As stated by the CIA world factbook, Christianity makes up less than two percent of the general population of Japan. It comes as no surprise that Christmas celebrations were a fairly undercooked concept, the holiday occupying only a small (and secular) part of December festivities that were dedicated to family time, gift-exchanging, and celebrating Emperor Akihito’s birthday on December 23. This made for a climate that easily allowed for Japanese appropriation of this imported holiday. Incidentally, Christianity was—in a roundabout way—the catalyst birthing the Christmas fried chicken tradition.
Okawara insists that the inciting incident that had planted this seed was when he received a call from a Catholic school requesting him to dress up as Santa Claus to entertain some kindergarteners for a Christmas party. Desperate to revive his enterprise, he brought along some fried chicken as a prop, improvising a cutesy jingle while dancing with the barrel. “Kentucky Christmas, Kentucky Christmas, Happy Happy”, he sang.
That day, the stellar reception towards his routine and the fried chicken sparked a brilliant idea. It led him to launch an entire Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii (クリスマスはケンタッキー, Kentucky for Christmas) campaign that was so successful, it cemented KFC position as a nationwide chain restaurant.