A New Christmas 'Staple' Emerges: The 'Eat Salmon for Christmas!' Meme Gains Traction

A new tradition might be finding its way onto Christmas dinner tables in Japan. The trending phrase, "Eat salmon for Christmas!" which has gained significant traction on social media in recent years, is already drawing attention again this year.

This unique phrase originates from a line spoken by the villain Samoan Shakekisutanovich (サモーン・シャケキスタンチン) in the Super Sentai series *Kaitou Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai Patranger*, which aired in 2018. Due to its memorable impact, it has been tweeted by many fans every Christmas season since the show's conclusion, and is now becoming an established Christmas phenomenon.

This year, the trend has deepened further with Thanko, known for its unique home appliances, releasing a new product in collaboration with this meme. It's a grill named "Like a Hungry Salmon," themed around "Eat Salmon for Christmas‼️" The main unit features a print of Shakekisutanovich, garnering a huge response from users who commented, "I love this sensibility!" and "Official merchandise is awesome!" This product, labeled as the first of its kind, is attracting attention not only from *Lupinranger VS Patranger* fans but also from those seeking unusual items.

On social media, posts like "It's here again this year...", "It's completely a Christmas tradition now (lol)", and "Even though the Sentai series ended, Samoan seems to appear every year" are successively appearing, testifying to its establishment. Furthermore, expressions of surprise regarding its widespread cultural influence are emerging, such as "Why does it have a Wikipedia article w?". While some realistic concerns about "this year's salmon being expensive" are also peeking through, the culture of eating salmon for Christmas, originating as a tokusatsu-born meme, shows signs of becoming even more deeply ingrained.

The Context of the "Eat Salmon for Christmas!" Meme

For non-Japanese readers, understanding the origins of this unique Christmas trend requires a bit of background. The phrase "クリスマスにはシャケを食え！" (Kurisumasu ni wa shake wo kue!) or "Eat salmon for Christmas!" comes from the popular Japanese superhero franchise *Super Sentai*, a tokusatsu (special effects) series well-known for its colorful costumed teams and elaborate villains. The specific series mentioned, *Kaitou Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai Patranger* (2018), featured a memorable villain named Samoan Shakekisutanovich whose catchphrase involved encouraging the consumption of salmon. The absurdity and randomness of this villain's insistence on salmon for Christmas, a holiday traditionally associated with roast chicken or turkey in many cultures (and increasingly so in Japan), resonated strongly with fans.

The meme's virality on social media platforms like Twitter has transformed this obscure villain's line into an unexpected annual Christmas tradition. Its persistence year after year, even years after the show concluded, highlights the power of fan culture and internet memes in shaping contemporary traditions. The collaboration with Thanko, a Japanese company famous for its quirky and often niche home gadgets, further signifies the meme's mainstream acceptance and cultural impact, turning a niche pop-culture reference into a widely recognized, albeit humorous, festive phenomenon.