The most interesting cuisine to learn is 'Japanese food' at 41.8%. 'Japanese food' is overwhelmingly the top choice!

Even though we eat it every day, let's learn about 'Japanese food' again

Have you ever seriously considered the Japanese food that appears on your daily dining table?

In recent years, with the help of recipe videos and cooking apps, anyone can easily learn cooking. Against this background, interest in 'food' is increasing more and more.

On the other hand, when it comes to seriously making Japanese food, you may encounter unexpected things you don't know, such as the amount of seasoning and how to use a knife.

Therefore, this time, in collaboration with the National Examination Exemption School designated by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, "Nishitokyo Culinary School," we conducted a survey of 500 men and women nationwide on "Interest in Food and Awareness of Cooking Education."

※When quoting the contents of this press release, please respond as follows.

・Indicate that the source is a survey conducted by "NEXER Group and Nishitokyo Culinary School."

・Link to Nishitokyo Culinary School (https://www.tanaka.ac.jp/cuisine/)

Survey Outline on "Interest in Food and Awareness of Cooking Education"

Survey Method: Internet survey

Survey Period: June 16, 2026 ~ June 22

Survey Target: Men and women nationwide

Valid Responses: 500 samples

Question Content:

Question 1: What cuisine are you particularly interested in regarding 'food'? (Multiple answers allowed)

Question 2: What cuisine do you often eat when dining out?

Question 3: What cuisine do you often eat or cook at home (home-cooked meals)?

Question 4: Please tell us the reason.

Question 5: Who or how did you mainly learn the cooking you are currently doing at home? (Multiple answers allowed)

Question 6: What do you think is the biggest difference between professional cooking and home cooking?

Question 7: Please tell us the reason.

Question 8: What cuisine do you want to learn?

Question 9: If you were to learn systematically from a professional, what kind of content would you like to learn? (Multiple answers allowed)

※Since we are rounding to the second decimal place, the total may not be 100%.

65.0% answered that the cuisine they are particularly interested in regarding 'food' is 'Japanese food'

First, we asked what cuisine you are particularly interested in regarding 'food'.

The most common answer was 'Japanese food' with 65.0%.

Next, 'Western food' was 47.8%, and 'Chinese food' was 47.2%, with the top three genres each receiving nearly half the support.

Japanese food, which is close at hand, captures the hearts of so many people.

Perhaps because it is a familiar dish, many people may think that they want to learn the basic cooking methods and seasoning again.

41.6% answered that the genre they often eat when dining out is 'Japanese food'

Next, we asked what cuisine you often eat when dining out.

The most common answer was 'Japanese food' with 41.6%.

Next, 'Western food' was 19.4%, and 'Chinese food' was 17.4%.

Japanese food was also the most common result when dining out.

On the other hand, Western and Chinese food also received some support, and it can be seen that when dining out, many people choose dishes that they have fewer opportunities to eat at home or genres that suit their mood at the time.

61.4% answered that the genre they often eat or cook at home is 'Japanese food'

Next, we asked what cuisine you often eat or cook at home (home-cooked meals).

The most common answer was 'Japanese food' with 61.4%.

Next, 'Western food' was 14.8%, and 'Chinese food' was 8.4%, showing that Japanese food is overwhelmingly chosen at the family table.

While 41.6% of those who mentioned Japanese food as a genre they often eat when dining out, this increased to 61.4% for home-cooked meals.

We asked about the reasons for each response, so we will introduce some of them.

Those who answered 'Japanese food'

・Because it is delicious with a familiar taste. (20s, male)

・Because Japanese home cooking is easy to make. (20s, female)

・Because it is good for the body and easy to digest. (30s, female)

Those who answered 'Western food'

・Because I love dishes like omelette rice. (20s, female)

・Because I don't make it at home very often. (30s, male)

・Because there are many dishes that children like, so there are many Western dishes. (30s, female)

Those who answered 'Chinese food'

・Because Chinese cuisine can be easily made in large quantities. (30s, male)

・Because I am not good at Japanese food, so I have many opportunities to make Chinese food that I like. (30s, female)

・Because I like Chinese food with chicken broth. (40s, male)

Those who chose Japanese food mentioned that they appreciate the familiar taste, ease of preparation, and gentleness on the body as reasons. The point that it can be easily incorporated into daily meals without difficulty may be one of the reasons why Japanese food is often chosen at home.

On the other hand, Western food is attractive because there are many dishes that children like and because you can enjoy menus that are not often made at home. Chinese food is supported because it can be easily made in large quantities at once and because you can easily enjoy your favorite flavors.

It turns out that in addition to taste preferences, factors such as ease of preparation, family preferences, and daily ease of eating also influence home meals.

26.0% answered that home cooking is learned through 'cooking sites and recipe apps'

Next, we asked who or how you mainly learned the cooking you are currently doing at home.

The most common answer was 'cooking sites and recipe apps' with 26.0%.

Next, 'mother' was 23.0%, 'self-taught' was 22.6%, and 'cooking books and recipe books' was 20.8%.

In the past, home cooking may have been strongly associated with learning from one's mother.

However, nowadays, people are increasing learning cooking through cooking sites, recipe apps, cooking books, and self-study.

In addition to inheriting from those around you, it seems that we are in an era where you can easily learn cooking in a way that suits your lifestyle and preferences.

33.0% answered that the biggest difference between professional and home cooking is 'seasoning'

Next, we asked what you think is the biggest difference between professional cooking and home cooking.

The most common answer was 'seasoning' with 33.0%.

Next, 'technique and cooking methods' was 24.6%, and 'effort and time' was 12.8%.

Rather than visual elements such as plating and appearance, many people seem to feel the difference between professional and home cooking in the taste when they actually put it in their mouths and the cooking techniques that produce it.

We asked about the reasons for each response, so we will introduce some of them.

Those who answered 'seasoning'

・Because it's different from my own taste. (20s, male)

・I felt that the depth of flavor was different from what I make at home. (30s, female)

・I think professionals know how to use ingredients. (40s, male)

Those who answered 'technique and cooking methods'

・I think there are various specialized techniques. (20s, female)

・Because they have systematically acquired specialized cooking techniques. (30s, male)

・Because I think that even with the same ingredients, different techniques will produce different results. (30s, female)

Those who answered 'effort and time'

・Cooking