Doctors and specialists believe people should eat more traditional Japanese meals with rice as the main staple, to safeguard against lifestyle-related illnesses.
Speaking at a recent meeting at the Japan Medical Association hall, Toshiiye Sakata, a professor emeritus at Oita Medical University and a professor at Nakamura Gakuen University, said Japanese meals are useful for treatment and prevention of obesity.
"It has also become better known that chewing is important," he added.