News & Events

Summary: Washoku (traditional Japanese food) is gaining increasing global attention. Besides its taste and health benefits, new factors contribute to its popularity: it has been recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage and scenes of Japanese cuisine in popular anime captivate viewers overseas. However, there is a concern that Japanese food culture is in decline as the Japanese diet becomes more westernized. According to some reports in the existing literature, factors driving changes in food culture include an increase in immigration, economic globalization, and strategies employed by the food industry. This research introduced a new viewpoint: longer commuting times due to urbanization. An analysis of a survey of Japanese workers in their 20s to 60s showed that longer commuting times have led to fewer people eating a Japanese-style breakfast. While Japanese food is healthy, there is concern that many people give up eating it due to the time and effort required for preparation, which takes up their free time. This tendency was even more evident in people who drive to work than those who commute by train. Many people appear to consider daily driving for commuting as a burden rather than a pleasure. Food is a unique cultural aspect of each country and a valuable resource as well. In order to protect it, it is necessary to recognize that the decline of food culture is one of the adverse effects of urbanization. These research findings also help the restaurant industry with its strategy for opening new locations, shedding light on why people give up eating Japanese food even if they would prefer it. ≪Japanese version≫