The Christmas tradition of eating Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in Japan originated in the 1970s, when KFC first arrived in Japan and introduced its holiday special of a bucket of fried chicken. The idea was to offer an affordable and accessible alternative to traditional Christmas meals, which were often more expensive and time-consuming to prepare. Over the years, the tradition has become increasingly popular, with many Japanese families now considering KFC an essential part of their Christmas celebrations. Today, KFC in Japan offers special holiday meals that include chicken, sides, and dessert.