Selenium contents were determined fluorometrically in rice imported from the USA, China, Thailand and Australia, and domestic soybeans and soybeans imported from the USA, China, Brazil, Argentina and Canada. Except for rice imported from Australia, most imported rice contained less than 50ng/g selenium. Several imported soybean specimens contained more than 200ng/g selenium, whereas most of the domestic soybeans examined contained less than 100ng/g selenium. However, the IOM soybeans imported from Indiana, Ohio and Michigan in the USA, which is the major source of soybeans for food processing in Japan, showed a low selenium value similar to that of domestic soybeans; most of the soybeans with a high selenium content were used for oil production. These findings indicate that there is no difference in selenium content between imported and domestic rice, and suggest that most soybeans used for food processing in Japan contain less than 100ng/g selenium, irrespective of whether they are of domestic or foreign origin.