Wait until you hear what Japan's version of Christmas!This country is a true marketer's DREAMLAND!
The Huffington Post explains the story like this,
"It’s Christmas Eve in Japan. Little boys and girls pull on their coats, the twinkle of anticipation in their eyes. Keeping the tradition alive, they will trek with their families to feast at … the popular American fast food chain KFC.
Christmas isn’t a national holiday in Japan—only one percent of the Japanese population is estimated to be Christian—yet a bucket of “Christmas Chicken” (the next best thing to turkey—a meat you can’t find anywhere in Japan) is the go-to meal on the big day. And it’s all thanks to the insanely successful “Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!” (Kentucky for Christmas!) marketing campaign in 1974.
When a group of foreigners couldn’t find turkey on Christmas day and opted for fried chicken instead, the company saw this as a prime commercial opportunity and launched its first Christmas meal that year: Chicken and wine for 2,920 yen (at that time about $10)—pretty pricey for the mid-seventies. Today the christmas chicken dinner (which now boasts cake and champagne) goes for about 3,990 yen ($40)."
We had heard the story, but thought it must be overblown. Well, it's NOT!We quickly realized how popular KFC was. It is the ONLY drive thru we have seen in all of Japan. However, it doesn't usually look crowded and the prices are about 20 % higher than the US. (That is the typical amount of mark up around here.)
The second week of OCTOBER our local KFC started putting up their Christmas decorations. Here is COL Sanders himself with the kiddos staring into the sun. (Read: not happy with Momma, but trying to please her.)
There are several options available for purchase but they all MUST be pre-ordered by December 10th! That gives KFC enough time to ship, prep, pack and hire seasonal help for each store.
The options look like this:
As you can see there are a few choices sold as "sets". You can also add on more chicken or sides. The large "Roastiessee" chicken that you can pick up everyday from the grocery store in the US sells for almost $60! Now, back home that same size chicken is $6, all day, everyday. Here in Japan though this type of chicken is just not available.
The Christmas holiday in Japan goes like this:
Take down the Halloween decor.
Totally ignore that really weird holiday called "Thanksgiving".
Order your KFC holiday meal.
Wait two more weeks and then:
Break out the tinsel, put up the
Ignore the true reason for Christmas. Forget about the precious child born that night. Put some blinders on to the King of Kings born in that stable to a virgin, whom Wise Men walked miles to worship.
If only 1% of all of Japan celebrates Christmas for the true reasons, then those of us who KNOW the True King have a lot of work to do.
So, I won't ask you what you will be eating for Christmas.
Maybe turkey, ham, KFC or -our family's favorite- chicken enchiladas.
Instead, I will ask you what are you DOING to spread God's love this holiday season?
Write a note to all those people who serve you throughout the year: mailmen, coffee barista, dentist, nail tech, vet... anyone. Invite them to your local church service. Offer them a place at your dinner table. Give them your time.
We all need a little love. We are desire real friends, not just those people you see once and awhile. Real friends are friends who keep us grounded, who tell us the truth and who push us towards the Lord.
Merry Christmas to you & yours!
Whatever you eat...
Come Let Us Adore Him,
~Aggie Amy
