“Kurisumasu Ni Wa Kentakkii!”

 

Photo by: Slashio Photography (@slashiophotography) | Unsplash Photo Community

“It is time,” said my host. I had been in Japan for a month. My work schedule had prevented me from going home for the holidays so one of my coworkers, Hiroshi Nakamura, had invited me over for Christmas. On Christmas Eve we had been sitting talking and enjoying ourselves when everyone disappeared and returned with their outdoor wear on. 

“Time for what?” I inquired as I got to my feet and hurried to get ready. 

“Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!” 

Now my Japanese is a little rusty. “Kentucky for Christmas?”

“Yes! Kentucky for Christmas!” Everyone was so excited at this statement. They calmed when they looked at me. “You don’t know about Kentucky for Christmas?” A look of puzzlement crossed their faces.

I had to admit I had no idea.

My host explained. “When we were young there was a commercial on tv that demonstrated to the people of Japan that eating Fried Chicken, Kentucky Fried Chicken was the thing to do for a Christmas Eve meal. Everybody goes. You will see.”

We walked down the street to the nearest KFC but before we got there we had to stop. The line stretched for blocks. The snow began to fall gently.

“We are early,” said my host with a grin. “This is Kentucky Fried Chicken’s biggest day of the year.” 

“Well Merry Christmas to them,” I thought while appreciating my new friend’s Christmas Eve ritual. It was definitely a new one.