KFC became associated with Christmas celebrations in Japan through a 1974 campaign.
The campaign used the slogan “Kentucky for Christmas” and promoted fried chicken as a festive meal. Japan did not have a long-established nationwide Christmas food tradition comparable to the European Christmas roast, so the marketing helped create a new seasonal custom.
KFC Japan turned the idea into a major annual event. Customers commonly preorder special Christmas buckets and meals, and some restaurants experience exceptionally high demand around December 24 and 25. The practice is especially notable because Christmas is not a national religious holiday for most Japanese people.
The custom is sometimes described as an ancient Japanese Christmas tradition, but that is inaccurate. It is a modern commercial tradition that grew from advertising, restaurant promotion, and repeated family participation. Cake, illuminations, and romantic Christmas outings are also prominent parts of contemporary Japanese Christmas culture.