Sai no Hi (Vegetable Day)
Food DaysWhat Is Sai no Hi?
The 31st of every month is "Sai no Hi," or Vegetable Day, in Japan. It was established by the Five a Day Association, which runs food education campaigns urging people to eat at least five plates (350 grams) of vegetables and 200 grams of fruit a day. The name comes from sai, the character for vegetables.
Reading 31 as "Sai"
The date is a pun reading 31 as "sai." Because only some months have a 31st, the day comes around seven times a year.
- Established by: the Five a Day Association
- Origin of the date: 31 read as "sai," meaning vegetables
- The message: eat at least five plates (350 grams) of vegetables and 200 grams of fruit daily
- Framing: the month's end as a "closing day for the body," to be revisited regularly
The Month's End as a "Closing Day for the Body"
The association frames the end of the month as a settlement date for your body. Just as a company closes its books, the idea is to close out and review your own eating. It is an anniversary built on repetition rather than a one-off appeal.
Tips for Marking This Day
- Look back at how many vegetables you actually ate this month
- Add one small vegetable dish to the New Year's Eve table
- Plan a meal that uses up what is left in the fridge
- Weigh out 350 grams and see what that amount really looks like
The Year's Final Closing Day
December 31 is the last Sai no Hi of the year. Precisely because rich food runs through the holidays, a plate of vegetables is worth a thought. It is well placed as the day to close the books on a year of eating.