Last year, I was so happy to welcome guests from many different countries to my kitchen studio 🌍✨
Many guests visited the kitchen studio for the first time in several years, and it was a truly joyful time to catch up with one another while cooking together.
This year as well, I hope to continue creating warm and memorable in-person experiences for everyone who loves Japanese food culture and is visiting Japan 🇯🇵🍱
A year full of challenges and learning.
Nothing was easy, but I’m deeply grateful for every encounter and for the opportunity to share the beauty of Japanese food culture.
Cooking classes, new projects, and new connections—
each experience helped me grow, step by step.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who supported me.
Looking forward to moving into 2026 with care and intention.
YUCa
Discover the beauty of wagashi, traditional Japanese sweets inspired by the seasons 🌸
Join our hands-on Japanese Sweets & Tea class in Tokyo and experience Japanese culture through taste, tea, and craftsmanship.
No experience needed—just curiosity ✨
Japan has four distinct seasons. We enjoy seasonal foods and also savor traditional Japanese sweets that reflect each season. Traditional Japanese sweets are called wagashi. One of the most popular types of wagashi is mochi, which is made from glutinous rice. In this class, you will make three kinds of wagashi, including mochi. You will also enjoy matcha, which has become famous worldwide, not only as a beverage but also as a dessert. In addition, you will learn about various types of Japanese tea and enjoy pairing them with wagashi.
With the guidance, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of wagashi and Japanese food culture, including the importance of seasonality, ingredient selection, and traditional aesthetics. As part of the class, you will also visit a local supermarket to explore Japanese ingredients used in Wagashi.
During the year-end and New Year season, children from all over the world visit my cooking studio.
What always strikes me is their eagerness—
“I want to do the cutting!” “Let me mix!” “I’ll measure!”
They jump in with bright curiosity and confidence.
Meanwhile, the parents take a step back, happily playing a supporting role. They want their children to experience making Japanese food with their own hands.
In their quiet presence, I sense a deeper wish: that their children will grow up able to take responsibility for their own health.
Even amid the busyness of the season, these moments fill the studio with warmth—and make all my end-of-year fatigue fade away.
This is a tofu croquette recipe filled with a variety of vegetables. To boost the protein content, tofu and ground soy meat are used, but it can also be deliciously customized with additions such as cheese or tempeh.
Crispy on the outside and light and tender on the inside, these croquettes offer a gentle balance of vegetable sweetness and savory flavor. Although fried, they feel surprisingly light, making them a great choice for those seeking a healthier, plant-based option. They work well as a main dish, a light appetizer, or even as a bento side.
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Realizing this couldn’t continue, I started reading books and watching videos about health to gather information.
By putting into practice what I could and turning it into a habit, I’ve gradually improved, and recently my family has even said, “You don’t seem to catch colds anymore!”
I think there are three main points to staying healthy:
1. Keep your body warm
2. Stay hydrated
3. Get enough sleep
◻︎Avoid sweets and coffee first thing in the morning
◻︎Start your day with warm water, sencha, or matcha
◻︎Practice 5–15 minutes of yoga each morning
◻︎Enjoy sweets in moderation
◻︎Avoid drinking iced water
◻︎Wash your hands thoroughly and gargle twice after returning home
◻︎Wear a mask in crowded places
◻︎Keep your neck warm while sleeping with a neck warmer that can also be used as a mask
◻︎Use a humidifier during sleep
◻︎Aim for at least 7 hours of restful sleep
I’d be happy if this could help you maintain your health as well.
If you are interested in topics like this, please feel free to contact me!
Most of my guests join my Japanese cooking class just once,
but from time to time, some of them come back — and that always means so much to me.
Recently, something truly special happened.
A French couple who joined my class 12 years ago, at my old studio, visited me again during their trip to Japan.
They’ve recently gotten married, and they chose to return to my cooking class.
We shared updates about our lives and how we’ve changed over the years.
It was such a heartfelt and beautiful moment.
They even told me that they still cook the recipes I taught them back then.
That made me incredibly happy and reminded me why I love what I do.❤️
Our cooking class studio in Tokyo is dressed up for the holidays, blending a cozy Christmas atmosphere with a touch of Japanese style. Soft winter light through shoji screens creates a warm and peaceful space—perfect for enjoying seasonal flavors and meaningful moments around the table.
A special setting, available only during the Christmas season.
We look forward to welcoming you here 🍵✨
At my cooking studio, I also offer original goods and a curated selection of products that I truly recommend. This photo was taken after one of the classes.
On this day, each guest chose something different to take home— Yuzu sake, Premium sake, Uji matcha, and Chiran Cha from YUCa’s Tea.
Are you curious about what other items we have? Come and see them for yourself at my kitchen studio! Please check the class calendar and keep your seats from here !❤️
I’m honored to share that I was awarded at a business plan contest hosted by my hometown, Arakawa Ward.
I was so filled with a sense of accomplishment from all the preparation since summer, and with the joy of receiving my first certificate in decades, that I nearly walked back to my seat without picking up the prize envelope. It was such a “me” moment that I couldn’t help but laugh to myself.
I’ll be sharing more details about the award-winning business plan little by little, so please stay tuned!
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