Breakfast a dying habit for nation of snackers

Some of the most memorable scenes in TV dramas whose scripts were written by the late Kuniko Mukoda (1929-1981) were set around the family dining table. In fact, Mukoda used this setting so often that her works were jokingly dubbed "mealtime dramas."

In "Mukoda Kuniko Zen Taidan" (Complete collection of conversations with Kuniko Mukoda), a book from Bungeishunju Ltd., she is quoted as saying, "If I can visualize exactly what the family eats for breakfast and then for dinner, I know the drama is going to be a success."

Are the tsukemono pickles home-made or store-bought? Once this sort of detail has been resolved for the fictional family, I imagine writing the lines for each of the characters should be a breeze. Come to think of it, I can say from my own experience that the subject of conversation at breakfast is often determined by what's on the table--coffee and toast, or the traditional Japanese fare of rice and miso soup.

The "three meals a day" pattern, which was integral to Mukoda's dramas, is said to be disappearing today. One out of four women in their 20s and 30 percent of men in their 30s are skipping breakfast. And people who make no distinction between snacking and eating a square meal are apparently on the rise. Whenever they feel hungry, they simply grab whatever is at hand.

The vernacular Asahi Shimbun recently ran a story about universities that are battling this worrisome trend by making their students get into the habit of eating breakfast. One university gives morning nutrition lectures where students can eat breakfast in the class. Some may roll their eyes at this sort of excessive pampering, but if universities are going to such lengths, then the issue is obviously not a trivial one.

Eating three meals a day is a recent development for humans. Whether it is really healthy is still debatable, according to nutrition experts. Even so, breakfast is important because it enables us to set the right rhythm for the day. It is also widely agreed that it activates the "wake-up switch" for mind and body.

In the above-mentioned book of Mukoda's interviews, the screenwriter recounts a real-life episode between two members of the cast of her popular "Terauchi Kantaro Ikka" series. Asei Kobayashi in the lead role scolded Hideki Saijo, who played his son, for his love of cup noodles. "For heaven's sake, eat something more substantial!" Kobayashi bellowed, according to Mukoda.

It makes me nostalgic to recall the booming voice of this crusty and lovable TV character. It is as if he is rebuking a whole generation of erratic eaters.

--The Asahi Shimbun, June 8(IHT/Asahi: June 9,2009)