Although it is not yet widely known in Japan, the word "vegan" has recently become more common. It may seem like a distant concept to Japanese people, but in Europe and the United States, it has become widely accepted as a dietary option.
Vegans have different opinions, and some start a vegan diet out of animal welfare or ethical considerations.
Whether or not one agrees with the idea of vegetarianism is a matter of personal choice, but it is not a loss in our lives to be aware of the "diversity of dietary habits."
This time, we will explain in detail the definition and motivations of vegans.
What is veganism?
Many people have a vague idea that vegans are people who follow a vegetarian diet, but few people know the exact definition of vegans or the types of foods they actually eat.
From here, we will explain the basic definition of veganism, its diet, and the differences between vegans and vegetarians.
Vegan means a strict vegetarian
Vegans are people who completely avoid eating any animal products, including eggs and dairy products.
The word vegan was coined in 1944 by Donald Watson of the Leicester Vegetarian Society in the UK.
There is still a UK-based Vegan Society that sets the definition of veganism.
There are various theories about the term vegan, but it is actually a shortened form of "vegetarian."
"Vegetarian" became "Veg-an," and the term vegan was created.
Vegan diet
Vegans often follow a plant-based diet, avoiding meat dishes altogether and replacing hamburgers with tofu hamburgers.
Vegans often replace meat-based dishes with plant-based ingredients. Vegans know the foods they should avoid, so they avoid them when eating.
This is fine if you're cooking at home, but it can be a bit of a hassle when eating out. Vegan culture is not yet widespread in Japan, so there are not many restaurants that offer vegan meals.
Therefore, when eating out, it can be difficult to search and find restaurants that serve vegan food.
The difference between vegans and vegetarians
Vegans and vegetarians differ in the foods they eat.
Vegetarians are considered to be the same vegetarian as vegans, but there are differences between what vegetarians and vegans eat, as outlined below.
| Categories | meat | fish | egg | milk | honey |
| vegetarian | × | × | ○ | ○ | ○ |
| vegan | × | × | × | × | × |
Vegetarians do not eat processed animal products such as meat or fish, but they can eat animal products such as eggs and milk.
On the other hand, vegans don't eat those either, and it's well known that they don't eat honey extracted from bees.
Simply put, vegetarians do not eat animal meat, while vegans do not eat any animal-derived products.
3 reasons why people choose to go vegan
So, what are the reasons why people who follow a vegan diet choose to go vegan?
There are three main reasons for becoming vegan:
- Health Benefits
- Improving the global environment
- Part of animal welfare
Here we will take a closer look at the benefits of going vegan.
Health Benefits (Dietary/Vegan)
There are people called dietary vegans who choose to live a vegan lifestyle for health reasons. Dietary vegans are generally concerned about the negative effects of animal products on the body.
Eliminating animal products is thought to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and dying from cancer.
There have also been reports of side effects related to antibiotics and hormones used in livestock farming.
For these reasons, many people choose to live a vegan lifestyle to improve their health and reduce their risk of disease.
Improving the Earth's Environment (Environmental Vegan)
Next, there are environmental vegans who care about the environment, and some people have chosen a vegan lifestyle in order to protect the environment.
The United Nations Environment Programme has found that producing animal-based foods requires more resources than a plant-based diet.
The livestock industry also contributes 65% of the world's total nitrous oxide emissions, 35-40% of total methane emissions, and 9% of carbon dioxide emissions.
Additionally, livestock farming requires a huge amount of water, more than growing grain, and many people choose to live vegan because of concerns about the damage it causes to the earth.
Part of animal welfare (ethical vegan)
Finally, there are ethical vegans who are vegans for animal welfare reasons. Ethical vegans have a strong desire to protect animals, not only in terms of food but also in terms of fashion and cosmetics.
For example, she absolutely refuses to wear leather or wool fashion and is adamant about purchasing any animal products.
In Japan's fur industry, animals such as foxes and rabbits are sacrificed.
Vegans who are ethically motivated avoid animal products in addition to food in order to protect animals.
Vegan popularity is growing worldwide
Vegans don't eat animal products for a variety of reasons, and the number of vegans is increasing worldwide.
In particular, Europe is the birthplace of veganism, so there are a lot of vegans there.
- America
- Germany
- England
We will explain these three countries in detail.
Vegan population soars in America
Vegetarians and vegans make up around 5% of the total population in the United States. According to a survey conducted by Vegewel, vegetarians and vegans make up 5.7% of the total population.
The percentage of vegans in Japan and the United States is the same, but because of the difference in population, there are more vegans in the United States.
In 2009, only about 1% of Americans followed a vegan diet, but by 2017, that number had risen to around 6%.
In the United States, many young people are starting to eat vegan or vegetarian foods, with roughly half of vegetarians under the age of 35.
America has a strong image of eating junk food and meat dishes, but the number of vegetarians is gradually increasing, and as time goes by, it is expected that more and more people will choose to be vegan.
2nd Japanese Vegetarian, Vegan, and Flexitarian Population Survey by Vegewel
Germany is about 10% of the total population
Berlin, Germany, is known as one of the cities in Europe with the most vegans. Statistics show that one in ten people in Germany is vegetarian, and the number of vegans is on the rise.
When you think of Germany, you may imagine a lot of junky food like sausages, beer, and potatoes, but there are many people, especially women and young people, who advocate vegetarianism.
This growing trend is being driven by the existence of "vegetarian products." In Germany, vegetarian products aimed at vegetarians and vegans are being sold.
In 2019, the company recorded sales of approximately 1.2 billion euros, and sales are increasing year by year.
Germany also has a high interest in food, with a food self-sufficiency rate close to 100% and being a leader in organic farming.
The increasing number of vegetarians and vegans may be due to the Japanese people's strong interest in food.
Vegan food is sold at convenience stores, making it easy to live a vegan lifestyle, so if you're interested in veganism, it might be worth visiting Germany to see for yourself.
Vegetarianism is on the rise in Britain
The number of vegans is also increasing in the UK, the birthplace of veganism. Many people in the UK choose to be vegan because of their high interest in "ethical consumption" that takes the environment and society into consideration.
The sandwich chain Pret a Manger has sparked the popularity of vegans in the UK.
When Pret a Manger made all of its products meat-free for one month, it recorded a 70% increase in sales compared to the previous year within two weeks.
As a result, they added more vegan-friendly stores and quickly became a popular chain.
Furthermore, food products across the UK are now labeled with a sticker indicating that they are suitable for vegans and vegetarians. There are also many vegan restaurants, making the UK an easy place for vegans to live.
Even in Japan, where there are few vegans, if an environment that accepts food diversity is created, the vegan population will likely increase.
Living a vegan life for a healthy body and mind
This time, we explained about vegans, starting with their definition, categorization, and the number of vegans in the world.
Vegans are people who eat only vegetarian food, and many of them choose to live a vegetarian lifestyle for animal welfare or ethical reasons.
The number of vegans is increasing worldwide, and veganism is becoming increasingly popular, especially in Europe.
Increasing the proportion of plant-based foods in our daily diet will likely have a positive impact on our health and have a positive impact on our lives.