Key Facts
• November 7, 2025: Event held at Shikano Elementary School in Isen Town.
• 20 students participated, along with Mayor Masanori Ida and Education Director Junichiro Koda.
• Menu recreated from November 4, 1966: bread, chocolate cream, milk, chicken soup.
• Chicken soup used bone-in meat, replicating the original recipe.
• Isen School Lunch Center was established in 1965, serving 4,000 students by 1966.
• It was the first centralized lunch service on Tokunoshima Island.
• The center is set for reconstruction in two years due to aging facilities.
• Mayor Ida recalled powdered milk distribution during his school days.
• Education Director Koda credited school lunches for reducing food dislikes.
• Students described the meal as “delicious” and similar to modern lunches.
Summary
On November 7, 2025, Shikano Elementary School in Isen Town hosted a special event recreating a 60-year-old school lunch menu. The meal, originally served on November 4, 1966, included bread, chocolate cream, milk, and chicken soup made with bone-in meat. The event, attended by 20 students, Mayor Masanori Ida, and Education Director Junichiro Koda, celebrated the history of the Isen School Lunch Center, which began serving 4,000 students in 1966 as the first centralized lunch service on Tokunoshima Island. The center, now aging, is scheduled for reconstruction in two years. Mayor Ida and Director Koda shared nostalgic memories, while students praised the meal’s taste and similarity to modern lunches. The event aimed to reflect on the center’s legacy and foster appreciation for school lunches.
