The Kyushoku meal setup includes a container with a colorful abstract design, a bowl of vegetable soup, a bottle of milk with a sealed cap, and a pair of chopsticks featuring a checkered design, all neatly arranged on a gray surface.

Photo Gallery: Kyushoku, School Lunch In Japan (給食)

ByMac Hours
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Japan has granted me the opportunity to experience school lunch in a third country, on a third continent (depending on how you classify The Americas, that is).

Weekdays in Japan I eat lunch at one of two junior high schools – the Japanese know this lunch as kyushoku (給食).

I eat alongside Japanese students who are required to eat all of their lunch (literally, all of it), and drink a small bottle of milk (the penalty for not finishing your food is still a mystery, but my money is on a stern yelling at).

That being said, I too am expected to eat every last dried fish or mystery pickled vegetable on my plate(s).

I choose my lunches a month in advance (there are four options per day), and due to my poor Japanese, what I can expect for lunch is always a mystery (basically the same feeling you get when you order something at McDonald’s).

When I show up outside the lunchroom, 90% of the students will be in line for one of the lunch options – this is how I know whether or not I have chosen the correct lunch each day (I have yet to get a student to trade with me post-lunch-retrieval).

So what are the children of Japan (or more specifically the children of Fukui) being fed on a daily basis?

If you guessed, “Japanese food”, you aren’t racist, you’re correct!

See if you can figure out what everything (anything) is – I usually can’t (even after eating it), but that doesn’t mean it isn’t (sometimes) delicious.

  • The Kyushoku meal setup includes a container with a colorful abstract design, a bowl of vegetable soup, a bottle of milk with a sealed cap, and a pair of chopsticks featuring a checkered design, all neatly arranged on a gray surface.
  • The kyushoku tray features a bowl of rice sprinkled with furikake, a plate of cabbage salad and small fish, a bowl of miso soup, a cup of yogurt, and a bottle of milk.
  • A Kyushoku bento box showcases a fried patty, broccoli, salad, and cabbage. Accompanied by a bowl of mixed root vegetables and a bottle of milk, it sits elegantly with chopsticks on a gray surface.
  • On a Kyushoku tray, theres a bowl of ramen topped with minced meat, quail eggs, and vegetables. A small dish offers crispy tofu cubes. Its accompanied by a side of bean sprout salad, shredded carrots, a spoon, and a bottle of milk.
  • A kyushoku meal served on a tray with sections containing udon noodles, tempura, mixed vegetables, and tofu. Accompanied by a bowl of soup and a small bottle of milk. Set on a gray surface.
  • A Kyushoku meal on a tray includes a bowl of soup with peas, carrots, and shredded meat, accompanied by a wrapped bread roll and a divided plate featuring a green leafy side dish and mixed vegetable salad with cucumbers and carrots.
  • A meal on a gray table features a classic Kyushoku bento box with a fried patty, cooked vegetables, potato salad, corn, and shrimp. Accompanying it is a bowl of soup with greens and a bottle of milk with a blue cap. A pair of chopsticks rests above the bento box.
  • A Kyushoku tray features a bowl of noodle soup adorned with vegetables and meat, a side dish of grilled fish, sautéed veggies, a milk bottle, and a dessert plate with tofu and orange slices. Chopsticks rest beside the meal.
  • The Kyushoku meal tray features breaded food, vegetables, dark leafy greens, and two orange items in its four compartments. Accompanying it is a hearty bowl of soup with sausages and vegetables. Above the tray sits a bottle of milk and a set of purple-checkered chopsticks.
  • A Kyushoku meal includes a tray with a bottle of milk, two bowls of soup, a plate with crispy fish sticks, small fish, shredded cabbage, a cherry tomato, and a bowl of multigrain rice. Accompanied by chopsticks on the side.
  • A Kyushoku meal tray featuring a bottle of milk, a bowl of white rice, a vibrant vegetable side dish, crispy fried chicken, and a comforting bowl of soup with greens and tofu.
  • A Kyushoku meal tray featuring noodles with vegetables, cooked potatoes, stewed beef with cabbage, and sautéed greens sits ready to enjoy. Accompanying the tray is a comforting bowl of miso soup and a sealed bottle of milk.
  • A Kyushoku meal on a tray features a bowl of fried rice with vegetables, a partitioned plate with fried chicken, greens, and beans, alongside a vegetable soup and a bottle of milk. Chopsticks and a spoon accompany this classic school lunch experience.
  • A tray featuring a classic Kyushoku meal: hamburger steak with sauce, potato wedges, mixed vegetables, gratin, and pickled cabbage. Accompanied by a bowl of vegetable soup, a bottle of milk, and chopsticks on a gray surface.
  • The Kyushoku meal on a tray features a bowl of spaghetti topped with a savory meat and vegetable sauce, accompanied by a small bowl of carrot and cabbage soup, two side dishes of mixed vegetables, and a refreshing bottle of milk. A fork is placed neatly beside the plate.
  • A traditional Kyushoku school lunch tray includes a carton of milk, vegetable soup, and a bento box with spaghetti, a meat patty, breaded croquette, steamed broccoli, and a small portion of greens. Chopsticks are neatly placed above the tray.
  • A Kyushoku tray features a delightful meal: a bowl of soba noodles with chicken, accompanied by mixed vegetable tempura, a savory lotus root and vegetable stir-fry, a refreshing bowl of mixed fruit, and a bottle of milk.
  • A Kyushoku tray features sections of broccoli, carrots, cheese cubes, and small dried fish. It also includes a bowl of spaghetti with sauce and mini sausages. Completing the meal are a wrapped baguette and a small bottle of milk on the tray.
  • A traditional Kyushoku meal tray showcases a bottle of milk, a bowl of white rice, hearty soup, and a plate adorned with grilled chicken, vibrant cooked vegetables, a cherry tomato, and a side of mixed sautéed veggies.
  • A Kyushoku meal tray features a bowl of white rice, a medley of mixed vegetables and seaweed, a cherry tomato, and broccoli. Enjoy tofu and seaweed soup, accompanied by a bottle of milk and a cup of pudding. A wrapper is thoughtfully included.

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8 Comments

  1. I came here to learn to make some new Japanese dishes… but turns out maybe I could help clear up some food confusions! This is the first page of yours I stumbled upon so I’m going to assume you only spent a short time in Japan? Otherwise I’m a little scared as to what you are eating if you don’t know most of these ingredients…haha I thought your descriptions were hilarious but also I felt sad that you’re missing a great opportunity. And how to prepare some pretty outstanding meals at home! Unless your humor outwitted me, in which case I apologize! Haha.

    Here are a few ingredients you were confused on and for anyone curious!
    fried thing = croquettes
    green thing = spinach
    apple sauce = daikon (radish) soup
    purple thing = egg plant or sweet potato
    tiny hamburger = “hambagu” like a hamburger but it’s actually it’s own dish
    white thing = annin tofu (apricot dessert, not actually tofu)
    squishy thing = fish cake
    brown stringy stuff = burdock root
    pink and green stringy stuff = shredded ham and lettuce

    Reply

    1. Much appreciated! Most of this was in jest but there were legitimately some things I wasn’t sure of – again, appreciate you taking the time to sort me out :)

      Reply

  2. I lived in Japan for 4 years and love the food and like you have eaten many things to this day I do not know what it was. The only thing I really didn’t like ( I mean hate) was Natto. I’m sure you saw it, its that sticky fermented soy beans usually eaten at breakfast. Seriously worse thing I have ever tried to eat.

    Reply

    1. I share your feelings as far as natto is concerned. Fortunately, I have not found myself in many situations where I have needed to eat some.

      Reply

  4. The theme I see, reusable containers, food made fresh, limited processing, balanced meals that are not wasted. shh don’t tell americans their children are slowly being poisoned

    Reply

    1. The schools actually have nutritionists on staff. I am not entirely sure what they do, but to be fair, I am also not entirely sure what anyone at the school does (including me).

      Reply

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