School Lunches Japan

Did you know that in the 1950’s Japan introduced the School Lunch Law to enable kids aged up to 15 years at school to eat a nutritious midday meal?

Peace - ultra cool in my mask

Peace - ultra cool in my mask

Originally, this was to help combat the effects of near-famine conditions on Japan after the war.

Wow all with face masks - no germs on me!

Wow all with face masks - no germs on me!

Japan’s Ministry of Education maintains control over the ‘nutritional standards of the lunch service.’ And as you can see from the below youtube footage, what goes into each meal is carefully deliberated. There is also a small charge of around 300 yen per student, per meal.

The lunch itself is generally eaten in the classroom and it is a time when the kids seem to enjoy the company of their fellow students and teacher. The desks are cleared and place mats or trays set. I really like the way that all students participate in the clearing and clean up as well as the serving. Great teamwork.

This segment from Australian TV shows kids involved in the lunch process.

And this is the other side of the story – the big factory effort – organising the school lunches each day.
This factory for school lunches is in Hokkaido.

Big factory effort each day

Big factory effort each day

Food Glorious Food

Food Glorious Food

Another piece of youtube video shows the attention to detail paid to the contents of modern Japanese school lunches.

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About the Author

I have lived and worked in Japan for the past twenty five years off and on. I have seen many changes and enjoyed the various paradoxes and anomalies of everyday Japanese living.