Japanese Diet Can Reduce Risk Of Depression In Productive Age, Here's The Explanation

A new study from the Japan Institute for Health Security has found that a traditional Japanese diet may help lower levels of depressive symptoms, especially among people of working age. 

The study is the first to highlight the positive effects of a Japanese diet on mental health. 

The menu in question includes rice, miso soup, fish, seaweed, mushrooms, cooked vegetables, soy products, and green tea. The study also assessed a modified version of the diet, with additions such as fruit, fresh vegetables, and dairy products. 

While research on the effects of the Japanese diet on mental health is still relatively limited, the findings are in line with previous studies on the Mediterranean diet—known to be rich in vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, and fish—which has also been linked to a lower risk of depression. 

"Further research is needed. However, we hope that these findings can serve as a basis for developing public health policies, especially in the workplace and in efforts to prevent depression," the institute wrote in its official release, quoted from Kyodo, Saturday (6/28/2025). 

Study Involves Thousands of Workers, Mostly Male 

This research involved 12,499 employees from five companies, with the majority of respondents being male (88 percent) and an average age of 42.5 years. The results showed that 30.9 percent of participants experienced symptoms of depression. 

However, those who adopted a typical Japanese diet tended to have lower levels of depressive symptoms than other participants. 

The researchers also made adjustments to isolate other factors that might affect the results, such as lifestyle or work conditions. 

According to the institution, several components of the Japanese diet play a direct role in supporting mental health. For example: 

Seaweed and vegetables rich in folate help the production of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. 

Soy products such as tofu and miso also have similar benefits. 

While fatty fish rich in omega-3 are known to have anti-inflammatory effects that support brain function and mood. 

With these results, the traditional Japanese diet not only supports physical health, but also has the potential to maintain mental balance, especially in productive ages. 

Tag: Japanese Diet Mental Health Mushrooms Seaweed