McDonald's Japan adds three chicken sandwiches after five-year development

Key facts

• McDonald's Japan introduced three chicken sandwiches and a side item in October, per Nikkei Asia.
• McDonald's spent around five years developing the new chicken sandwiches for the Japanese market.
• The launch is partly a response to changing consumer tastes in Japan, per Nikkei Asia.

McDonald's Japan debuted three new chicken sandwiches and a side item in October, Nikkei Asia reported on November 5, 2026, dating the launch to the prior month. The chain spent around five years developing the sandwiches, the report said.

The launch is partly a response to changing consumer tastes in Japan, where the fast-food market is moving beyond hamburgers, according to Nikkei Asia. The report frames the new items as a challenge to KFC in that market.