Migratory history as a factor influencing dietary habit.

A traditional concept of staple food is present in the dietary habits of Japanese, and the prominent role of rice as a staple food has changed since the end of World War II. The influence of migration on staple food patterns was studied using Hayashi's method of multivariate analysis for the quantification of qualitative data. The result of the study suggested that migration clearly influences the choice of a staple food, and that the influence of migration is more conspicuous in comparatively younger generations.