YJC’s 10th Anniversary !
In July 2023, YUCa’s Japanese Cooking celebrated its 10th anniversary!
My first class was on July 9, 2013. I remember how nervous I was to start the first class in a room of the tiny apartment that my husband and I had just bought at the time.
On that day, my two Australian friends joined.
At the memorable first class, we made okonomiyaki, grilled corn, and somen noodles with the “summer festival” theme. Although I managed to finish the class successfully, it was a month later that I was able to hold the next class.
Thanks to the word of mouth from guests who participated in the class helped me to be able to gradually increase the number of classes from once a month to twice a month and then once a week. Now, thankfully, the class is almost full every day.
🙇♀️🙇♀️🙇♀️
During the pandemic (COVID), I started new online classes and filming recipe videos & Vlogs for YouTube. It was a tough time as an entrepreneur but I could survive thanks to my husband and children’s supports. I feel so grateful. ❤️
Over the past 10 years, I have received national and international media coverage of my cooking classes. I was also able to realize my long-time dream of holding cooking classes overseas, in New York. I secretly hope to have more opportunities like this in the future.✈️🌏🎵
As for the future, since this is my 10th year anniversary, I am planning to try new project to further promote Japanese cuisine.
I will let you know as soon as the details are finalized! ✨✨✨
Love from Tokyo 🇯🇵❤️
YUCa
Summer Festivals in Japan
From May to August, summer festivals of various scales are held in various parts of Japan. These include rice planting festivals, purification festivals, festivals of souls or shinkosai (Shinto festivals in which mikoshi (portable shrines) are paraded through the streets). From the day before the festival, the area is enveloped in a festive atmosphere. The energy of the people carrying the magnificent portable shrines and the enthusiasm of the onlookers seem to bring the summer heat to a peak.
Today’s summer festivals feature mikoshi carried by men wearing hanten (short coat) and matahiki (drawers) and street stalls of goldfish scooping, cotton candy, masks, etc., comprising the festival attractions in summer.
Most summer festivals are observed to thank the gods for a peaceful and happy life in the past half year or to prevent any disaster and appease the spirits of the deceased.
Fireworks displays, the Bon Festival (featuring bon-odori dances), hozuki (Japanese lantern plant) markets and morning glory markets are also regarded as summer festivals.
Recipe : Okonomiyaki Sauce + Osaka-style Okonomiyaki
Okonomiyaki is a Japanese-style savory pancake cooked on a large hotplate. Okonomi means “As-you-like-it” and recipes differ depending on the region; traditionally Osaka and Hiroshima. In this recipe video, I will show you how to make Osaka-style Okonomiyaki recipe and its sauce which is the key ingredients of this Japanese-style savory pancake.
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Recipe : Yakitori
Yakitori (焼き鳥) is a dish often served with sake and consists of various chicken parts skewered and grilled on a special grill. It is usually served with salt, pepper, or a special soy sauce-based sauce. In this video, we will show you how to make a “yakitori kit” developed by an upscale yakitori restaurant in Japan, and how to eat different parts of the yakitori.
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Recipe : Yakisoba
Yakisoba (焼きそば) is a typical Japanese noodle dish widely enjoyed by people. As evidence of this, yakisoba can be purchased year-round in the prepared food sections of supermarkets and convenience stores. Especially in summer, when festivals are held all over the country, yakisoba stalls are set up along with various street foods, and you can taste freshly made yakisoba. In this issue, I will introduce a quick and easy yakisoba recipe.
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Best of the Best 2023 Travelers’ Choice
YUCa’s Japanese Cooking was awarded the Traveler’s Choice Best of the Best Award for 2023!
This is the second time YJC has won this award. What an honor!
Thank you to all our guests for your support!!!
Since the state of emergency was lifted and the country opened last October, more and more customers have been visiting our cooking classes.
I would like to continue to devote myself to making Japanese food and culture accessible to many people around the world, and to deliver the philosophy of “Enrich Life From Table”.
Lastly, thank you for all your interest and support in so many ways!
Love from Tokyo 🇯🇵❤️
YUCa
（*) Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best to experiences and attractions with a high volume of above-and-beyond reviews and opinions collected from travelers around the world on Tripadvisor over a 12-month period. Each winner has passed our rigorous trust and safety standards. Fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor’s 8 million listings are awarded Best of the Best, signifying the highest level of excellence in travel.
Best of the Best Things to Do : Top Overall Experiences – Japan
Recipe : Amazake
Amazake (甘酒) comes in two types: one made from sake lees, as the name sake implies, and the other made from rice malt. The amazake introduced here is the latter type, based on rice malt. This type of amazake also has a medicinal role and is recommended when you feel tired or want to prevent colds. Amazake also contains dietary fiber and oligosaccharides, which help regulate the intestinal environment.
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Recipe : Plum Syrup & Juice
This is the time of year when plums are available in large quantities, so why not prepare plum syrup for the coming summer heat?
The general practice is to take the heck out of each plum that is still green, but if you want to take it a little easier and quicker, we recommend making it from frozen yellowed plums. The finished ume syrup can be mixed with water or soda water to make ume juice, with soy milk or black tea, or with honey or vinegar to make ume dressing.
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Hiyayakko (Chilled tofu) : vol.3
Hiyayakko (冷奴) is chilled tofu topped with seasonings and condiments. Depending on the toppings, you can enjoy various flavors of chilled tofu. In this episode, I put Japanese basil, cherry tomato and white sesame seeds. Then, pour the ponzu sauce.
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Adachi Market (足立市場)
Speaking of markets in Tokyo, the Tsukiji and Tsukiji Outside Markets, which have been relocated to Toyosu, are famous for the fresh fish you can buy and the Shokudo (cafeterias) where you can enjoy a breakfast or lunch. On par with the Tsukiji Market is the lesser-known Adachi Market, the Tokyo Metropolitan Wholesale Market, located in Senjuhashido-cho, Adachi-ku, Tokyo. Supplying mainly fresh marine products, it is the kitchen of Tokyo.
Adachi Market is small for a central wholesale market, with approximately 42,000 m2 of land, which is the only market in Tokyo specializing in marine products, and offers a wide range of products such as fresh and delicious fish as well as vegetables and Japanese omelettes (Tamagoyaki). In addition, just like Tsukiji, several cafeterias offer delicious gourmet food for breakfast and lunch. It is not well known, so it is a good place to visit without worrying about crowds.
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