米こめ離ばなれ

noun

shift away from rice consumption; declining interest in eating rice

Refers to the trend, especially among younger Japanese, of eating less rice as dietary habits diversify. Often used in discussions of agriculture, food culture, or health.

• 若わか者ものの米こめ離ばなれが進すすんで、コメの消しょう費ひ量りょうが減へっている。

  As young people shift away from rice, rice consumption is declining.

• 米こめ離ばなれの原げん因いんとして、パンや麺めん類るいの普ふ及きゅうが挙あげられる。

  One cause of the shift away from rice is the spread of bread and noodles.