Japan Diet and Health—the Present and Future

Abstract

Japan achieved remarkable economic development after World War II, which has led remarkable changes in risk factors of atherosclerotic diseases and led to epidemiological transition in Japan. Nowadays, obesity is pandemic around world, which is same case in Japan. BMI of Japanese population, especially young adult men increased gradually since the 1960s associated with increase in intake of fat as well as decrease in intake of rice, which has been revealed by the annual report of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Such changes suggest the change of dietary habit from Japanese style to westernized style. In recent years such changes in lifestyle has been accompanied by a gradual increase in serum cholesterol in the Japanese population, which is associated with increase in the incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Japanese guidelines recommend “The Japan diet” to prevent CVD, because there are several epidemiological data to show the cardio-preventive effect of fish, soy bean, and vegetables, which are the major component of “The Japan Diet”. It is very important to recognize the diet habit is one of culture and that rice plays a pivotal role in “The Japan Diet”.