Category: Culture and society

According to the World Health Organization, a healthy diet helps protect against malnutrition and noncommunicable diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. This critical function is just one facet of the multifaceted role food plays in life, extending far beyond simple sustenance to deeply impact our social, cultural, and psychological existence.

Japan has one of the highest life expectancies in the world, a fact often attributed to its traditional diet and eating habits. The Japanese eating philosophy, known as *washoku*, emphasizes balance, seasonality, and respect for food as central tenets to health and longevity.