Food Consumption In Japan Research Articles

Ethical food consumption drivers in Japan. A S–O-R framework application using PLS-SEM with a MGA assessment based on clustering

Humanity's lifestyle and consumption patterns have a tremendous impact on the environment. The present research focused on understanding the profile and the decision-making process of ethical food consumers in the Japanese market. To determine the main drivers of behaviour, a Stimulus-Organism-Response (S–O-R) model with Stimulus-Response (S–R) direct paths was tested via a Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). Next, the groups resultant of a two-step clustering technique between Pro-Environmental Behaviours (PEB) like recycling and reducing waste were used as a basis of a multi-group analysis. The first step of the clustering comprised a hierarchical algorithm, and the second a K-Medoids application. Evidence suggests ethical food consumption in Japan is bound to intention, knowledge, price, and certification recognition. The multi-group analysis implied an overall difference across the three groups defined, but the results were not conclusive at a pairwise level.

Longitudinal analysis of home food production and food sharing behavior in Japan: multiple benefits of local food systems and the recent impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

Home food production and sharing (home consumption) make up a local community-based food system that has become a custom closely tied to people’s daily life and culture across Japan. In this study, nationwide questionnaire surveys were conducted in 2015 and 2021 to investigate the status and trends of non-commercial home food consumption in Japan. We were also able to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which commenced at the beginning of 2020 in Japan. It was found that a wide variety of foods and many different species of food are part of home consumption. In addition, the amount of home production and the amount shared with close neighbors and friends via social networks is higher in agricultural areas than in urban areas. The amount of home production was slightly higher and the amount shared with others slightly lower in 2021 compared with 2015, suggesting that COVID-19 may have limited the sharing activities that also connect people. Meanwhile, the majority of respondents who were directly asked about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the survey in 2021 answered “no change”, suggesting a resilient system even under the pressures of the pandemic. Moreover, there has been an uptake in home food production and sharing amongst younger generations, men, and people living in urban areas. These customs and lifestyles are embedded in Japanese culture, helping to produce a sustainable and resilient food system. This home consumption system has the potential to contribute to various global challenges in the form of nature-based solutions which help meet the targets of the sustainable development goals, in particular a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and the promotion of health, well-being and social relations. We discuss future research challenges for a more resource-efficient, inclusive, and sustainable growth model that includes home consumption.

Evaluating carbon footprint embodied in Japanese food consumption based on global supply chain

Based on the trade boom in the globalization wave, nowadays, food products travel long distances from producers to consumers. However, the embodied environmental impact associated with food consumption is still under discussion, which demands an in-depth analysis of its upstream environmental impact. Therefore, in this study, we consider Japan as a case study and apply an environmentally extended input-output table to tackle its embodied carbon footprint across sectors and regions. To further investigate the contribution of food transport, we extracted transport-related carbon footprints embodied in Japanese food consumption according to six transport types. The results indicate that 34% of the carbon footprints from Japan's food consumption were induced overseas, mostly being leaked in some Asian and Pacific countries (4536 kilo tonCO2eq in China and 4758 kilo tonCO2eq in other Asian and Pacific countries’ group) and the United States (4444 kilo tonCO2eq). The implications of this study reveal the key role of food consumption in Japan's future decarbonization and carbon neutrality, and provide potential mitigation measures to reduce transport emissions from the perspective of food supply chain.

COVID-19 Impact on Green Tea Consumption in Japan

2019년 말부터 확산된 일본의 코로나19는 식품 소비에도 큰 영향을 미쳤다. 음식점에 대한 휴업요청 등으로 업소용 식재료의 과잉 재고가 발생하였다. 한편, 가정 내에서의 조리에 대한 수요가 증가와 관련된 식재료 및 서비스 소비가 증가하고 있다. 이러한 상황에서 녹차 소비는 소비자들의 건강지향 성향에 힘입어 다른 음료에 비하면 크게 감소하지는 않았다. 또한, 녹차음료의 구매행태는 최근 온라인쇼핑의 비중이 크게 증가하고 있다. 음료 제조업체는 코로나19로 온라인쇼핑이 증가하고 택배 주문단위가 커짐에 따라, 소비자들의 페트병 라벨 제거의 번거로움을 덜어주기 위해 무 라벨 음료를 개발하여 보급하고 있다. 이렇게 함으로써 기업은 라벨 제조 및 부착비용을 절감하고, 환경보호에 기여하게 된다. 코로나19 확산이 계속되고, 소비자들의 소비 의식이나 행동이 변화되는 상황에서는, 이러한 점들을 잘 고려하여 마케팅 전략을 구축하는 것이 중요하다. 온라인쇼핑이 증가함에 따라, 앞으로 1회 용 포장재로 인한 환경문제는 중요한 이슈가 될 것으로 생각된다.The spread of the new coronavirus pandemic starting from the end of 2019 has had a major impact on food consumption in Japan. In addition to an excess inventory of commercial food due to temporary lockdown for restaurants and schools, demand for ready-to-drink beverages and home-cooked meals is increasing as well as related food services. Consumption of green tea has been increasing because of heightened well-being consciousness. While the consumption of other beverages has decreased, green tea beverage has not shown a significant decrease. Also, regarding the purchase of products, online purchases have dramatically increased than store purchases. A few Japanese beverage firms have developed labelless pet-bottles to lower consumers’ burden of separating label from pet-bottles when they throw away or recycle products. Accordingly, companies could save cost of labels as well as contribute to protect the environment. As the COVID19 pandemic continues and consumers awareness of consumption and behavior change, it would be necessary to take action considering this situation. In particular, it is important to introduce special plans such as sales promotion strategy and consideration for consumers and the environment on online market websites.

Child Height and Food Consumption in Japan in the Past Century in Comparison with South Korea: Animal Proteins and other Essential Nutrients

Japan’s economy made remarkably fast progress since the mid-1950s when it recovered to its pre-war level. Accordingly, children grew appreciably taller, as the food supply and consumption (animal protein intakes for example) increased not only in quantity but also in quality. In particular, Japanese children grew sizably in height, also in pre-war years when the supply of animal proteins was virtually zero. They ceased to grow any taller in the early 1990s, when per capita consumption of animal products, milk in particular, was still increasing at high levels. Trivial question on whether the increase in animal protein intakes contributed to body height growth in Japan is naturally raised. When examining child height development throughout the past century Japan, total food calories and other essential nutrients such as vegetables and fruit should be taken into consideration. Comparison with South Korea seems to fortify this presumption.

Integrating the theory of planned behaviour to identify determinants of <i>halal</i> food consumption in Japan

The halal market is a new, emerging market that is worth $667 million. Interest in this growing area came after a recent rise in the purchasing power of Muslim consumers and the increasing demand for halal products. This paper follows Bonne et al. (2007) research to identify determinants of halal food consumption among Muslim consumers in Japan by integrating the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). Results based on data collected through a survey of 102 Muslim respondents shows that halal food consumption is determined by positive attitude, subjective norms or the influence of peers and personal conviction. This study also shows that the halal food market is still an emerging market in Japan despite the fact that there are a significant number of Muslim consumers living in or visiting the country. Therefore, this study contributes in increasing the awareness of the demand for halal food.

Integrating the theory of planned behaviour to identify determinants of <i>halal</i> food consumption in Japan

The halal market is a new, emerging market that is worth $667 million. Interest in this growing area came after a recent rise in the purchasing power of Muslim consumers and the increasing demand for halal products. This paper follows Bonne et al. (2007) research to identify determinants of halal food consumption among Muslim consumers in Japan by integrating the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). Results based on data collected through a survey of 102 Muslim respondents shows that halal food consumption is determined by positive attitude, subjective norms or the influence of peers and personal conviction. This study also shows that the halal food market is still an emerging market in Japan despite the fact that there are a significant number of Muslim consumers living in or visiting the country. Therefore, this study contributes in increasing the awareness of the demand for halal food.

Simple pleasures: food consumption in Japan and the global comparison of living standards

AbstractContrary both to Pomeranz's argument for the comparability of pre-industrial living standards across Eurasia and to the accumulating evidence of the extent of growth in the Japanese economy in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, quantitative historical comparisons of living standards consistently place Japan on a level with the least developed parts of Europe and imply that the living conditions of ordinary Japanese people only began to approach those of the industrialized West once imported modernization had been absorbed. This article uses concepts derived from comparative consumption history to go deeper into this issue, arguing that, from at least the late eighteenth century, Japanese living standards were changing in ways that paralleled equivalent developments in Europe. Through the consumption histories of a set of ‘transformative’ products – rice, tea, tobacco, and sugar – it seeks to demonstrate the potential for comparative qualitative analysis of living standards and to show that, in Japan as in Europe, the ‘transformation of desire’ paved the way for industrialization.

The Recent Trend of Seasonal Variations of Food Consumption in Japan

The Recent Trend of Seasonal Variations of Food Consumption in Japan

Relation of food consumption to cancer mortality in Japan, with special reference to international figures.

The present study was designed to examine the epidemiological association of food consumption with cancer mortality in Japan, if any, in comparison with similar examinations in developed countries including Japan, in a search for dietary factors in cancer etiology. Whereas food consumption patterns in Japan was believed to be specific among developed countries, this study revealed that the correlation matrix among major foods both for international and Japanese data made it possible to categorize these foods into two groups with some similar patterns, since there should be observed a positive or negative correlation for each pair of foods. The patterns for correlation of food consumption to cancer mortality in Japan were found to be considerably different from those in developed countries, and this suggested that the epidemiological association between the two in Japan, if any, could be specifically evaluated from that in develop countries. The urban-type region for food consumption in Japan, however, indicated a possible westernization for the relation of food consumption to cancer mortality as well as for food consumption patterns, whereas the traditional Japanese region for food consumption did not indicate any similarity with westernization for the relationship between food consumption and cancer mortality, as well as for food consumption patterns. The above findings also suggested that there might be a possible significance for the regionalization of Japan in such studies, and that the urbanization of food consumption patterns in Japan would show that this country has a similar pattern of association between food consumption and cancer mortality as observed among developed countries in Europe and/or North America.

The chisan-chisho movement: Japanese local food movement and its challenges

This paper examines the increasingly popular chisan-chisho movement that has promoted the localization of food consumption in Japan since the late-1990s. Chisan-chisho emerged in the context of a perceived crisis in the Japanese food system, particularly the long-term decline of agriculture and rural community and more recent episodes of food scandals. Although initially started as a grassroots movement, many chisan-chisho initiatives are now organized by governments and farmers’ cooperatives. Acknowledging that the chisan-chisho movement has added some important resources and a conceptual framework, we nonetheless point out that chisan-chisho has been refashioned as a producer movement by government as well as the Japan Agricultural Cooperative, capitalizing on local food’s marketing appeal. Chisan-chisho to date has not been able to become a full-fledged citizen-based political mobilization nor address the issue of marginality in the food system.

An Analysis of Household Beef Consumption of Japanese Expatriates in U.S.:

This paper uses a novel approach to investigate how food consumption in Japan may change as Japanese consumers become more westernised in their tastes and preferences for food. It is widely believed that as food prices in Japan fall to international levels and as Japanese consumers become more westernised in their taste and preferences for food, their meat consumption patterns, in particular, will approach those of western countries. The approach undertaken in this paper involves a comprehensive survey of Japanese expatriates in Los Angeles, California, regarding their food consumption habits. The findings are interesting as they shed some light on the changing nature of food consumption of accultured Japanese faced with competitive food prices. The results indicate that although household meat consumption of Japanese expatriates have changed, it remains debatable, however, that their food consumption habits will approach those of western consumers in the foreseeable future. The findings have important im...

Geographic Correlation Between Stomach Cancer Mortality and Food Consumption in Japan

We examined the correlation between the prefectural variation of standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for stomach cancer and the consumption of nutrients and food groups using dietary data available for 27 prefectures in Japan. Because data for specific food groups were not available in some prefectures, the number (n) of prefectures analyzed for correlation ranged from 15-27. A three-fold interprefectural variation in SMR for stomach cancer was observed. There was a significant positive correlation between the consumption of salted/dried fishes and SMR(n=15, r=0.75, p<0.01), and vitamin A intake showed a negative correlation (n=26, r= -0.61, p<0.01). Salt consumption did not show a material correlation with SMR (n=26, r=0.26, p=0.20). In the partial correlation analysis (n=14), fruits and yellow-green vegetables showed the inverse associations (r=-0.43, p=0.19, r=-0.75, p<0.01, respectively), and pickles and salted/dried fishes showed positive associations (r=0.53, p=0.09, r=0.67, p=0.02, respective-ly) after adjusting for the remaining three variables. The findings suggest that salty foods and vitamin A may be important determinants of the prefectural variation of stomach cancer mortality in Japan.

Fecundity, infanticide, and food consumption in Japan

Hypotheses are proposed concerning infanticide and fecundity in Japan which differ markedly from previously held views that peasant families in Tokugawa Japan deliberately kept family size small through infanticide to maintain a relatively comfortable standard of living. To the contrary it is suggested that fecundity was low and the chances for infant survival poor so parents were forced to adopt strategies about the sex of the births they would permit to survive in addition to eliminating many weak and sickly offspring soon after birth. In support of this thesis direct statistical evidence is presented on food consumption and physical characteristics during the modern era and the results of simulation experiments for families practicing infanticide under various decision rules have been given. The thrust of the argument is that the concept of a demographic transition is applicable to Japan. If demographic transition theory is thought of as explaining why desired fertility falls from relatively high levels prior to and in the early period of modernization to low levels as modernization spreads it is contended that Japanese demographic history does not deviate from the main lines of demographic transition theory. Far from being a unique case in demographic history the Japanese demographic transition experience conforms in its essential features to the experiences of Europe North America Australia and New Zealand.

LONG‐TERM CHANGES IN FOOD CONSUMPTION IN JAPAN*

The Japanese economy has shown a high rate of growth compared with European countries and America. Food consumption in Japan, however, has risen less rapidly than in these countries. The purpose of this paper is to explain the prewar rigidity in food consumption in Japan and to show how this has changed in the postwar period. The main factor in the rise of food consumption is usually the increase in per‐capita income. Consumption of starchy foods generally decreases at certain levels of percapita income. In Japan, however, this level of income is lower than in other countries. While in the West the decline in demand for starchy foods has generally been due to the increased substitution of livestock products, in Japan this has been due mainly to low caloric consumption. Before the Second World War, starch intake in Japan remained fairly constant despite the rise in per‐capita income. One reason for this rigidity is Japan's fondness for rice. In the postwar period, however, income elasticity for food and drink has doubled and livestock products have become more important, thus raising total caloric intake. This shift in food consumption, however, has caused problems for food production and agricultural incomes.

Japanese Consumption, External Disequilibrium and their Statistical Measurement

Japanese statistics indicate domestic consumption levels to be sub? stantially above pre-war; yet, these statistics also indicate a continuing external diseqilibrium in the form of insufficient food imports, es? pecially of rice. This would appear to indicate that the statistics on the internal economy contradict those on the external economy. The present paper discusses these statistics on consumption against the backdrop of the continued shortage of Japanese foreign food avail? abilities, especially of rice, the principal staple food of Japan. Our conclusions, although perhaps somewhat inconclusive, are as follows: (1) Japanese statistics on consumption levels as derived from ratios of index numbers appear to have an upward bias, especially when comparison is made between the farm nad non-farm sectors. (2) These statistics appear to have an upward bias when comparison is made between the food and non-food categories of consumption. (3) Japan still has an external disequilibrium in not being able to import enough. (4) The fact that restrictions against Japanese trade have probably hindered Japan's correcting this disequilibrium sug? gests that U.S. commercial policy towards Japan might be altered in her favor by considering her general levels of consumption. The actual levels of consumption in Japan are somewhat below the levels suggested by ratios of index numbers. This disparity should be analyzed further and considered in the determination of U.S. commercial policy towards Japan. It is generally known that the level of food consumption in Japan, especially of rice, is below the requirements considered necessary for good health. This situation exists for many other countries throughout the world. In the case of Japan, however, the reason for the food deficit is insufficient imports rather than insufficient agricultural pro? duction or insufficient industrial production of exportable goods. Japan has the labor and capital resources to export manufactures at com