The Japanese eat less than Americans but use more of their income to buy food, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. They enjoy fresh, high quality ingredients from fish to veggies, and they're willing to pay premium prices for specialty foods such as Wagyu beef, a heavily marbled meat that can cost around $100 a pound.
Rice
The Japanese diet includes many kinds of rice, according to Savory Japan. Polished, or refined rice, is the most common, especially for use in sushi. The refining process removes its germ and outer bran, but this rice still contains 8 percent protein. Brown, or unrefined rice, is becoming more popular because it's packed with fiber, vitamins and minerals. It has a nuttier taste than traditional white rice. You can also find a half-polished rice that still has its germ but not its bran---and it provides more nutrients than white rice, but is similar in taste.
Fish
Fish, another staple in the Japanese diet, is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. The Mayo Clinic reports omega-3 not only reduces your risk for heart disease, but also may lower blood pressure, build your immune system and reduce arthritis pain. Fatty fish such as salmon and tuna are particularly rich in omega-3. They're popular in many Japanese dishes such as sashimi and maki.
Vegetables
Japanese vegetables are full of flavor, texture and nutrition, according to the Japanese American National Museum. Gingko nuts provide vitamin C and carotene; the crunchy burdock root is rich in minerals; kabocha, the sweet Japanese pumpkin, is loaded with vitamin A. Other common vegetables include Japanese cucumbers, eggplant, lotus root and mushrooms. Sea vegetables are popular, too---and they contain a trove of nutrients, according to World's Healthiest Foods. They're rich in iodine, vitamin K and magnesium, and contain lignans, plant compounds that lower your risk of cancer. Kombu is a type of seaweed used to create dashi, the stock used for many Japanese soups and sauces. Wakame is another type of vegetable often served pickled or used in soups.
Soy Products
Soy is a powerhouse of health benefits, according to World's Healthiest Foods. It helps regulate your blood pressure and sugar and may lower your risk of colon, prostate and breast cancer. The Japanese diet includes many soy products such as tofu, or bean curd. It's prepared in dozens of ways from hiyayakko which is cold tofu with garnishes, to agedashi tofu which is fried tofu with dashi-based sauce.
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