A Taste of Japan

Going back home is becoming more and more of a rare occurrence these days. What with school and work, taking a break and visiting the fam seems to get harder and harder to do. 

But when I do get that chance, oh boy is it glorious. It’s around dinnertime when I arrive back home, after a tiring four-hour drive.  I ring the doorbell and I’m first greeted by my little puppy, and then my brother, and then my mother and father. But the warmest greeting of all is the all too familiar smell of my mother’s cooking that wafts through the front door welcoming back to this little oasis of mine. 

It’s around dinnertime when I arrive back home, after a tiring four-hour drive.  I ring the doorbell and I’m first greeted by my little puppy, and then my brother, and then
my mother and father. But the warmest greeting of all is the all too familiar smell of my mother’s cooking that wafts through the front door welcoming back to this little oasis of mine. 
I was raised in a Japanese household where my mom cooked for my brother and I every night. Every night we got something out of her vast recipe book. From tonkatsu to oyakodons we were spoiled with all the flavors of Japan. Cooking, for my mother, isn’t just another chore. It’s fun, it’s relaxing, it’s a way of life.

My mom worked as a freelance interpreter, and still is. But that kept her busy a lot of the times and she often came back home late. And many times, she would send me a list of groceries to get so that she could simply cook our dinner when she got home. Shopping was boring and took a lot of time…but I was glad to do it if it meant getting to taste whatever she decided to make that night. From a very young age, she would let me help her cook too! Looking up at her as I breaded the pork and watching her work her magic is something I will never forget. This type of bonding experience is something that is irreplaceable. 

I am so thankful to her for raising me up in that type of household. Every time I fry up some panko breaded pork butts, or cook salted pike, I dream about the times in our cozy kitchen and hope that some day, I can help everyone enjoy the magic of cooking. 

My best regards,
Yuni