May 2026
Making Umeshu — Japanese Plum Wine at Home
Have You Heard of Umeshu? Do you know umeshu (梅酒)? It's a Japanese liqueur made by steeping ume plums in alcohol with sugar. If you've ever seen it on a shelf, the brand you've probably spotted is Choya — they're the most well-known commercial producer. But homemade umeshu is a whole different experience. You can […]
Japanese cheese
Did You Know Japanese Cheese Has Come a Long Way? Processed Cheese Was All We Knew When I was growing up in Japan, "cheese" basically meant processed cheese (プロセスチーズ). That was it. I'm not even sure I knew natural cheese existed back then — it just wasn't part of everyday life. My First Real Encounter […]
Two Types of Japanese Kitchens — And the Cooktops That Go With Them
In Japan, home kitchens generally come in one of two styles: 1. Sectional Kitchens (セクショナルキッチン) The sink, prep counter, and cooktop are all separate, freestanding units that you line up together. Each piece can be replaced or moved on its own. 2. System Kitchens (システムキッチン) Here, everything — the sink, cooktop, and work surface — […]
We Live in Two Places — Life Between Hokkaido and Kanagawa
We Live in Two Places — Life Between Hokkaido and Kanagawa My husband and I split our time between two homes: one in Yokohama, Kanagawa, and one in Hokkaido. From spring through autumn, we go back and forth between these two very different worlds. It's a lifestyle called dual-base living (二拠点生活 / nikkyoten seikatsu) in […]