Taskforce

Japan

Member since

January 2022

Japan continues to advance its school meal commitments through international cooperation, technical assistance, support for school meals programmes, and the promotion of Shokuiku (food and nutrition education). By sharing its experience in school meal policy and implementation, Japan helps strengthen nutritious and sustainable school meal systems globally, while supporting countries through partnerships, knowledge exchange and financing.

9.26 Million

Total children receiving school meals

6.31 Million

Children enrolled in primary school

Figures reflect the latest available data from the State of School Feeding Worldwide report, national reporting and global sources. Governments may update data more frequently, so values may differ from most recent national statistics. Reference year, source and further details are available in the School Meals Coalition Global Database.

Read about our data

National Commitments

Commitment submitted on
April 2022
Declaration signed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

• Share insights into Japan's advanced school lunch system, promotion of food education and initiatives of the private sector relevant to school lunches according to the interest of partner countries.
• Contribute, through bilateral assistance in the field of school lunches, to the capacity building and human resource development of developing countries for the implementation of school lunch systems, the promotion of home-grown school lunches, and the introduction of food education.
• Contribute to the school feeding programmes of WFP, supporting the children that have lost access to school meals during the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuring that children are able to meet basic nutritional needs in times of emergency.
• Enhance the international attention on school lunches by advocating for the importance of school lunches, nutrition and health at global forums.
• Promote school lunch and "Shokuiku" in Japan, with an emphasis on nutritionally balanced school lunches, advancing further use of local produce in school lunches and implementing "Shokuiku" throughout school education activities based on relevant regulations such as the School Lunch Program Act.

Download Commitment

National Progress Reports

Reporting year

Programme Design and Coverage

Japan continues to strengthen the quality of its school meal system through national nutrition standards, the promotion of locally sourced foods, dedicated support for food and nutrition education, and the integration of Shokuiku (food and nutrition education) into school learning and school meals programmes.

Financing

Through its partnership with the World Food Programme, Japan has supported school meals programmes in Africa and Asia, including in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Timor-Leste, helping address child malnutrition and improve access to education.

Advocacy and Partnerships

Japan has supported the implementation and improvement of school meals programmes through technical cooperation, training and knowledge exchange with countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Burkina Faso and Kenya. Japan has also promoted Shokuiku through international cooperation initiatives and high-profile global events, including the Osaka Kansai Expo 2025, Prince Mahidol Award Conference (PMAC) 2026 and the Africa Day of School Feeding 2026.

Data and Evidence

Japan continues to share expertise on school meal policy, institutional design, operational management and Shokuiku through training programmes and technical cooperation projects involving governments from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Ukraine and Mongolia.

Next steps

Japan continues to share its advanced school lunch systems with partner countries in accordance with their interest and contributes to their school meals programmes where possible.

Download report PDF • 1.5 MB

View all countries and languages