The nutritional status of the Japanese has been measured and evaluated annually on a nationwide scale since the first National Nutrition Survey was carried out in 1946. Changes in dietary intake levels could thus be monitored systematically at a national level. According to the results observed, the whole 50 years of the postwar period can be divided into three stages in terms of dietary intakes and their postulated health outcome. Although it has certain limitations for the purpose of analysis the survey has performed a remarkable role in throwing light upon the general trends and current status of nutrition in Japanese populations and thereby enabling a successful nutritional policy to be established.