Abstract
A sensory test for five tastes was carried out at the begining of each shcool year. We discussed on the results obtained in respective years between 1993 and 1996. The following is our conclusion.
In 1993, the students got high marks as a whole. But in 1996, the number of students who gave six correct answers full marks decreased. The number of students who gave four correct answers showed no change. The number of those who gave less than three correct answers increased. This indicates that there is a tendency of decrease in their difference ability for five tastes.
Examing the correlation between the rate of all six correct answers and the rate of correct answers for respective tastes, we recognized that sweetness, tastelessness, and sourness had a great effect on the rate of correct answers.
As to respective tastes, the rates of correct answers for sweetness, saltiness and bitterness were high each year. However, the rates of correct answers for sourness, tastelessness and umami decreased. We conclude that the students have difficulty in recognizing sourness and umami and that they are opt to get confused these two tastes with tastelessness.
