I think I’m turning occidental.

Culinary imperialism is alive in well in Japan it seems. Meat is taking over and all the traditional elements of the Japanese diet are giving up the ground, fish, veggies, fruit, you name it, they’re eating less of it over in ye old Nihon. The short of it is, if you’re between 20-40 and make less than 2 million yen a year, you’re on the leading edge of adopting the western diet, and with the propensity to develop all those wonderful western diseases like diabetes, obesity, heart attacks, etc. Good times ahead!
We'll return to election coverage tomorrow, I promise.

野菜・魚より肉好き鮮明 11年、厚 労省が国民調査 2012/12/6 21:30 2011年の厚生労働省の国民健康・栄養 調査で、10年前と比べて日本人が魚や野菜 を食べる量が減り、肉食が１割近く増えて いることが分かった。厚労省は「野菜の摂 取量が少ないと生活習慣病の発症リスクが 高まる」としている。 厚労省によると、１日あたりの成人の生 鮮食品の平均摂取量は、魚介類が10年前 の2001年と比べて24％減の78.6グラム、 果実類が17％減の110.3グラム、野菜類が ６％減の277.4グラムだった。肉類は同 ９％増の80.7グラムだった。 年齢層別では野菜類や果実類、魚介類の 摂取量は20～40代で少ない傾向がみられ た。40代は魚介類の摂取量が10年前から ４割近く減少していた。 世帯の年間収入別の摂取量では、200万 円未満の世帯は600万円以上の世帯と比べ て果実類が男女とも２割前後少なく、野菜 類は男性で１割近く少なかった。 http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASDG06048_W2A201C1CR8000/

Clearly liking meat more than vegetables or fish –2011 Ministry of Welfare population study shows

The 2011 Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Labor National Nealth and Nutrition study reports that compared to 10 years ago, Japanese eat less fish and vegetables and meat consumption has increased nearly 10 percent. The ministry said that “When vegetable intake decreases, the risk of exhibiting symptoms of lifestyle-related diseases increases.”

According to the ministry, in the average daily amount of fresh food consumption of an adult, seafood decreased in the 10 years since 2001 by 24 % to 78.6 grams, fruits decreased 17% to 110.3 grams, vegetables decreased 6% to 277.4 grams. Over the same period, meat increased by 9% to 80.7 grams.

When looking at intake amounts by age range, seafood consumption among 20-40 year olds is trending downward. Individuals in their 40s have decreased seafood consumption by nearly 40% in the past 10 years.

When looking at household consumption by income bracket, in households making less than 2 million yen, when compared to households making more than 6 million yen, both men and womens consume nearly 20 percent less fruit and men consumed nearly 10% less vegetables.