Abstract
We studied changes in the quantities of foods purchased between 1965 and 1979 based on “Yearly Amount of Quantities by Commodities per Household” from “Annual Report on the Family Income and Expenditure Survey”. Results are as follows:
1) “Other non-glutinous rice” rather than “standard rice”, “tuna fish” and “yellowtail” rather than “horse mackerel” and “mackerel”, “superior grade sake” and “first grade sake” rather than “second grade” and “compounded sake” have come to be preferred. This is suggestive of the turn Japanese dietary life took for more expensive commodities. The increase in the amount of purchase for “fish, meat, vegetables, etc.” was also noted.
2) Against the increase of purchases of “beef”, “pork”, “chicken”, “other meats”, “bacon”, “fresh milk”, “cheese”, “lettuce”, “tomato”, “green pepper”, “cauliflower”, “beer”, “whiskey”, the purchase of rice decreased. As for seasonings and condiments, “edible oil”, “margarine”, “mayonnaise”, “ketchup”, “jam” and “curry powder” increased, but the purchase of “salt”, “soy sauce”, and “miso; soybean paste” decreased.
The above results suggest that the changes in the dietary life toward western things, in respect of raw materials (as indicated by the former) and in respect of seasonings (as indicated by the latter).
3) As a whole, the purchase quantity showed an increase pattern between 1965 and 1979, and a gradual increase after 1979.
