Collaborating with investigators in Japan and Honolulu, Dr. Sekikawa investigated subclinical atherosclerosis among native Japanese, Japanese Americans, and Whites (ERA JUMP). The study found that (1) levels of subclinical atherosclerosis in native Japanese were lower than Americans despite similar profiles of risk factors and (2) Japanese Americans had worse levels of subclinical atherosclerosis than Whites. These observations directed Dr. Sekikawa to focus on Japanese diet.