The Secret of Longevity in Traditional Japanese Cuisine, From Ingredients to Preparation

The Japanese have one of the highest life expectancies in the world, and this is closely related to their food culture. The image above depicts a traditional Japanese New Year's cuisine. Ministry of Culture, Japan

Japan has a consistently high life expectancy and is one of the world’s leading countries in terms of longevity. According to data from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, as of September 2022, there were 90,526 centenarians in Japan, an increase of 4,016 from 2021.

Japanese health and longevity are closely related to the country’s food culture. Traditional Japanese cuisine, or washoku, as it’s called in Japan, embodies healthy principles and wisdom in ingredient selection, portioning, and cooking methods.

Healthful Elements of Traditional Japanese Cuisine

In 2013, traditional Japanese cuisine was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.