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Salzburg Global Fellow Rina Komiya advocates for Japanese schools offering meal options that foster inclusive learning environments
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This op-ed was written by Rina Komiya, a Salzburg Global Fellow of the second cohort of the Japan-India Transformative Technology Network.
In Japan, where formal religious classes are absent, understanding diverse practices and beliefs presents a challenge for educators and students alike. This absence of religious education exacerbates the difficulty in accommodating dietary restrictions within the public school system.
School lunches in Japan have a history of being introduced for poverty alleviation and nutritional purposes, providing nutritious food at inexpensive prices. All pupils in Japan consume the same set of food at the same time in each classroom. School lunch programs in Japan are highly regarded for their nutrition planning and education. However, Japan's public school lunch system faces a challenge. The system, which offers the same menu to all students in each classroom simultaneously, encounters hurdles when some students, often referred to as "food minorities," cannot partake in the communal meal.
Among these students are children from the Muslim community, whose dietary requirements, deeply rooted in religious beliefs, call for a genuinely inclusive school lunch experience. However, Japanese public school lunches often include ingredients such as pork, pork-based seasonings, and alcohol like mirin and sake, which are incompatible with Islamic dietary laws. The dual nature of school lunches, serving as both creating a communal spirit through commensality and exclusionary spaces by excluding those who cannot share the same food, becomes apparent as Muslim children are often compelled to bring their own meals, disrupting the spirit of communal dining.
Despite commendable efforts to address allergies, including the formulation of the 2015 Guidelines for Food Allergies in School Lunches after the tragic death of a pupil with an allergy in 2012, a noticeable gap persists in meeting the needs of Muslim pupils within Japan's public school lunch system. The absence of standardized guidelines tailored to accommodate religious dietary requirements places undue pressure on individual schools, leaving Muslim children to bring meals from home.
Current solutions within the Muslim community offer individual remedies, such as mothers preparing lunch boxes daily. However, they fall short of addressing the public nature of school lunches. All pupils have the constitutional right to access school lunches without discrimination. Despite the prevailing notion in Japan that religious food restrictions are less critical than allergies, religious teachings, including dietary restrictions, hold significant importance in the daily lives and identities of many individuals. Broadening the discourse beyond mere nutrition is essential, emphasizing the imperative to accommodate diverse religious practices within public school meal frameworks.
According to a Sisa Weekly article from November 2020, the Human Rights Commission of Korea is considering alternative meal options for Muslim children. Taking inspiration from South Korea's positive example, Japan should explore similar inclusive approaches.
With Japan's Muslim population projected to grow, fostering a diverse and multicultural society is imperative. Schools and society at large must engage in open discussions on accommodating the needs of children from various backgrounds.
As research progresses, it becomes increasingly clear that Japan stands at a pivotal juncture. The rising Muslim population signals a pressing need for proactive measures to ensure that schools are adequately equipped to embrace this cultural diversity. It's not just about adjusting menus but creating an environment where every child feels a genuine sense of belonging.
The disparity between the Japanese government's focus on the halal industry for international markets and its seeming disregard for the daily challenges faced by Muslim immigrants within Japan has prompted the investigation.
School lunches serve as a vital space for fostering bonds and understanding among peers, and they must be inclusive of all dietary needs and cultural backgrounds. With thoughtful consideration and proactive measures, Japan can lead the way in nurturing a truly inclusive educational environment for all its students.
Rina Komiya is a human rights researcher specializing in refugees and immigrants. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. program, she conducts several research projects, including studies on school meals and the Rohingya community in Japan. With a focus on promoting inclusivity and understanding cultural diversity, Rina's work aims to address the challenges faced by marginalized populations and advocate for their rights within the Japanese context.