradition does not mean every Japanese household eats KFC, nor that Christmas is a major traditional Japanese religious holiday. It is better understood as a highly successful localized advertising custom. South Korea, the Philippines, and China have their own Christmas foods and celebrations, but Japan is the country most strongly associated with this KFC tradition.