World's Best School Lunch ★ ONLY in JAPAN

Japan is the king of SCHOOL LUNCHES and in this episode, I find the answer to why -- while eating a lot of Japanese school food.

★ Watch the latest episode on Japanese Prison Food:

School lunches in Japan are world famous for being super healthy and delicious. With extremely low childhood obesity rates, many have turned to Japan for solutions to feed their school aged kids in the cafeteria. But that's part of the answer. Japanese elementary school kids don't even eat in a cafeteria. They eat in the classroom ー with the teacher.

It is not possible to eat inside a Japanese elementary school (if you're a tourist) but there is a place in Tokyo where you can try nearly everything. Japanese parents take their preschool kids here to try it as well as older people coming back for a taste of nostalgia.

This magical place is called KYUSHOKU TOBAN (給食当番 ) and it's a place where you can not only try some of Japan's regional school foods from all over the country, you can also do it in an elementary school classroom! The 2nd floor is a near exact replication.
If you've ever wanted to be an exchange student in Japan -- or return to 5th grade, here's your chance.

Unique Japanese School Lunch MENU Items:

★ AGEPAN: Fried baked bun covered in sugar and kinako (or other toppings like cinnamon or cocoa)

★ SOFTMEN: A special noodle served only in schools. It comes wrapped in plastic and should be dipped in meat sauce or stew.

★ WHALE: This was served in schools a long time ago because whale was more available and much cheaper than beef, chicken or pork. Today, it's no longer served in school but you can try some at izakayas around Tokyo and here at this restaurant. Whale is rarely eaten these days since the price of other fish and meats is significantly cheaper.

WHY ARE JAPANESE SCHOOL LUNCHES SO AMAZING?

The program is highly regulated with calorie intake and nutritional value set for each scheduled meal.
Ingredients are usually local and meals are prepared from scratch.
There are no cafeterias in Japanese elementary schools. (They exist in high schools.)
Kids eat their lunches in the classroom with the teacher. They learn about nutrition and food responsibility in a hands on setting.
Milk is served with every meal.
All students eat the same meal. If a student hates an item, they have to stay and finish it.
Parents pay monthly for the school lunches, about $40 to $60 a month.
The Japanese School Lunch program started in 1954. After World War 2, resources were scarce and the government tried to make sure every child had a balanced meal.

Before World War 2, kids brought their own bento. The usual school food back then was the NORIBEN, rice, bonito fish flakes and roasted seaweed on a metal lunch box. Milk was a luxury item and there were few vegetables.

Japanese to English Explaination:
KYUSHOKU = School Lunch
OISHI = Delicious
KIRAI = hate (something)
OKAWARI = a second helping / refill

URL:
KYUSHOKU TOBAN (給食当番 )
Open 11:30 to 14:00 / 18:00 to 23:00
Closed on Sundays

Special thank you to Misato from the Let's Play Japan channel &
Mr. Seiichi, my 96 year old neighbor.

Note: THIS VIDEO IS NOT CREATIVE COMMONS.
STANDARD YOUTUBE LICENSE. PERMISSION REQUIRED TO USE THIS VIDEO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
ONLY in JAPAN is a registered trademark.

Music Credit:

We at WAO-RYU! ONLY in JAPAN will continue to introduce the amazing Japanese food and tradition through the eyes of foreigners in high-quality documentaries.
Many great things about Japan, which even Japanese people didn't know are introduced
Thank you very much for your continuous support!

WAO-RYU! ONLY in JAPANでは外国人の視点でアメイジングな日本の歴史や食べ物などをハイクオリティーなドキュメンタリーで紹介し、
日本も知らない日本の魅力を伝えていきます。
みなさまの応援よろしくお願いします。

[hellohi]

A few days after you posted this video, I showed it to a class of fourth graders in the United States, and they loved it, especially seeing the differences between here and schools in Japan.
Keep those videos coming! They are wonderfully informative and provide an easy way to learn interesting things about Japanese culture.

[atiqahdiyana]

I love how John always sounds so happy and curious. his wonder and curiosity feels genuine and it bleeds of the screen. it's what makes his videos so interesting

[iqbalbara]

96 years old and he still remembrr crisp details from before war memories. and a food memories like wow. thats a one prime healthy old man . i give that man a big respect.

[akanne]

96 years old?!!! He looks and sounds like a 60 something American. That's Japanese Longevity at its finest and also a better diet and life style.

[dantestellarjr]

John: Are you’re schools the same way?

All of America: Literally dies of laughter

[kayden]

Your neighbor is a national treasure. Bless that man.

[WaoryuONLYinJAPAN]

I've added correct English subtitles :) I've gotten some requests to do it so other languages can be added much easier. (It also corrected the sad "bukakke" auto subtitle for "furikake")

[lukenuetzmann]

This show definitely needs more "Ask my Japanese Neighbor".

[drdeth]

Some studies show that prison food is healthier than school food

[gregord]

this makes American school lunches look like dog food.

[bizmarkie]

God bless Mr. Seiichi. I wish I can hear every story he has to tell from his lifetime experiences. 96 too? Dude looks too good to be 96. Wow, I wish we all had that longevity in our different cultures.

[alh]

The thumbnail the girl little girl looked mad that he stole her noodles 😂😂😂😂😂

[すごいこむぎこ]

I'm a Japanese junior high school student！My school the same lunch.Its very delicious😋
I'm not good at English sorry😢

[emilb]

Here in America you are served plastic vegetables

[zimz]

96 years old but he look like 65 max ..

[wendycook]

Japanese school lunches amaze me. The amount of respect that goes into it and then the students serving one another. Brilliant. Looks so good too. Quite a few posts on japanese school food. I absolutely love this channel. So much knowledge shared.

[Voltanaut]

96? Seriously? He looks 60.

I gotta get myself to Japan.

[waterquiche]

god the school lunch here in the U.S is absolutely disgusting. everything is extra salty and is frozen to preserve it, the fruits all of chemicals in them as well

[internationallyME]

Your neighbour seems like such a kind person, John ☺️

[skye]

kid: sorry, im vegan

teacher: *yOU wILL eAT*