by Vaclav Smil
First published 2012
Japan's food system changed completely between 1900 and 2000. At the century's start, Japanese people ate almost entirely plant-based meals that barely provided enough calories to survive. They consumed virtually no meat, fish, or dairy products. By 2000, animal protein had become central to Japanese meals, though consumption remained lower than in wealthy Western nations. This dietary shift accompanied Japan's rise to become the world's second largest economy. The new eating patterns helped Japanese people achieve the longest lifespans globally and maintain better health than citizens of other rich countries. Vaclav Smil and Kazuhiko Kobayashi trace how this nutritional revolution unfolded gradually across the decades. They examine what these changes meant for Japanese health and longevity. The authors also investigate the environmental costs of the dietary transition, including altered land use, increased water consumption, and depletion of ocean fish stocks. Because Japan imports much of its food, these environmental impacts extend far beyond Japanese borders to affect the entire planet.
Genres: history, agriculture, health, food-and-drink, asian-american, academic, food-writing, food-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: global-perspective, social-change
Setting: Japan
Period: 1900-2000
229 pages · Hardcover · Mit Pr