Delicious! Brands, Inc Delicious restaurant Kentucky Fried Chicken is the face of Christmas in Japan. As the holiday draws nearer, things get busier in the usually quiet restaurants.

Speaking of Turkey… or KFC: The tradition of eating Fried chicken bucketful at Christmas comes from a man — Takeshi Okawarawas the manager of the first KFC that opened in Nagoya in November 1970, reported TimeOut, a local publication.

Okawara apparently heard an ex-pat reminder of eating turkey for Christmas and came up with the idea of ​​serving fried chicken instead, according to the report.

In 1974, KFC is said to have invented the slogan “Kentucky Wa Kurisumasu,” or “Kentucky is Christmas,” which reinforced the connection between the festival and chicken.

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Book in advance or line up: As a Tokyo native, I can confirm firsthand that people start booking their Christmas meals with KFC as early as November. Even so, expect to queue in front of a KFC on the day meals are due to be picked up. Employees often set up special booths outside of the restaurant for customers to pick up their KFC goodness.

Last year, the Japan Times said KFC is now encouraging people to order online to avoid the “permanent” Christmas queues.

A company spokesman said the move was an “infection countermeasure” in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What’s in stock? You might imagine a KFC Christmas would be all sloppy fast food. This year, the restaurant chain is serving a “premium roast chicken” for JPY 6,200 or $45. There are several combinations on offer, including what the company calls “Party Barrel,” which includes 8 pieces of original recipe chicken, a cheese-based dessert, and four cheeses of doria — a gratin-style rice dish popular in Japan.

Screenshot from KFC Japan website

The Party Barrel is available for 4,480 JPY or 33 USD. Several cheaper options are available, including one that…