Japan, as one of the largest importers of foods and agricultural products, is a big player in the world agricultural market. Over the last several decades, changes in the Japanese food consumption pattern have altered the food balance sheets in Japan. Japanese have been eating less rice but more meat, and these trends have important implications for predicting the future agricultural trade patterns between Japan and its trading partners. The present study represents one of the most comprehensive investigations on this topic, and provides timely information for assessing the future demand for food in this country.