Sugar Day (Sato no Hi)

What Is Sugar Day?

Every year on March 10th is "Sugar Day." The date comes from a play on numbers: "sa" (3) + "tō" (10) = "satō," meaning sugar. The day was long observed as a day to reconsider sugar's nutritional value, though who established it was unclear. In fiscal 2014, the "Osatō Shin-jidai" Promotion Council — made up of eight sugar industry groups, including the Sugar Refining Industry Association — formally designated March 10 as Sugar Day. The council also named November 30 a Sugar Day, from "ii (11) sa (3) tō (10)" — "good sugar."

A Short History of Sugar

Sugar was once so precious it was treated as both medicine and a symbol of wealth.

• Arrival as medicine: Sugar is believed to have first arrived in Japan during the Nara period, said to have been brought by the Chinese monk Ganjin (Jianzhen). It was very precious and is said to have been treated as medicine.
• From luxury to everyday food: Sugar-making is thought to date back about 2,500 years, when people in India began boiling down sugarcane juice. It later spread through the Islamic world to Europe, and by the late 19th century it had turned from a luxury into an everyday food.

Interesting Facts About Sugar

• Sugar and disaster preparedness: Because March 10 is the day before the anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the council uses the day to highlight sugar as a long-lasting energy source and to hold events on disaster preparedness.
• Caramel and browning: Heating sugar produces caramelization, and sugar reacting with amino acids produces the Maillard reaction — both essential to the aroma and color of many dishes and sweets.
• Stabilizing whipped cream: Adding sugar to fresh cream helps stabilize the air bubbles and keeps the cream from collapsing, making it indispensable in Western-style confectionery.
• Two raw materials: Sugar is made mainly from sugarcane, grown in warm regions, and sugar beet, grown in cold ones. In Japan, sugarcane is grown in Okinawa and Kagoshima and sugar beet in Hokkaido.
• No expiration date?: Sugar changes very little in quality and contains almost no water for microbes to grow in, so it is allowed to omit a "best by" date on its label.

A Sweet Comfort That Generates Energy for Tomorrow

Sugar Day is a day to appreciate the "sweet happiness" that sugar brings to daily life. A single bite of dessert can soothe the heart, and a secret pinch of sugar in a dish can bring a smile to your family's faces. On March 10th, why not reward yourself with a delicious sweet treat? A sweet break can bring a little breathing room to a busy day.

Tips for Enjoying Sugar Day

• During teatime, try different types of sugar -- like wasanbon or kurozato (Japanese brown sugar) -- and relax while enjoying their rich variety of flavors.
• Use sugar's moisture-retaining properties in cooking -- for example, rubbing it onto meat before grilling -- to try a recipe that makes use of sugar's properties.
• Check whether long-lasting sugar or sweets are included in your emergency supplies, along with the rest of your disaster kit.
• After enjoying something sweet, brush your teeth thoroughly and get some moderate exercise, building a habit of enjoying sugar's benefits in a healthy way.

A Rich Sweetness Adds Color to Life

March 10th is a day when sweet, gentle moments flow into your life, leaving room in your heart for ease. Just like a sugar crystal with its edges smoothed away, may your interactions with those around you become gentler and rounder, spreading warm bonds far and wide. May today be a day that fills your heart and brings you the sweetest, most energizing experience possible!