Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-07-20

SuCll ll1OTuaClQu ABOUT Japan Gnat
we are working in this country today.
1.-THE food supply in Japan both
now and in the future is complex
This is because the area suitable
for food production is small, ap-
proximately Is per cent of the total
area, and the food produced nor
mally is insufficient both qualita-
lively and quantitatively. On the
other hand, the population is in
creasing in Japan, both due to the
normal birth rate and to extensive
repatriation from China, Manchuria
and Korea. Food importations are
essential at the present time to pro-
vide minimum nutritional require
ments."
The final solution, in his opinion,
will require a further expansion of
agriculture and fisheries, and the
development of an economy that
will enable Japan to buy the neces-
sary supplementary food imports.
To do this will require the combined
planning and effort of all those con-
cerned with nutrition, not only
scientists, but agriculturalists, pro-
cessors of food, home economists,
educators and economists.
Macarthur Integrates Plan.
Gen. Macarthur has set up within
the supreme command for the Allied
Powers organizations which deal
with these problems and is succeed
ing in an outstanding way in max
ing the various agencies work to-
gether and integrate their activities,
according to Col. Howe.
Soon after the occupation began,
periodic nutrition surveys were pro-
vided for. These are being con-
Quoted every three months in both
rural and urban areas.
To date, nine of the large cities
in Japan and 81 of the procedures
have been covered in these surveys.
Each sample" totals about 175,000
people, each of whom is examined
The data. obtained in
cludes the individuals physical con-
dition and body weight and the kind
and AMOUNTS of food he has con-
sumed over a given period. 1T isn't
enough to know that malnutrition
is present, the thing is to make the
necessary adjustments to prevent it
before it occurs" Col. Howe de-
clared.
Aside from shortages of food in
general, Japan has the problem of
enough calcium and vita
min BE- or ribof1avin, which we get
from milk. Japan produces only a
very limited amount of milk, barely
enough for small babies and moth
ers. The calcium in the Japanese
diet comes from the fish bones in
fish and in considerable quantities
from leafy vegetables and sea weeds.
e-education to use unpublished rice
and other whole grain cereals is
Most of the schools in Japan's
cities now provide school lunches,
which should also prove an i'm
oortant factor in education for i'm
proved nutrition. The lunch pro-
gram constantly faces the problem
If obtaining food supplies. Some
.ood is grown in the school gardens.
Hospital Care an Objective.
"An improved ration for hospitals
Is we'll as improvement in feeding
in hospitals and institu-
ions is also one of our detectives,
Col. Howe wrote. cat present the
God served to most hospital pa
tents is provided by the family,
which brings it to the hospital, pre-
,ares and serves it. You can i'm
lgine the difficulties this involves!"
A National Food and Nutrition
Council composed of representatives
# the ministries and of the people |
lirectly under the Prime Minister
las been fostered. This is working
With the Japanese Economic Stabil-
zation Board. A National Nutri-
ion Institute to study the nutrition
of Japan has also been
Iurtured. Placed under the Minis
ry of Health and Social Affairs,
representatives. of agriculture and
God processing are included on the
ldvisory Board. Nutritionists are
mployed in the sanitary bureaus
f Japan's cities and procedures.
A nutrition section has been in !
in the Ministry of
[ealth, with orientation courses for
uhlic health officers and nutri-
Ionists about to begin in the Ma
lonal Institute of Public Health. !
'ol. Howe is hopeful for these set
laaaa1ca L. al liz |