Family

Family

The Art of Balance: Juggling Work and Family in Japan

Introduction  If you had asked me ten years ago what I’d be doing today, I might have said something vague like “raising...
Business

The Kitchen Economist: Reading Japan’s Economy Through Everyday Life

Where Economics Meets the Grocery Aisle Every Friday morning, I grab my eco-bag, slip on my sneakers, and head to the lo...
Family

Between Tatami and Twitter: Balancing a Life of Rice Balls and Retweets

The Quiet Tug Between Two Worlds When I wake up each morning, the first thing I touch isn’t my husband’s arm or my child...
Family

“Stolen Moments: Finding Myself Between Laundry Loads”

The Quiet Space in Between In the heart of Tokyo, tucked between two loads of laundry and a pot of miso soup simmering g...
Family

Bento and Beyond: A Housewife’s Guide to Japanese Culture and Society 

A Tiny Box with a Big Story: How Bento Became My Window into Japanese Life If someone had told me ten years ago that a s...
Family

Tatami and Tech: When Rice Cookers Meet Quiet Floors

"Where Slippers Meet Sensors" It starts with a soft creak—the kind only tatami can make when you step on it just right. ...
Family

“From Obi to Online: My New Year’s Day in Two Worlds”

Introduction  On January 1st, I posted a selfie in my kimono to Instagram. It was a full-length shot—me standing in fron...
Family

Letters to My Younger Self: What I Wish I Knew Before Motherhood

“Dear Me, Before It All Began” Dear Younger Me, You’re probably sitting in a quiet café, latte in hand, scrolling throug...
Family

“The Smell of Miso in the Morning: My Ordinary Life Isn’t So Ordinary”

“Setting the Scene” The scent hits me before I even open my eyes. It’s that unmistakable smell of miso—warm, salty, and ...
Family

Silent Strength: A Housewife’s Voice from Inside Japanese Life

“Kicking Off the Slippers: An Ordinary Start” I didn’t always plan on becoming a housewife. Like many women, I had dream...