I had always been fascinated by Japanese cuisine but I was nervous to start making Japanese food, especially coming from the UK, where I had little exposure to Asian culture in general and I was terrible at using chopsticks! How could I ever find a passion for cooking and start to provide my own lunches and dinners? Standing in my new kitchen in Sendai, I thought to myself: "It's impossible!"

I always find that when you start doing something you care about, it's hard to find a reason to stop. Whether its a task during the day or a lifelong passion, its tough to break the flow or rhythm once you have found it. This applies to cooking, or even learning the English language! Or any language for that matter. Once you discover the purpose behind it, you find much more energy and enthusiasm to continue.

Featured in the picture you can see a lunchbox I had brought into work not long ago, before the present lockdown and closures began. I cooked homemade tonkatsu, brought along a fresh lemon, I had a japanese coleslaw salad and I even went to the length of bringing in Tonkatsu sauce! I was very proud of the result, though I apologise the picture isn't so aesthetically pleasing! However, I can assure you it was very tasty indeed!

I hope to continue my passion for Japanese food, gain more confidence and increase my knowledge!

I will speak to you again soon!

P.S. I am really good at using chopsticks now (*'▽')