‘A window into society’:Trying school lunches, Japanese style

Bruce Mackay / Japanese school lunches served in Wellington

The Japanese Embassy recently held an event showcasing the ritual of Japanese school lunches, which offer lessons in nutrition, community and responsibility.

Participants first learnt about the practices, values and beliefs around school lunches in Japan, before trying a traditional school lunch.

In Japan, school lunch is a ritual. Elementary school students wear hats and aprons, serve each other, and eat together in their classroom with their teacher.

“It’s a window into society,” explained Takako Taguchi, the head of the embassy's Japan Information and Cultural Centre, who led the event.

“Kids learn responsibility, teamwork, and gratitude. Even the youngest students take turns serving and cleaning up.”

The school lunch menu in Japan changes daily, but generally consists of a main dish, vegetable soup, milk, and often fruit or dessert.

It provides 33% of a child’s daily nutritional needs, with a balance of protein, carbohydrates and minerals.

Mark Potter, principal at Berhampore School, said his main takeaway from the event was learning about the positive outcomes of the Japanese school lunch programme.

“I think what New Zealand could learn from the Japanese experience is that the brilliant outcomes, socially, health-wise and educationally, of a good school lunch programme is there,” Potter said.

In New Zealand, school lunches provide only 13%-18% of daily needs.

Kiwi students are delivered meals by an outside supplier and often sit outside or on stairs while eating their foil-packaged lunch.

In 2024, the allocated budget for New Zealand school lunches was reduced from $7-$9 down to $3-$4.

However, the issue might not be price-related. In Japan, each school lunch costs around 268 yen, or NZ$3 per meal.

The main difference, Taguchi said, is that in most cities, the parents or guardians pay for the school lunch.

However, the low cost is accepted, as it is part of a wider food education programme where students learn about nutrition, the origin of food, and the value of working together.

“It’s about more than eating,” said Taguchi. “It forms the base for a whole range of teaching activities.”

Additionally, the ministries of agriculture, health and education work together to ensure that Japanese students have a healthy and filling lunch.

“I have no doubt that we could implement it here. What we need is enough political buy-in to make sure it’s put in and it’s kept in,” Potter said.