Cereal Day (Shiriaru no Hi)

What Is Cereal Day?

May 29 is "Cereal Day" in Japan, established by Kellogg Japan and registered with the Japan Anniversary Association. The date is a wordplay: 5, 2, and 9 can be read as "ko-n-fu-re-ku," echoing "corn flakes" (kōnfurēku), the most iconic cereal, and also as "kōfuku" (happiness), expressing the hope that eating cereal for breakfast will lead to a happy day. The aim is to raise awareness of cereal and spread it as part of a healthy breakfast culture.

The History of Cornflakes and Cereal

The story of cornflakes goes back to late-19th-century America. Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, who ran a sanitarium in Battle Creek, Michigan, was developing vegetarian food for patients together with his younger brother, Will Keith Kellogg. When some wheat dough was accidentally left out and dried, they rolled it and baked it anyway, producing thin flakes. They later found that corn made an even better base, and cornflakes were born.

• 1894: The Kellogg brothers create flaked cereal
• 1906: Will Keith Kellogg starts a cornflake business, the beginning of today's Kellogg Company
• Early 1960s: Kellogg Japan is established, and cornflakes go on sale in Japan
• Today: Cereal varieties like granola and oatmeal continue to diversify

A Family Feud Over Sugar

Will wanted to add sugar to make cornflakes tastier, but John opposed it for health reasons, and the brothers are said to have fallen out over it. The company Will founded became today's Kellogg Company, and cornflakes transformed the American breakfast. In Japan, Kellogg's Corn Flakes and Cisco's "Ciscorn" went on sale in the 1960s and quickly caught on.

Types of Cereal and Their Characteristics

• Cornflakes: The most popular cereal — just pour on milk and you're ready to eat.
• Granola: Oats, nuts, and dried fruit baked together.
• Oatmeal: Processed oats, cooked with water or milk into a porridge.
• Muesli: Originating in Switzerland. Oats, nuts, and dried fruit mixed together without baking.
• Bran cereal: Made with wheat bran.

Cereal and Nutrition

Nutritional content varies by type, but many cereals on the market are fortified with iron and vitamins.

• Dietary fiber: Cereals made from whole grains or bran can be high in fiber.
• Vitamins and minerals: Many products are fortified with iron and B vitamins.
• Easy combinations: Adding milk, yogurt, or fruit makes it easy to round out a meal.

Trivia About Cereal Day

• The word "cereal" originally refers to grains in general, such as corn and wheat.
• It comes from Ceres, the Roman goddess of grain.
• Japanese-style ways of eating oatmeal, such as cooking it to a rice-like texture ("komeka"), have become popular.

How to Spend Cereal Day

• Try a type of cereal you've never had before and expand your breakfast routine.
• Top your cereal with yogurt, honey, and fresh fruit.
• Try making your own granola, customizing it with your favorite ingredients.

One Bowl of Breakfast Can Change Your Day

Even on a busy morning, cereal makes breakfast quick and easy. Let May 29's Cereal Day be a chance to rethink the breakfast style that works best for you.