Japan: food temperature rules

“Law” is a binding rule. “Official guidance” is not law, but inspectors expect it. “Chef Hygiene default” is a value the app checks against where no rule gives a number.

• LawSince 1 June 2021 every restaurant, whatever its size, writes a hygiene plan "based on HACCP thinking" (HACCPの考え方を取り入れた衛生管理), makes staff know it, records and keeps how hygiene was done, and reviews the plan (Enforcement Regulation, Art 66-2). Most follow an industry handbook (手引書) that MHLW lists.
• LawFridge 10°C or colder and freezer −15°C or colder are the legal storage standards for listed foods (such as meat at 10°C and frozen foods at −15°C), and the daily check in MHLW's listed handbook. Fridges, freezers and heating equipment have thermometers. Chef Hygiene aims for 5°C and −18°C as good practice, not the law.
• Official guidanceMHLW's guidance (its Mass-Cooking Facility Hygiene Manual): cook to a core of 75°C for at least 1 minute (bivalves such as oysters 85–90°C for 90 seconds), keep cooked food at 65°C or hotter (or 10°C or colder), cool it to about 20°C within 30 minutes or about 10°C within 60 minutes, and eat it within 2 hours of cooking.
• Official guidanceNo official reheating temperature: the small-restaurant handbook judges reheating by bubbling, look and temperature. Chef Hygiene uses 75°C only as a probe guide.
• Chef Hygiene defaultChef Hygiene asks for fridge checks at opening and closing. That is our choice: the handbook's daily sheet is filled in at the end of the day.