Eat Salmon on Christmas!
Eat Salmon on Christmas! (Japanese: クリスマスには鮭を食え, Hepburn: Kurisumasu niwa shake wo kue) is an internet meme originating from a quote made by an antagonist character in an episode of a Kaitou Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai Patranger, a Super Sentai series in 2018. This quote was originally spoken by a salmon villain on the 45th episode, who replaced chickens with salmon on Christmas, disrupting the sales of chicken while promoting salmon fillets as a food for Christmas. The meme has been used by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries from 2021 to promote the consumption of salmon in the said period.
Origin
The quote comes from the 45th episode of the Super Sentai series title Kaitou Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai Patranger. The episode, titled "Looking Forward to Christmas", featured a salmon-like villain replacing chicken with salmon fillets, encouraging people to eat them instead for Christmas.[1][2][3] During the battle scene, recipes for salmon chahan and hizunamasu are shown.[4]
Eating chicken on Christmas is a tradition unique to Japan, which is said to be influenced by KFC promoting fried chickens in the country since 1974.[5][6][7]
Spread
The phrase, along with the hashtag of the quote spread on Twitter after the airing of the episode.[1][2] The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries began promoting the consumption of salmon on the same platform since 2021.[2][1] This is a part of the ministry's attempt to increase the declining consumption rate of fisheries.[8] Since the spread of the quote, the episode has been uploaded to YouTube by the Toei Tokusatsu channel during the Christmas season several times.[9]
References
- ^ a b c 利也, 西村 (2024-12-24). "「クリスマスにはシャケを食え」農水省がXで呼びかけ、トレンド入り きっかけは特撮" ["Eat salmon this Christmas" - Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' appeal on X-Ray becomes trending]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-11-06.
- ^ a b c "「クリスマスにはシャケを食え」 農水省が特撮怪人に感謝の理由" ["Eat salmon for Christmas": Why the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is grateful to a special effects monster: Asahi Shimbun]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). 2024-12-24. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
- ^ 経済班 (2024-12-24). "農林水産省「クリスマスにはシャケを食え！」 戦隊怪人がX乗っ取り猛アピール" [Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: "Eat salmon for Christmas!" Sentai monsters make a strong appeal to take over X]. J-CAST ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-11-09.
- ^ "「クリスマスにはシャケを食え!!」の元ネタはコレ。『ルパパト』45話など、クリスマスエピソード3本が無料配信中（ネタバレあり）【快盗戦隊ルパンレンジャーVS警察戦隊パトレンジャー／仮面ライダーウィザード／機動刑事ジバン】" [The original story behind "Eat Salmon for Christmas!!" is here. Three Christmas episodes, including episode 45 of "Lupinranger vs. Patranger", are available for free streaming (spoilers included). [Kaitou Sentai Lupinranger vs. Keisatsu Sentai Patranger / Kamen Rider Wizard / Mobile Detective Jiban]]. 電撃オンライン (in Japanese). 23 Dec 2024. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
- ^ "なぜ、日本のクリスマスではチキンを食べるの？" [Why do Japanese people eat chicken at Christmas?]. ウェザーニュース (in Japanese). 24 Dec 2024. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
- ^ "クリスマスにチキン 日本独特の鶏肉愛は江戸時代から" [Chicken for Christmas Japan's unique love of chicken dates back to the Edo period]. 日本経済新聞 (in Japanese). 2022-12-17. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
- ^ "フライドチキンが「日本のクリスマスの伝統」になった理由" [Why fried chicken became a Japanese Christmas tradition]. CNN.co.jp (in Japanese). 25 Dec 2019. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
- ^ "Ｘマスはシャケ食え！！ あるいは…メリークリス鱒 「魚離れ」止めたい農水省が投稿：朝日新聞" [Eat salmon this Christmas!! Or... Merry Christmas, trout - Posted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, who want to stop the "decline in interest in fish"]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). 2024-12-25. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
- ^ "『ルパパト』伝説回の「クリスマスを楽しみに」を配信へ クリスマスにシャケを布教した神回" ["Lupat" legendary episode "Looking forward to Christmas" to be released. A divine episode that spread the word about salmon at Christmas.]. オリコンニュース（ORICON NEWS）. 20 Dec 2024. Retrieved 2025-11-06.