Rice consumption day

The 18th of every month is rice consumption day 米食の日. This is a long-standing official Japan anniversary, created in 1978. The date was chosen because the 18th is made up of ten and eight which when written in Japanese and combined look like the kanji for rice.

The purpose of the anniversary is simple: to encourage more people to eat rice.  By having a day each month, it is a reminder to include rice in your diet. At the time that the anniversary was registered rice consumption was declining. The available statistics I have to hand show that rice consumption in 2022 was less than half what it was in 1962. But I would imagine that this past year saw a steep decline in rice consumption because of the absurd price hikes due to a shortage of rice. 

Rice is not only a food in Japan, it carries deep spiritual, cultural and even mythical ties too. Even if rice consumption is declining, rice is much loved and even celebrated in Japan. There are rice festivals and other rice related anniversaries in Japan too. Rice anniversaries include Omusubi (rice ball) day on January 17th and Onigiri Day on June 18th.