A day for Miso

Miso Day (みその日) falls on the 30th of every month. The anniversary was created by the National Federation of Miso Manufacturers’ Cooperative Associations in 1982 to boost miso consumption as Western‑style eating and dining grew.

The group chose the date because Japanese reads “30th” as misoka, a word that echoes miso and is linked to an old tradition called "misoka" which fell on the end of each month, but the last day of January was the most significant "misoka". It was tradition to eat miso on the last day of the month.

The federation continues to promote miso culture, gathering scientific data on its health benefits, developing recipes, and sharing regional miso histories through the Miso Health Promotion Committee. Their website offers extensive resources, including a nationwide miso‑brewery map and a digital miso museum. In February, because there is no “30th”, some places mark the day on the last day of the month.