Chewing Gum Day (Chūingamu no Hi)

What Is Chewing Gum Day?

June 1st is "Chewing Gum Day" in Japan. It was established in June 1994 by the Japan Chewing Gum Association. The date comes from a Heian-period custom: New Year's Day and June 1st were known as "hagatame" (tooth-hardening) days, when people ate hard foods such as mochi and prayed for long life and good health. The day aims to encourage people to rethink the importance of chewing and good manners after chewing gum.

The "Hagatame" Custom

Chewing gum is a modern habit, but the idea of chewing something hard for good health has a long history in Japan.

• Hagatame in the Heian period: New Year's Day and June 1st were "tooth-hardening" days, when people ate hard mochi and prayed for their family's longevity and health.
• Teeth and age: The character for "tooth" (歯) also carries the meaning of "age," and keeping the roots of one's teeth strong was said to be an important condition for a long life.
• Traces today: The same idea lives on in New Year's kagami mochi and in the "hagatame" ritual performed at a baby's first-meal ceremony (okuizome).

The History of Chewing Gum in Japan

According to the Japan Chewing Gum Association, chewing gum was first imported into Japan in 1916. Domestic gum went on sale around 1928, but it did not suit the eating habits of the time and sold poorly. Gum became widespread only after World War II, when the gum included in U.S. military rations quickly caught on as a new fashion. Domestic manufacturers then entered the market one after another, producing a wide variety of stick gum, pellet gum, and more.

Interesting Facts About Chewing Gum

• Rooted in "chicle": Gum traces its origins to chicle, the sap of the sapodilla tree native to Central America. The ancient Maya are said to have chewed it, which inspired modern chewing gum.
• Today's gum bases vary: Modern gum bases use natural resins such as chicle as well as synthetic resins like polyvinyl acetate.
• Xylitol and cavities: Xylitol is known as a sweetener that the cavity-causing bacterium Streptococcus mutans cannot use to produce acid, and it is used in many gums.
• Chewed thousands of years ago: In Northern Europe, lumps of birch bark tar around 5,000 years old bearing tooth marks have been found, showing that humans have long chewed on things.
• Wrap it up: The association also promotes the etiquette of wrapping used gum in paper before throwing it away.

Ideas for Chewing Gum Day

• Chew a piece of gum as a refresher during a break from work or study
• Review your after-meal oral care, for example by choosing a xylitol gum
• Look into customs related to "hagatame," such as kagami mochi and okuizome
• Be mindful of the etiquette of wrapping used gum in paper before throwing it away

A Piece of Gum Carries a Wish from a Thousand Years Ago

June 1st is linked to the Heian-period "hagatame" days, when people chewed hard foods and wished for good health. The form has changed, but the wish to chew well and stay healthy remains the same. Today, as you pop a piece of gum in your mouth, why not give a little thought to the health of your teeth and mouth?