Welcome, September 2026!
Konnichiwa! A new month has begun.
Here in Japan, September has arrived, although it still feels very much like summer. The days are still warm, but every now and then, I can sense a small change in the air.
The long summer holidays are now over, children are returning to school, and our everyday routines are beginning again.
Looking back, August was a wonderful month filled with family time, nature, summer food, and little moments to slow down and refresh.
Interestingly, when I looked through the photos I took over the summer, I noticed that so many of them were filled with green — trees, plants, vegetables, mountains, and scenes from nature.
Perhaps I was unconsciously looking for a little more nature in my everyday life.
From Summer to Autumn
September is an interesting month in Japan.
It is not quite autumn yet, but you can slowly begin to notice the transition.
The light changes.
The evenings come a little earlier.
And gradually, autumn ingredients begin appearing in supermarkets and local markets.
Mushrooms, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, eggplant, and autumn salmon are some of the ingredients I start looking forward to at this time of year.
This gradual change of seasons is something I really love about Japanese food culture.
We don’t suddenly switch from “summer food” to “autumn food.”
Instead, the table changes little by little along with nature.
A Fresh Start
For me, September also feels like another beginning.
After the energy and excitement of summer, it is a good time to return to my daily rhythm, organize my thoughts, and start working on new ideas.
There are several things I would like to explore this autumn — through cooking, Japanese food culture, and the projects I have been slowly developing.
But I also want to remember not to rush.
To notice the changing seasons.
To enjoy what is available now.
To cook with what nature gives us.
And to keep moving forward, one step at a time.
Perhaps that is one of the things the Japanese kitchen continues to teach me.
I’m looking forward to sharing more Japanese home cooking, seasonal ingredients, and stories from my kitchen with you this autumn.
Wishing you all a wonderful start to September!
YUCa
