Cross sectional comparison of food intake patterns and smoking and drinking habits with 1968 and 1987/88 in a 20-year follow-up study was carried out, in the Oki Islands, Shimane Prefecture, Japan. A total of 1, 140 males and 1, 694 females were randomly selected from the participants of the first survey (in 1968). The proportion of previous hypertension was signifi-cantly higher in the 397 inhabitants who died from stroke during the follow-up period than in 397 survivors matched for age and sex (p<0.01). Among males, the proportions of those who smoked and drank daily were significantly higher in the stroke death group than in the survivor group, in contrast, their daily consumption of eggs and milk were significantly lower (p<0.05).There were no differences in the daily intake of miso soup and pickles between the two groups in either sex. Previous hypertension and drinking were significant and independent risk factors for stroke in male. It is important for primary prevention of stroke to improve the 'salt-rich' diet of those who used added salt either while cooking or at the table, because they have unhealthy life style, smoking and drinking daily and not taking eggs, milk and fruits daily.