The KFC Ad in China That They Don't Want Anyone to See

Mish Shedlock sent this to me and asked "Did they try to pull this one in Japan, too?"

Nope, Mish. They'd never do this in Japan. Not in a million years!


I think this commercial just shows how little respect the Chinese have for Obama and the American political system. Good on them.


Watch this:





The ad company who handles KFC in China says: "'It is no longer airing and will not be re-aired,' said a flack for Yum! Brands, the perpetually thrilled conglomerate that owns KFC."


Even if the Japanese think Obama is a clown and American politicians are all buffoons and fools, they'd never make fun of them in this way... Plus, Japanese politicians are all idiots also, so I suppose people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.


But I just love the underlying message: A politician has a giant sandwich land on his head, is instantaneously killed, and the crowd erupts into applause. Wonderful!


It reminds me of the old joke where an American meets a Russian and the American says, "Live in a free country, I can freely criticize president Kennedy." To which the Russian replies, "I live in a free country too. I can also freely criticize president Kennedy." 


Sadly, the Japanese are too polite to create such a parody. I think this shows a lot about the way the Chinese think and about Chinese society.


In a way, I have to say, "Good for them!" Why should we be reverent to the State? Especially one that has a Kleptocratic government that is a broken down embarrassment to the entire world like the USA? 

Another KFC Chicken Christmas in Japan.... Again?

It's true. Christmas in Japan equals Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Even my wife (who is now 43 years old) says that whenever she reminisces about Christmas, she thinks of KFC. I've even had a neighbor ask me once, "They eat Kentucky Fried Chicken on Christmas day is America too, right?"

What could I say? I answered...

"Yes, well... I suppose some people do... Some people eat McDonald's on Christmas Day!"

My neighbor seemed happy to hear that from me. I think he only heard me say, "Yes!" Anything else would have burst his bubble.

ABC reports here (and, for once, the western mass media does NOT exaggerate!):

"The Japanese are keen to celebrate Christmas in a non-religious way," said Roy Larke, a Rikkyo University Business Professor. "There's a certain amount of nostalgia attached to the KFC Christmas meal. People try to pass the tradition onto their children."

Weird you say? Well, read on...

The colonel's recipe is so popular here, the fast-food chain recommends customers place their Christmas orders two months in advance.

"Our holiday sales are five to ten times higher than other months," said spokesman Sumeo Yokokawa. "In Japan, Christmas equals KFC."

KFC's popularity can be traced back to a highly successful marketing campaign that began nearly 40 years ago.

At the time, the Christmas holiday wasn't as widely celebrated in Japan.

Yokokawa says many foreigners came to eat at KFC because they couldn't find a whole turkey or chicken anywhere else.

A KFC employee saw an opportunity to cash in, and the company launched its first Christmas meal in 1974: chicken and wine for $10, a pricey meal at the time.

Don't worry KFC fans... The colonel will be back into his

regular Japanese clothes by summer

Watch the video report here: http://abcnews.go.com/International/move-santa-claus-kfcs-colonel-sanders-signals-christmas/story?id=12437818&tqkw=&tqshow=GMA&tqkw=&tqshow=GMA

Why Japan and China are Confused About America

I stumbled upon this very interesting photo of a toy that was spotted in a Japanese toy store. This toy was in a collectors toy store in Japan - I think the store in in Gaugedaigaku in Tokyo - but I suspect that this item was made in China... No problem, I'd still buy it....

But, then again, maybe I wouldn't buy it. It is selling for ¥5,150.... That's about $62 USD for a plastic doll... Is that what these things sell for now-a-days?

Thanks to I am Bored

Marketing Japan: Kentucky Fried Chicken in Japan is Much Better than KFC in USA..

By Mike in Tokyo Rogers


I'm on vacation until the 19th, and have no internet, but still wanted to give my loyal readers something fun to check out everyday while I'm gone. 

When I first came to Japan, in 1984, my good friend, Stephen asked my on my very first day at work if I wanted to have lunch at Kentucky Fried Chicken. I was abhorred!

The colonel in Japan wears Japanese clothes. 

It is most assuredly different than KFC in the States.

"Kentucky Fried Chicken sucks!" I protested. Stephen responded, "Yeah, KFC in the States is terrible, I would never eat there. But it is really clean in Japan and the chicken is even different. It's not like that chemically pumped up chicken they get in the USA. KFC Japan has locally grown chicken!"

So I went along. I ate it and was impressed. The place was spotless. It was nothing like the KFC in Ventura, California that had a health warning taped on their front door. KFC in Japan is a professionally run spic and span operation. Top class esprit du corps!

I do not eat fast food. I do not recommend it to anyone - especially to parents who have children - I never feed this stuff to my kids...

But, all in all,  if I were hungry, I would eat at McDonald's in Japan or KFC in Japan... I'd have to be pretty much starving and next to delirium to eat at either of these fast food restaurants in the USA.

Why? Well, when it comes to cleanliness there's no comparison: Fast food restaurants in Japan are miles cleaner than fast food restaurants in the USA.

Oh, and by the way, there is one more thing that is weird about KFC in Japan.... In Japan, people don't roast a big turkey at home for Christmas... Many people eat at KFC for Christmas. Really! KFC Japan even makes a special chicken dish just for Christmas!

KFC serves "Christmas Chicken in Japan"

Don't believe me! Here's proof from another blogger:

Hmm, I told her, the Japanese celebrate Christmas by eating Kentucky Fried Chicken. She gave me the stink eye and said "You're making that up."

I assured her I wasn't making it up. I am privy to some strange KFC lore due to the fact that we live in Colonel Sander's hometown. But this phenomena is well-documented, as my daughter learned from her research. Japan is only 1% to 2% Christian, so the Christmas they celebrate is pretty much appropriated from other countries. I was surprised to find its a romantic holiday, where couples traditionally go on a sweetheart date on Christmas Eve, whether its to KFC (where reservations are required) or to a hotel. Leave it to me to use my child's homework as blogfodder.

See?

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Keywords: KFC, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Colonel Sanders, McDonald's, fast food