An agreement has been reached within Japan's Jiweikyo party to implement free school meals. This marks a significant step in the nation’s endeavor to alleviate the financial burden on households regarding educational expenses. The specifics of the implementation are yet undisclosed but assurances have been given that the initiative will be launched soon.

In Japan, the issue of unpaid school meals has proved an ongoing social concern. Currently, payment for school meals falls to families, which can often lead to disadvantaged students missing meals. Therefore, the decision to make school meals free is largely viewed as a progressive step towards improving social equality and enhancing children’s right to nutrition in the country.

The move towards providing free school meals is not unfamiliar in some parts of the global education policy landscape. In the United States, for example, there are several federal programs including the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program providing free or reduced-price meals to eligible students. Similarly, some EU countries have free meal programs on either a national or regional basis.