Healthy Food Education Day

What Is Healthy Food Education Day?

August 18 is "Healthy Food Education Day" in Japan, established by the Japan Health Food Education Association (JHE), based in Shinjuku, Tokyo, and registered with the Japan Anniversary Association, based on the wordplay that combining the characters for "eight" (八) and "eighteen" (十八) forms the kanji for "rice" (米).

The Character for "Rice" and What It Represents

The kanji for rice, 米, is said to be composed of the characters for "eight" and "ten-eight" (八十八), reflecting a traditional belief that rice cultivation requires as many as eighty-eight steps of labor. Healthy Food Education Day was established around this character to promote awareness of Japan's food culture and food education.

• Origin: Based on the wordplay that "eight" (八) plus "eighteen" (十八) forms the kanji for rice (米)
• Established by: The Japan Health Food Education Association
• Purpose: To spread food education that conveys the importance of eating well, under the name "healthy food education"

The Appeal of a Rice-Centered Japanese Diet

A traditional Japanese diet centered on steamed rice, paired with soup and side dishes, is known for making balanced nutrition easier to achieve. Healthy Food Education Day is a good opportunity to reconsider the makeup of your everyday meals.

The Association's Activities

The Japan Health Food Education Association promotes a Japanese-style diet centered on grains -- especially rice -- with the aim of helping more people stay healthy and energetic. It runs a "Healthy Food Education Master" course to train specialists in health and food, and holds the "Healthy Food Education AWARD" to honor individuals and groups who have contributed to people's health through food education. August 18 is also "Rice Day" and "Bifun Day," both inspired by the character 米, making it a day full of rice-related observances.

How to Spend Today

• Build a meal around rice as the centerpiece
• Talk with your children about the idea of food education
• Learn about different rice-growing regions and varieties
• Plan a nutritionally balanced menu

A Grain of Rice, a World of Food Awareness

Healthy Food Education Day is a chance to reflect on the importance of rice and food education in the Japanese diet. On August 18, take a moment to appreciate your daily meals and think about what healthy eating means to you.