Encouraging National Consumption and Production

Today, and October 16th annually, is National Consumption and Production Day 国消国産の日 (Kokushokokusan no Hi) in Japan. The commemoration was established by the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives (JA-Zenchu). The date was chosen to coincide with World Food Day, an international observance also marked in Japan.

The objective of the day is not only to get more people thinking about food-related issues, but also to encourage and promote national consumption and production. In Japanese the word is "kokushokokusan" and it expresses the idea that the food people consume should, whenever possible, be produced within their own country. Japan has a comparatively low food self-sufficiency rate, in part influenced by an ageing farming population and abandoned farmland. 

For consumers, National Consumption and Production Day serves as a reminder that everyday food choices can have a wider impact. Purchasing Japanese-grown produce helps support local farming communities, contributes to the future of domestic food production, and aligns with broader sustainability goals.