World Food Day in Japan

Today, and October 16th annually, is World Food Day 世界食料デー. Many of the international anniversaries are not registered with the Japan Anniversary Association, but this one is.  Possibly because in Japan, the observance has developed its own distinctive focus.

Since 2008, October has been promoted as World Food Day Month, with Japanese NGOs, NPOs, and United Nations agencies working together to raise awareness of hunger and food-related challenges around the world. Throughout the month, organizations hold events, exhibitions, symposiums, and educational campaigns that encourage people to learn about global food issues and consider ways they can contribute to solutions

The photo above shows a Japanese school lunch from 1942, during World War II. I took it at a School Lunch Museum and felt it was particularly fitting for a post about World Food Day. The commemoration is organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which was founded in 1945, when many countries around the world were still experiencing food shortages in the aftermath of the war. Looking at this simple school meal serves as a reminder of how important reliable access to food has been throughout history, both in Japan and globally.