Japan discards approximately 18 million tonnes of food annually, an amount that accounts for 40 percent of national food production. Although food loss and waste problems have been publicly acknowledged only very recently, strong implications arise from the economic and cultural history of the Japanese food system. Specific national concerns over food security have been accompanying the formulation of current national strategies, whose underlying causes and objectives adds a unique facet to Japan’s efforts with respect to other countries’ approaches. The motivation to fight food loss and waste in Japan does not merely have to do with reducing costs for both consumers and producers, with concerns for the global environment or solidarity with underdeveloped nations. It is in fact discernible a strong streak of nationalism, autarky and opposition to globalization.

Read the M.A. final dissertation by Federica Marra published on the Volume 1, Spring 2014, of the Innovative Research in Japanese Studies (IAJS Grads journal).

Federica Marra is an intern for the Global Initiative on Food Loss and Waste Reduction (SAVE FOOD) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).