Abstract
Japanese law from the beginning of the Meiji era was analyzed for its link to food culture. The number of all laws published between the beginning of the Meiji era and the Heisei era increased dramatically after the 20 th year of the Showa era (1945), this being the year that democracy was established in Japan. The number of laws containing food-related key words showed a similar trend. These laws were analyzed to identify any connection with food culture. The expression ‘food culture’ first appeared in the ‘Fundamental Law of Food Education’ which was passed in the Heisei 17 th year (2005). A survey was then conducted to find a connection with food culture in the laws passed before that year. An expression related to food culture was found in the Law of School Meals which was passed in the 29 th year of the Showa era (1954).
