Abstract: Food has the value of expressing collective consciousness and cultural identity. It can also be used as a judgment and explanation of “who I am”. From traditional Diligence Cuisine and Kaiseki Cuisine in the middle ages to the eclectic cuisine in modern times, military diet system in wartime, and modern “WesternJapaneseChinese” multiple cuisine, the Japanese diet system has been subject to the impact of conjunct moulding by driving forces such as national politics, knowledge and technology, imperialism and economic expansion. As a model of national cuisine, modern Japanese cuisine has inherited the core of food culture traditions in various historical periods since the middle ages. Japanese cuisine also become the basis and tool for identity by the discussion and guidance of industrial and cultural policies, and finally achieved the purpose of establishing collective consciousness and national identity internally and building the national brand and image externally.

Key words: diet, Japanese cuisine, culture, national identity