More than half of Japanese in their 20s prefer to eat rice for breakfast instead of bread, as they say it makes them feel full for a longer period, an online survey by the governing body of the nation’s agricultural cooperatives showed Saturday.

The poll, conducted in early June by the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives (JA-Zenchu), found that 50.6 percent of respondents in their 20s said they eat rice for breakfast, compared with 34.5 percent who eat bread.

In the overall survey covering those in their 20s to 60s, 49.8 percent opted for bread, 38.7 percent for rice and 4.4 percent for yogurt.

In groups aged 30 or over, bread eaters exceeded those who prefer rice. Among those in their 60s, nearly 60 percent said they choose bread over rice.

In the poll, which drew responses from 500 men and 500 women, rice eaters exceeded those who prefer bread among men, while bread eaters outnumbered those preferring rice among women.

As for the reasons for preferring bread or rice for breakfast, 91.5 percent said bread is “easy to eat,” and 62.2 percent said rice “produces a lasting sense of feeling full.” Multiple answers to the question were allowed.

Among rice eaters, 64.3 percent said they believe it is a nutritious diet, compared with 45.3 percent of bread eaters citing the same reason.

A JA-Zenchu official said rice is considered a balanced meal probably because many people eat it with miso soup and side dishes.

The survey also found that 69.2 percent of the respondents have breakfast every day, while 10.4 percent eat a morning meal less than once a week.