KFC’s Colonel Sanders is becoming a samurai in Japan this week

https://ift.tt/3dSnkwS Casey Baseel

A Kentucky twist on a Japanese tradition.

Though the company itself still calls him Colonel Sanders, in Japan the KFC founder/mascot is more commonly known as “Kentucky no Oji-san,” which translates loosely to “Uncle Kentucky” or “Old Man Kentucky.” Sure, it’s a friendly-enough sounding moniker, but you have to admit that it also doesn’t command the same sort of respect as “Colonel” does.

But later this week Colonel Sanders will be reclaiming the rugged gallantry that his rank suggests, as he dons suits of samurai armor at KFC branches in Japan.

The appearance of the Samurai Colonel (or “Musha Colonel,” to use his Japanese name) is an annual tradition at KFC Japan that started in 1984. In Japan, on May 5 families with young boys celebrate Children’s Day by displaying a decorative samurai helmet, or a doll dressed in samurai armor, in their homes. KFC adapts this custom by armoring up the statues of Colonel Sanders that stand outside their restaurant entrances.

▼ Samurai Colonels from previous years

ケンタッキーも鎧武者仕様 pic.twitter.com/FTH5Il76WA

— ジェット・Ｇ (@Warei17252) May 11, 2015

恵比寿のケンタッキーの武者姿 pic.twitter.com/DAVRWNEnlL

— リターンプラモデリング (@drgyokusai) April 22, 2015

The exact armor design is up to the individual branch’s employees, so there’s plenty of room for creativity. Some, like the above design, go the comedic route, while others recreate suits of armor worn by actual historical samurai, like this Sanada Yukimura-inspired Samurai Colonel, complete with the Nagano-area general’s six-ring crest…

武者ケンタッキーおじさん

出陣じゃ！！#KFC pic.twitter.com/UX1ycjErdg

— MAK (@MasaHI520) May 12, 2020

…or this ensemble based on the mixed Japanese/Western-style armor of Oda Nobunaga.

ケンタッキー入ろうとしたら、武者カーネルに侵入を阻まれた pic.twitter.com/YtkIBFTy8t

— RYU-TMR お仕事募集中！ (@ryutmr) May 1, 2014

カーネルが武装している… pic.twitter.com/jCabRTzo5v

— ちゃろ子リス (@hito_tyan3) April 26, 2021

Most branches’ Colonel Sanders will be donning their armor this Thursday, but at least one, pictured directly above, has already gotten a head start. In total, some 100 locations will be participating, with their Samurai Colonels on display until May 5.

Source, images: PR Times
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