Category: Japanese history

Though meat consumption in Japanese households surpassed fresh fish for the first time only in 2007, the long-standing misconception that the Japanese historically never ate meat is not entirely accurate. This question arises from a centuries-long period when meat was taboo, driven by religious and pragmatic factors that dramatically shaped the nation's culinary landscape.

For over a thousand years, Japan had an official ban on eating meat, a powerful social and religious influence that affected diets across the country. This long-standing tradition is a core reason why ninjas did not eat meat, but their rationale went far beyond simple social customs, incorporating tactical and health considerations essential for their covert work.