Vegetable Day (Yasai no Hi)

What Is Vegetable Day?

Every August 31st is "Vegetable Day" (野菜の日, Yasai no Hi) in Japan. It was established in 1983 by nine organizations, including the National Federation of Fruit and Vegetable Retailers' Cooperatives (Zenseiren). The date comes from a wordplay reading of 8-3-1 as "ya-sa-i" (vegetable). The aim is to help people learn more about the nutrition and flavor of vegetables and eat plenty of them. At the end of summer, it is a good excuse to enjoy seasonal vegetables once again.

Vegetable Day and Its Related Days

Vegetable Day is linked to some unique anniversaries based on the calendar layout.

• Dressing Day (August 24): Because dressing is usually poured over vegetables, August 24 -- the date directly above Vegetable Day on a weekly calendar -- is "Dressing Day."
• Salad Week: Kewpie calls the period from Dressing Day on August 24 to Vegetable Day on August 31 "Salad Week" and shares ideas for enjoying salads.
• Omi Champon Day (September 7): Named for Omi champon, a noodle dish topped with lots of vegetables, this day falls directly below Vegetable Day on the calendar.

The 350-Gram Daily Target

Japan's national health promotion campaign "Health Japan 21" sets a target of at least 350 grams of vegetables a day for adults. In reality, average intake has continued to fall short of this goal. Vegetable Day is a good chance to take a look at how many vegetables you eat.

Fun Facts About Vegetables

• What counts as a vegetable: "Vegetables" is a general term for edible herbaceous plants. Depending on the type, we eat the leaves, roots, stems, flowers, buds or fruit.
• Nutrition changes with the season: Japan's standard food composition tables list winter-harvested spinach as containing more vitamin C than summer-harvested spinach -- the same vegetable can differ in nutrients depending on when it is picked.
• The role of bitterness: The bitterness of bitter melon and green peppers is thought to come from compounds that help keep animals from eating the plants.
• Regional heirloom vegetables: Across Japan there are local varieties passed down for generations, such as Kyoto vegetables and Kaga vegetables, which carry on regional food cultures.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Buy one vegetable of a color or kind you don't usually choose and add it to a meal
• Beyond salads, try steamed vegetables or soups, which shrink in volume and make it easier to eat more
• Visit a farm stand or roadside station and ask the growers how they like to eat their produce
• Roughly count how many grams of vegetables you eat in a day

A Colorful Plate for a Healthy End to Summer

August 31st is Vegetable Day, born from the "ya-sa-i" wordplay. At this time of year, when the summer heat can leave meals unbalanced, why not add seasonal vegetables and some color to your table? Using 350 grams a day as a guide, start with easy ways to eat a few more vegetables.