00:02 John Daub: Welcome to Kentucky Fried Chicken in my neighborhood. They've already put down a line on the ground for customers to stand in, so there's an orderly fashion to get your Christmas chicken. But I got news for you—that's not actually what the majority of Japanese do. They don't go to Kentucky Fried Chicken. There's a lot of misconceptions. I've been in Japan going on 27 years now. Over the years I've seen and done it a lot. I kind of like what KFC has done because 25 years ago when I came to Japan, living in the Nagoya area, we didn't have options for roast turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, or American culture bringing people together through food.

00:48 John Daub: I think it was in the 1970s—the story goes that an expat at KFC brought up the idea of doing Thanksgiving. And it started to take on little by little. Eventually KFC became a marketing tool every year to sell a lot of chicken in advance. You have to make an online reservation, but I've only done that a few times. You don't need to go to KFC actually—there's a lot of other options. I want to show you that as well as talk about my experience with Christmas in Japan. It's not that wonderful. I'd really much rather be in the United States, to be honest. You want to be with family, a place with some religious background to feel what the holiday means.

01:40 John Daub: Right over here is Cozy Corner, a famous cake shop in Ginza—they have it in Monzen-Nakacho as well. You can see all that cake stacked up, and the ladies dressed in Santa outfits selling Christmas cake on the street. There's going to be so many people in an hour or two. They look really good—about $25 for that one, $35 for the other. Christmas cake is the first element. I walked into my supermarket, and this is why maybe KFC helped start this, but roast chicken is the thing—roast chicken and cake. They do have deep-fried chicken, but the vast majority get it from the supermarket, not KFC. This is the roast chicken leg—you can get two for about $9, or one for $4.80.

02:56 John Daub: It's also strawberry season, Japanese strawberry season—they're so good, perfectly sweet. The prices reflect that, coming from Saga Prefecture. You'll see in the Christmas cake selection more white whipped cream and strawberry shortcakes, but also mont blanc, chestnut, and mixed cakes. They put a little chocolate in there for people like me. And they have really cute ones for the kids—the eyes are printed on, but still pretty darn cute. They do a roaring business with cake and chicken, whatever else on the side.

03:53 John Daub: My first Christmas dinner in Japan in 1998 was sushi. I remember going to a sushi place in Okazaki—the teachers at my English school took me out on Christmas Eve, because you have to work on Christmas Day in Japan. It was deserted, nobody there except us. Maybe everybody goes back to family even in Japan. The manager put on Elvis Christmas—I heard Elvis in the background. It was a Christmas miracle, and we had sushi. It's not really what you eat, it's about the people you're with—they were my family. Look at that guy on the bicycle with the Christmas hat, delivering cake.

05:04 John Daub: Guys try to break out of their shyness and show love to the girl they're interested in—I might know this from experience. Popular spots like illuminations, restaurants, observation decks are booked. That's why Japan is full of LED lights—they know people go out spending money on dates, not just Christmas Eve but throughout the season. It's a romantic time, so Japan is the country of LED lights in December. Everybody's looking for that romantic Christmas experience, which is why Japan is famous for illuminations. Cities really light it up, and being the tech place, they lean into it. My favorite was the Marunouchi Christmas market—it seems more authentic than the fake German one in a parking lot.

06:37 John Daub: The Christmas cake is always a disappointment to me—it's got no body, just weak whipped cream and strawberry. I like heavy vanilla butter sugar cake, but you don't get that here. KFC is the big tradition—I checked their website. If you didn't reserve in advance, it's probably sold out, but apparently you can get it now without, just before the chaos in two hours. This is the original bucket: fried chicken, roast or barbecue chicken, party barrel. There's a lady who just picked one up. They have packages with biscuits, something like lasagna or white tiramisu, chicken tenders. Party barrel variety for 4,980 yen, about $35. Smaller packs too, like the Christmas pack for 2,580 yen, about $18, or combo for 2,000 yen, $14—perfect for a single guy with a 100 yen tree from Daiso.

09:36 John Daub: Across the street is Family Mart—they have roast chicken, unlike Lawson's. This is why you don't need KFC anymore—the competition is insane. Look at all these pretty girls with their chicken. Famichiki (Family Mart fried chicken) is famous, and they've got affordable Christmas cakes, even boxed ones for last-minute pickup. The roast chicken looks so good and affordable—better than KFC, maybe. I think KFC's reign on holiday chicken is over. Family Mart has amazing stuff—I'm tempted to pick up a leg, but I'm making Christmas dinner tonight.

11:14 John Daub: If you live in Japan, tell me about your Christmas experience—what did you do as an expat, English teacher, or working here? How did you spend the holidays? Over the years, Christmas for me has been romantic. Kanae and I have done it a couple times, but love hotels are booked—get there early. Get a bucket of chicken, take it to the love hotel for karaoke, PlayStation, jacuzzi all night, among other things. Mese Eve (Christmas Eve sex) is a real thing my Japanese friends say.

12:41 John Daub: There's no real religious observance here—it's all shopping, good for the economy. Cake, chicken, weird traditions—maybe from Holland via Dejima in Nagasaki during the Edo period, Meiji, and WWII Germany brought the cake. Illuminations for romance. It's bah humbug for me—I don't feel it. I make cinnamon rolls—you can't buy them like in the US. I make my own stuffing, easy with Italian sausages from National Azabu supermarket. Soon as this livestream's done, I go wrap presents and cook. It'll be Christmas Eve for the US East Coast—we'll show Christmas morning, since you were there when Leo was born. You're all part of our big extended family—lots of uncles, aunts, cousins out there. Thank you for the support.

15:02 John Daub: You can make stuffing with baguette, chicken broth, eggs, thyme, sage, rosemary—bake for an hour, so good. Stovetop is convenient but has chemical aftertaste. In Japan, you innovate—like making my own pizza in 1998 because Domino's was $50. Living here 25 years ago, options were limited—no Costco, IKEA, Family Mart Christmas stuff like now. You used to reserve in early December; now pick up on the street. National Azabu is great for expats—magicians getting eggnog from Portland, organic, $7 a liter. Family-run for the expat community.

18:48 John Daub: Jared's here—aloha, Merry Christmas. Can I and Leo have a small gift? Kentucky Premium Roast Leg—looks good. Jared got macadamia nut chocolates and roast chicken. Southern Comfort makes amazing eggnog, but no alcohol this year for Leo. Every supermarket is stacked with massive chicken legs—even from Thailand, since they can't get enough from Miyazaki. They come with little chef hats. You don't need KFC, though their original spices are good. Legs are the image—maybe from Spirited Away.

21:25 John Daub: This sign will be down tomorrow, and Japan turns to its real holiday, Shogatsu (New Year's). I gotta wrap presents and make food. Leave questions in comments. You'll see little Christmas trees, accents, music at the 100 yen store (hyaku en shop), but no shrine services. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah—all holidays. May you be blessed with success and love. For the next seven days into New Year's, I'll share Japan's head-scratchingly amazing, fun, cool, odd culture. See you.