Everything about School Lunch in Japan
You may have seen many Youtube videos and tiktok reels describing how much Japan values its children and students in regards to nutrition.
You will see great set meals consisting of all food groups, has little to no additives. Everything is cooked fresh that morning and still hot by the time it gets to the lunch room.
Why is Japanese school lunch healthy?
This is all because of the state Japan was in post-WW2. Japan had reached its economic depression, employment crisis and the American occupation. During this time, the Japanese were introduced to wheat and milk by the Western world. It als introduced calcium in the otherwise mainstay diet of rice, fish and miso.
In pre-war times, school lunches were seen as a form of nutritional supplement for schoolchildren. It was after WWII that school lunches began to have a positive educational meaning. Thus nutritional sciences (now Home economics) were introduced as a way for young children to understand the value of a meal, and how calories and dietary needs worked.
What is the School Lunch Law in Japan?
The Japanese government enacted the School Lunch Law in 1954 with four main modules:
1) To encourage a correct understanding and nurture desirable eating habits in daily life;
2) To enrich school life and foster lively sociability;
3) To boost health through appropriate eating habits and improved nutrition;
4) To learn and gain correct knowledge about the production, distribution, and consumption of foods.
(According to the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture)
In modern Japan, school lunches have become a social and cultural mainstay in school children. Lunch offers portion controlled food groups that boost energy and vitality. All schools in Japan from nursery to junior high school are mandated to provide school lunch for children.
In high school, students have the option of bringing their own packed obento or buying something from the high school convenience store. Some schools also have complete meals or half-meals for students to pay for.
However, this is only for public schools. Private schools may have different policies regarding food management.
As of now, the cooking of Japanese school lunches has been subsidized by outer food companies. They cook and then transport the food from batched cooking done the day of. This is to control the safety and hygiene of foods and to ensure consistent food portions. There are still some schools that make their own school lunches. However, the popularity of subsidized cooking in central cities has impacted government policies to enact more food safety methods.
For students who have certain allergies, they will have to notify the school in advance, receive the monthly school lunch schedule and pack their own lunches. If it is an airborne allergy where you are not allowed in the vicinity, each school has its own policy regarding that situation and will let you know accordingly.
School lunch in Japan
What is a typical Japanese lunch for school?
A typical Japanese school lunch consists of either three or four dishes. The first dish is the main carbohydrate which is mostly rice, noodles or bread. These change on a monthly schedule, but they are usually in a 50/30/20 with rice being the most commonly eaten and bread the least.
After, we have the main dish which usually pairs with the carbohydrate. These are usually composed of meat and vegetables. We can get stir fry, curry, and sauteed vegetables.
Next is the soup. Soup is also a staple in Japanese dishes, which warms the belly, and contains vegetables that improve gut health. The most common is miso soup.
Next, we come to a side dish that is either fresh, blanched or a fruit. Japan’s policy on foods can only be fresh, but not raw. Everything must be cooked, so the salad is boiled or fermented, while the fruits are cleaned and inspected.
Lastly, we come to the milk. Milk is the main drink for children under 15 to improve their body, providing energy and calcium for growth.
Is school lunch free in Japan?
Japanese school lunches are government (municipality) funded and cover free school lunch programs. A
s of 2024, 98% of all elementary schools, and 89% of junior high schools offer free meals. In the case where lunch is paid, the usual price for one lunch day is 280 yen (equiv. to 2$) and you will pay monthly to the school.
What is usually in a Japanese bento?
After junior highschool, students are given the freedom to bring their own meals or obento for lunch. The obento game is strong, as it is a culture in itself that regards food to be as beautiful as it is delicious. It is mostly the parent’s job to make the food either leftovers from yesterday’s dinner, freshly made or prepared in advance the day before.
Most bento have two or three compartments so that juices/sauces don’t corrode the overall meal. Usually the biggest compartment has rice with its main pair that could go from anything to fish, meat, or vegetables.
A common vegetable you will see in many obento’s is lettuce and cherry tomatoes, as they are small, delicious, and add a splash of color to your meal. Many high schoolers tend to play a “what if” game to add mystery and gleeful suspense on what they are going to eat that day. It creates excitement and awaitment towards lunch period.
Overall, Japan really puts an emphasis on health and food safety. In my opinion, having eaten school lunches for a very long time, I can say that it beats my own cooking for a fraction of the cost.
If you are a parent who is thinking of living in Japan, be rest assured your child will have a healthy school lunch.
If you are looking to become an ALT in Japan, you will also experience healthy, delicious school lunches!
