Takatsuki City, First in Hokusetsu Region to Achieve Permanent Free School Lunches for 9 Years of Compulsory Education, Begins Lunch Service Today

Takatsuki City has permanently abolished school lunch fees for junior high schools since fiscal year 2022 and for elementary schools since fiscal year 2023, aiming to reduce the burden on child-rearing households. This makes it the first city in the Hokusetsu region to achieve permanent free school lunches for all nine years of compulsory education. On Friday, April 10, 2026, school lunches began at municipal elementary and junior high schools, and scenes of children happily enjoying their meals spread. While the national government will implement "drastic reduction of school lunch fees (so-called free school lunches)" for public elementary schools starting April 2026, Takatsuki City has proactively implemented free school lunches as a unique city support measure, with the aim of supporting child-rearing and daily life. The city permanently abolished school lunch fees for municipal junior high schools in fiscal year 2022 and for municipal elementary schools in fiscal year 2023, becoming the first in the Hokusetsu region to achieve permanent free school lunches for nine years of municipal elementary and junior high school. The city has thus focused on initiatives to reduce household financial burdens for child-rearing households ahead of the national government. Friday, April 10, 2026, was the first day of school lunches for the 2026 academic year at all municipal elementary and junior high schools. After the spring break, children eagerly awaited their long-awaited school lunch, which included bread, milk, pork and macaroni in tomato stew, and diced sautéed vegetables. In a classroom at Municipal Daiichi Junior High School, children efficiently completed serving their meals when lunchtime arrived, and cheerfully said "Itadakimasu" (Let's eat), enjoying their school lunch with smiles. [Overview of Permanent Free Junior High School Lunches, a Unique City Initiative] ・Number of municipal junior high school students (as of April 2026): 7786 students ・Burden reduction per student due to free lunches: 1 meal unit price (360 yen) × estimated annual school lunch implementation count (196 times) = 70560 yen