This study aimed to measure and evaluate the intakes for the four trace elements of Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu in 3- to 5-y-old Japanese preschool children. The study group consisted of a total of 90 3- to 5-y-old children living in Yokkaichi, Mie, Japan. Diet samples were collected by the duplicate-portion technique on 3 d at three different seasons between summer in 1999 and winter in 2000. The medians of annual mean daily intakes (25th-75th percentile) of Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu in the 3- to 5-y-old children were 3.1 mg (2.4 to 3.6), 4.0 mg (3.4 to 4.7), 1.3 mg (1.1 to 1.6), and 0.45 mg (0.35 to 0.56), respectively. The annual mean value of the total daily diet intake had significant correlations with the Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu intakes (Spearman's r=0.55, 0.67, 0.58, and 0.55, respectively; p<0.001 for all). There were significant correlations between each mineral intake. The Zn and Mn intakes had differences among ages (p=0.003 and 0.005, respectively) and the Zn intake significantly differed between boys and girls (p=0.031). The proportion of subjects whose Mn intake was the AI or less was 82%, and the proportions of subjects whose Fe, Zn, and Cu intakes were the estimated average requirements (EARs) or less were 72, 83, and 13%, respectively. Many Japanese children are deficient in Fe and Zn compared with the dietary reference intakes (DRIs). However, data in a balance study examining intakes and excretion of trace minerals are insufficient in children and DRIs for trace elements may change in future.