After a tragic choking accident, Japan’s quail farmers are facing unprecedented trouble as inventory of unsold boiled quail eggs continues to rise.
school lunch
If you’ve ever wondered what a Japanese school lunch tastes like, you’ll want to head to this hidden gem.
A touching tale in which our brave reporter overcame his daily battle with school lunches.
We’ve outlined the top five elementary school lunch menu items that reigned supreme in the people’s collective memory.
From coffee-flavored milk to frozen mandarins, these old school favorites whisk Japanese adults back to simpler times.
Fried bread, fruity ciders, and more tasty treats from across Japan and across generations.
In the 22nd year of the Meiji era (aka 1889), the very first Japanese kyūshoku (school lunch) was served up at an elementary school in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture. Although the first menu was very simply prepared, it provided the growing children with an important source of nourishment that not all of them could receive at home.
Fast-forward to 2015–Japanese schoolchildren (and their teachers!) continue to eat school lunches every day, as opposed to children in many other countries who bring their lunches from home. If you’re working in a Japanese school, you should already be familiar with the daily feeling of either excitement or disappointment when you see the lunch menu for the day. But just consider this–would you rather eat the types of lunches served today, or those that were served 100 years ago? Read on to learn about the evolution of Japanese school lunches and decide for yourself!
He’s known for his outspoken and often controversial opinions, from saying that civil servants who have tattoos should resign, to denying the forcible recruitment of South Korean “comfort women” during the second world war.
But it was an intense debate about whether students should be allowed to have furikake seasoning with their school lunch that left city mayor Tōru Hashimoto scratching his head this week as he asked the Osaka Board of Education: “What’s wrong with furikake?!”
Recreating food from our favorite movies and anime is nothing new. We’ve already seen ramen straight out of Naruto and herring and pumpkin pot pie a la Kiki’s Delivery Service. But what is unusual is that this time it’s not die-hard anime fans breathing life into 2-D delicacies, but a cafeteria at one school in Japan. You won’t believe this special school menu featuring a week of delicious looking dishes from some of Hayao Miyazaki’s most famous works.
Many people in Japan think that American school lunches are unhealthy. For the most part, they are right. When photos of the greasy fried foods and brown piles of slop that are served to students in the US surfaced on the internet, Japanese netizens were shocked. With all the talk of Americans being overweight and school lunches being fat-laden and unhealthy, our own Japanese reporter wondered, “Is it really as bad as it seems?” During his recent trip to the US, our reporter was allowed to try the lunch served at a school in the United States. The following is a translation of his encounter with American school lunch.
MOST POPULAR
Now
Why you should be adding Calpis to your beer in Japan
Studio Ghibli adds new anime tumblers to its cool streetwear brand in Japan
Tokyo government organizes food truck event to clear out delinquent/homeless teen gathering area
Convenience store onigiri rice balls become even more expensive…but are they worth it?
Stunning central Japan wisteria festival is like a purple fantasy straight out of a Ghibli movie
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Getting off the beaten Kyoto temple path and onto a mossy one with the Kyoto Moss Tour Passport
Studio Ghibli releases new action figures featuring Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind characters
Godiva now makes tofu in Japan, and sakura chocolate tofu too![Taste test]
Is Daiso’s microwave Japanese rolled omelet maker worth your time and money? [Taste test]
Weekly
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo- Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Cherry blossoms begin blooming in Japan with record-early starts for sakura season
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
The next time you’re feeling stressed out, you could relax on a Pokémon Psyduck chair from Japan- Tokyo government organizes food truck event to clear out delinquent/homeless teen gathering area
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
When will the cherry blossoms reach full bloom in Japan this year?[Forecast]
7-Eleven Japan’s giant fried chicken skewer would be too big to eat, so it’s really for cuddling
Monthly
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026- Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character- Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals- Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino- Cherry blossoms begin blooming in Japan with record-early starts for sakura season
- Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
Yearly
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Getting off the beaten Kyoto temple path and onto a mossy one with the Kyoto Moss Tour Passport
Studio Ghibli releases new action figures featuring Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind characters
Godiva now makes tofu in Japan, and sakura chocolate tofu too![Taste test]
Is Daiso’s microwave Japanese rolled omelet maker worth your time and money? [Taste test]
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Every Japanese pro baseball team to play with Mario question block bases once this year
New cherry blossom party picnic essential: This super-handy folding cardboard table
Gundam robots and Marvel characters combine and make new art we definitely need 【Photos】
Muji cake mania! Which of the 23 flavors of cake they sell are the best?
Four ways to enjoy delicious strawberry Calpis (other than giggling at its name)
Criminals of Japan’s Edo Period Were Often Punished by Getting Face Tattoos
How to make your own postcards using photos from your phone at 7-Eleven
-
