Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
KFC
KFC parent company Yum Brands was hit hard by a Chinese food safety scandal.
The company cut the profit outlook in a recent earnings announcement. Sales in China fell 14% in the most recent quarter as consumers doubted the brand’s quality.
Executives told analysts that it was counting on some new rice dishes to revive sales. Because these dishes are seen as more high-end, the KFC team believes they could improve perception of the brand.
Recently, Japanese branches of McDonald’s and Burger King have been getting into the Halloween spirit with spooky black burgers infused with squid ink and bamboo charcoal. This is a problem for KFC, though, since both of those ingredients are a little too exotic to mix with the Colonel’s traditional set of 11 herbs and spices.
Since KFC can’t celebrate Halloween by embracing its dark side, the most popular fried chicken outlet in Japan is instead turning to the holiday’s other icon by offering pumpkin biscuits.
Previously, we wrote about KFC Japan’s deep-fried celebration of “Colonel Day,” involving a variety of absurd, yet incredible, chicken-shaped computer accessories, like a drumstick mouse, a keyboard with chicken keys, and a chicken USB memory stick. The company even trotted out a pair of stylish fried chicken earrings.
They’ve unveiled a couple more items since then, including this oversized fried chickendrumstick iPhone 5s case (even the Colonel is laughing, asking, “Why is it so big?”).
I don’t know about you guys, but whenever I think of Kentucky Fried Chicken, or “KFC” as it doggedly insists on being called, I immediately think of computer peripherals. What’s that, you say? You’re a normal human being and so you’d never make such a peculiar connection? Oh. Well, perhaps you think of earrings instead?
People in Japan love fried chicken. It’s so popular it’s become one of the staple ingredients in Japanese bento lunches, where it’s served in small, boneless pieces known as kara-age, and it’s in such high demand that you’ll find queues outside specialist kara-age joints around the country.
World-famous fast-food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken has finally picked up on the popularity of the chicken piece with a new line-up of Japanese-style hole-in-the-wall outlets dedicated to serving up kara-age in a variety of KFC flavours. And that’s not all. They’ll even serve it up in a bento lunchbox too.
Man, doesn’t that pile of Kentucky Fried Chicken look enticing? Sure, it may not be the most sophisticated meal, and there’s really no way you can twist the nutritional facts to call it particularly healthy, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a purer, simpler gastronomic joy than a bucket of fried chicken.
But you know what makes the above image all the more beautiful? The large-font Japanese text smack dab in the middle of it, the part that says tabehodai, or, in English, “all you can eat.”
It’s amazing how much Japan loves KFC. I pass by more locations of the world’s most popular fried chicken chain on an average day in Tokyo than I ever did in Los Angeles, and it’s even the meal of choice for most Japanese diners on Christmas Eve.
Now, just as Japan has embraced KFC, KFC is embracing Japan by expanding the number of locations where you can get your hands on one of the restaurant’s rare Kentucky Fried Chicken rice bowls.
While KFC Japan recently unveiled their newest menu item featuring a collaboration with soccer player Ronaldo, KFC China has (accidentally) unveiled a somewhat different item: Horrific chicken wings.
KFC Japan has announced it is getting in on the fast food giant’s tie up with international soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo starting April 28 by offering new menu items at all Japanese stores. Ronaldo’s face may be all over this stuff, but something tells me this kind of fully fried meal doesn’t actually go in his face very often…
While 3D printing techniques have been around for 30 years, it’s only recently that technology has advanced to the point where the process is economically feasible. The ability to quickly and accurately duplicate three dimensional objects is set to revolutionize the engineering and medical fields, leading to easier creation of both prototypes and production versions of precision components and prosthetics.
But in mankind’s heady rush into this exciting new field, many have overlooked a potentially life-altering application of 3D printing: reproducing Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Last autumn Japan was treated to a new way to enjoy KFC: Kentucky Fried Fish. At that time our reporter Kuzo was lucky enough to sample a few sticks before the entire nation converged on the fast food chain and devoured the crispy battered fish sticks faster than KFC could supply them.
As a result the KFF campaign came to an abrupt halt in under two weeks time due to lack of ingredients. However, from 6 February, KFC Japan says they have reworked their logistics and are reviving Kentucky Fried Fish! This time we sent in Megu to check it out.
Recent relaxations of regulations by the government of Myanmar have gone a long way in opening up the country to foreign tourism and investment. While we’re sure this is big news in the worlds of finance and manufacturing, we couldn’t help but wonder what this would mean for RocketNews24’s journalistic foundation: fast food. We’d heard that Japanese/Korean hamburger/craziness emporium Lotteria had entered the market, but where do the people of Myanmar get their fried poultry fix? Do they have KFC?
We suppose we could have used Google to see if the chain operates in the country (turns out it does), but we saw no reason to do so when we could get paid to take an overseas business trip instead. And so we travelled to Myanmar’s metropolis of Yangon in search of KFC.
We found two thirds of what we were looking for.
For all of the attention Japan gets for its culinary contributions such as sushi and tempura, precious little credit is given to the way the country is always willing to push the envelope of salty snacks. Walk into any convenience store in the country, and you’ll find shelf after shelf stuffed with rice crackers, assorted nuts, and most of all, potato chips.
Recently, snack maker Calbee unleashed its newest flavor: KFC Colonel’s Crispy Potato Chips, and despite having never been to Kentucky, I knew it was my solemn duty to eat them.
Tis the season for fried chicken, at least it is according to Japanese Christmas traditions. And if you find yourself with leftovers from your delicious dinner from KFC tomorrow, we have an incredibly easy and tasty recipe to keep that holiday spirit going as long as you have leftover fried chicken in your fridge and your trusty rice cooker. We’ve tried some dubious rice cooker recipes in the past, but this one looks like one of our tastiest yet, so click below to see the recipe for KFC rice!
Following last year’s wildly popular potato chips collaboration product, Calbee and KFC are back again to ring in the new year with round two. Introducing new Colonel Crispy Chicken flavored potato chips!
People all over the world head to Kentucky Fried Chicken when they want some deliciously seasoned fried chicken fast and easy. Japan is no exception, but when it comes to meals, fish is generally the meat of choice in this country.
So it comes as no surprise… Actually nevermind, it’s still pretty surprising that KFC Japan has begun putting Kentucky Fried Fish on their menu. Curious to see how the land-locked state of Kentucky does fish, our reporter Kuzo put his cholesterol-count on the line and went in to investigate.
Kentucky Fried Chicken announced that they are opening up a new line of stores selling Japanese-style fried chicken called karaage. Karaage involves marinating the meat beforehand, usually in soy sauce, and then frying in small chunks.
The first store is set to open on 1 October in Meguro, Tokyo called KFC Niwatorikaratei. Although still decorated with the familiar logos of KFC including the Colonel, the store front has the feel of an elegant Japanese restaurant.
Recently, the American expat staff here at RocketNews24 felt a twinge of shame when we heard that KFC’s Japanese division had leapfrogged its US counterpart by developing fried corn soup. The embarrassment we felt at being beaten in fried food innovation, something we’d always assumed America did better than anywhere else, was quickly replaced by simple joy when we tried some for ourselves and found out just how good it is.
Now, KFC Japan is showing they can do Japanese standards too, with their new chicken-flavored rice balls.
Since September 5, Kentucky Fried Chicken Japan has started selling what they call a “corn potage fritter.” It sounds fancy, but when you really get down to it, it’s just deep-fried soup. To our Japanese reporter who hasn’t been versed in the wide variety of bizarre things Americans manage to fry up at county fairs across the United States, the very idea of fried soup was quite surprising. Half-convinced that such a snack even existed, he went down to his nearest KFC and gave it a try.
It’s no secret that the RocketNews24 team is pretty enamored of life here in Japan. It’s hard not to have a good time in a country with such deep traditions and cultural events throughout the year.
That said, I always get just a little homesick when autumn rolls around. As great as Japanese festivals are, they simply can’t match American county fairs in terms of fried food offerings.
Thankfully, KFC Japan is ready to take a little of the sting out of fall this year with a new menu item: fried soup.
Japan’s one-person instant ramen pot may be the one and only cooking gadget we need
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Japanese teen calls cops on man she thinks is holding a knife, turns out he just has old tech
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How to make edible slime with just two ingredients
Starbucks Japan’s newest Frappuccino has an angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other
Why isn’t there more deer poo in Nara Park? This very strange museum has the answer【Photos】
Haku is…Chihiro’s dead brother? Studio Ghibli fans blown away by Spirited Away theory
No rice cooker needed! How to make an entire gyudon beef bowl in a single mess tin【Recipe】
Why does Japan’s most famous ocean legend end at this temple in the middle of the mountains?
Japan to begin accepting tourists from the U.S., three other countries this month
Pizza Hut’s new Oreo pizza is like nothing we’ve ever eaten before
1,600 empty seats at major Japanese gymnastics competition reserved by single unpaying person
Meet the Japanese Colonel Sanders, who’s handsome…and passionate about fried chicken
Ghibli found out about the unofficial Ghibli cafe in Nagoya…then something very sweet happenedSpy x Family T-shirts from Uniqlo let you make your love of the anime an open secret【Photos】Japanese teen calls cops on man she thinks is holding a knife, turns out he just has old techWhy does Japan’s most famous ocean legend end at this temple in the middle of the mountains?
A permanent One Piece-themed fitness gym is opening in Japan, now recruiting pirate trainers
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Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】Japan to begin accepting tourists from the U.S., three other countries this month
Hotel guest who boiled crabs in room’s kettle angry to have to pay for damages
Japanese woman receives Kobe beef croquettes after waiting nine years, and she was lucky.
Sumo wrestler vs. 16-month-old toddler: The cutest match you’ll ever see【Video】
American visits Japan, wonders why McDonald’s only sells beef bowls, not burgersLet’s find out if mixing milk and a lemon-lime soda makes cream soda
The new Bake Off Japan on Amazon Prime is everything we ever wanted (aka more Bake Off!)【Review】
New “wet” potato chips revolutionise the snack industry in Japan
Japanese drummer makes rubber chicken cover of Attack on Titan Theme 【Interview】
Mandarin orange peels aren’t trash, they’re treasure! Three chimpi tips to reuse your mikan skins
Move over grilled cheese — we’ve discovered the tastiest toasted sandwich yet【Recipe】
One Punch Man manga artist’s amazing “practice” drawing is so good we think he might not be human
How to use the new floating hologram registers at 7-Eleven
Liev Schreiber’s son deemed “too beautiful” in Japan
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Top 10 anime women with biggest, most impactful breasts, voted by thousands of Japanese netizens
Japanese woman finds better way to make potato salad, we may not be able to go back to old style
Miss Universe 2021 Japan entry slammed for wearing “dead person’s kimono”
Mario isn’t number one? Nintendo plumber doesn’t win Super Mario series character popularity poll
Starbucks Japan’s newest Frappuccino has an angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other
Why isn’t there more deer poo in Nara Park? This very strange museum has the answer【Photos】
Haku is…Chihiro’s dead brother? Studio Ghibli fans blown away by Spirited Away theory
No rice cooker needed! How to make an entire gyudon beef bowl in a single mess tin【Recipe】
Why does Japan’s most famous ocean legend end at this temple in the middle of the mountains?
Five reasons why Shiba Inu are the absolute best
Japanese universities determine cats know the names of other cats
7-Eleven now has make-it-yourself smoothies in Japan, and they’re amazing
Which Japanese conveyer belt sushi chain has the best chutoro?【Taste test】
Japanese gacha machine sells nostalgic super tiny books, and we tried it out
We accidentally buy some silkworm candy at Hokkaido’s Vending Machine Land
Vending machine noodle ice cream: A retro icon in Japan brings joy to a new generation