In the preparation for the coming holiday season, Japan is really no different than the States when it comes to Christmas. Despite the fact that December 25th is "just another day" to most people, I would put Japan's commercialism for this particular season up against that in the U.S...and it would be a very close race.
So....as we are well into the month of November...the signs of the holiday are all around us.
Nagasaki Station and the shopping center attached to it are all decked out and the annual "Christmas Tree Lighting" ceremony (complete with very cute little kindergartners in their school uniforms singing AND, of course, a Santa Claus passing out "early" presents!!) was held last week. I will try to get a picture of the tree (said to be one of the biggest of its kind...with purple lights, ah..yes...I do love the holiday colors!!!) to post later, but until then I'll have to use one from last year....
We have Christmas music being played in pretty much every shop and restaurant.
The push to get out there and buy THE best present has already started. I was going to show you the ToysRUs flier from the paper today but...it has disappeared....hmmmmm...you think maybe the boys have it?!?! Remember when the Sears Wish Book came to the house when you were younger? Yeah...about the same kind of "oh-my-gosh-I-need-this" energy...just for a very large piece of paper!!!
Oh....and what would the holidays be without a "Party Barrel" of chicken from Kentucky Fried Chicken?? I hope that whoever came up with the idea to tell Japanese people that Americans eat KFC on Christmas Eve was given a promotion and a great retirement because, really....that idea was a freakin' gold mine!!! People are already ordering their "barrels". On the 24th, the line of people picking up their "barrels" will be longer than you can ever imagine...especially for a bucket of chicken!!!
This particular "party barrel" comes with "10 pieces of chicken, 5 'Christmas salads', and a special blue plate" on which you can serve that delicious, "traditional" dinner...all for about $40. (I think you have to buy the chocolate cake separately.)Here's another little tidbit of chuckle-worthy, but pretty useless information for you today.....
In Japan, KFC and the Colonel are quite loved by most people. There are (I do believe) 5 KFCs in Nagasaki City and whenever I have been to one, there has always been a lot of people there eating...no matter what the time of day.
It's a place that has a nice, warm, American feel about it. There's always music playing in the background (they are pretty big on "My Old Kentucky Home"!), the staff is always smiling and friendly, and of course, the Colonel is always there to greet you as you walk in!
Yes...there is a Colonel statue at most places (inside shopping malls in the food courts may or may not have one, but the "real" places do!)...and while he usually dresses in his traditional "Colonel" wear....during the holidays, he likes to get a little wacky.....Example #1...Debbie and the K-Man's first Christmas card after getting married....(I think I have finally been forgiven for the embarrassment it caused..teehee....this took quite a few takes and it was dinner time!! I don't care....I thought it was fun...and the card turned out great!!!)
Example #2....during the Boys' Festival in May....the Colonel dressed up as a character from an old Japanese folk tale.
Example #3....It's summer!!! The Colonel feeling very "islandish"!!(Too funny....the spellcheck suggestion for "islandish" was outlandish!!)
Example #4...another one from summer...this time the Colonel opted for the traditional summer yukatta...and watermelon is a big hit on a hot day!
Example #5....not sure where this one is from, but, I'm guessing that the area is a big diving place....just taking a stab in the dark on that one!
********************************Thank goodness I'm already in my jammies 'cause I now have a hankerin' for some KFC!!
Have a great Sunday...go grab a bucket of chicken and take your kids...or your hubby...or your boyfriend (or girlfriend)...or just get a small box for yourself and go...go have a picnic or something! Eat some 'extra crispy' for me!!!
**Except for the Christmas card picture, all KFC photos are from Google Images**
13 comments:
I had no idea KFC was so big in Japan.
You are cracking me up. Do they still call it "Kentucky"?
The colonel is too funny!
HIlarous! the colonel an icon in Japan! Who knew?
OH AND I AM BACK! Oh yes she is...please come see my salute to f'tard!
Thank you for not showing us his Valentines Day attire ;-)
I loved the Christmas fever that was going on when we were in Singapore. And there was a lot of KFC love there & in Shanghai, but I never saw the statue-play. Cool but a tad creepy...
I kinda like him in the yukata with the watermelon!
How did it ever come to be that we associate "bucket of chicken" with something delicious (hahaha there's a KFC commercial on tv as I type this!)
The Colonel rocks Japan. I think the trade for Godzilla was a good deal.Not as good as the ten piece Party Barrel and fixins but a good trade none the less. *snort*
That's hilarious!! What do they think about the biscuits?
He's got so many outfits. I'm jealous!
I'm beginning to think we have underestimated our colonel. There is so much fun to be had there. :)
OMG, Debbie, these photos of the Colonel crack me up!!!
I wonder if it's an Asian thing --growing up, KFC was such a treat in our household. I know that it is very popular with Chinese over here.
I still fulfill a craving for myself every so often (hence my need to get to the gym so often), but I cannot imagine giving it to my kids (my husband calls it "Greasy Fried Spice" LOL!). They don't like the breading... imagine that?!!!
I miss Japan immensely so your world is a bit like home to me. Too bad we couldn't have met when my family was in Sasebo--I think we would have been friends.
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