Abstract
This research aims at revealing how family mealtimes have influenced family relations and the present contentment by comparing Japan and China. This paper is based on the sur vey of university students in both countries and clarifies that Japanese and Chinese have different notions about family mealtimes. First, Japanese students enjoy food served and Chinese students relish sharing a meal with their family and friends. That is, Japanese students evaluate family mealtimes by the contents of the meal. Conversely, Chinese students give importance to communication with others by having meal together. Secondly, it is assumed that a good conversational exchange within the family unit during junior high school time leads to future contentment and good family relationships Japanese and Chinese.
Japanese tend to give importance to the contents of the meal, but a conversational exchange in family mealtimes during junior high school time needs to be more evaluated as the key to the future contentment and good family relationships.
