English
日本語
I.C
- Certified Instructor of "Washocook" The Japan Association of cooing for foreigners.
- Completed the Japanese Language Teacher Training Course at PIJLC (Philippine Institute of Japanese Language and Culture).
Founder of "I.C Class Kitchen," a foreigner-oriented cooking class based in Kasugai, Aichi.
Born in Tokyo, raised in Kanagawa.
Due to my husband's job transfer, I spent a total of 8 years living abroad in Singapore and Manila, Philippines, after getting married.
Upon returning to Japan, lived in Aichi and worked at a coffee specialty café for about 5 years.
In 2010, embarked on another overseas assignment and lived in Arizona and Texas, USA, for 5 years.
After returning to Japan, resided in Nagano for six months before settling in Aichi, where I currently resides.
・外国人向け料理協会「わしょクック」認定講師
・PIJLC（フィリピン日本語文化学院）にて日本語教師養成コース修了
愛知県春日井市で外国人向け料理教室 「I.C Class Kitchen」 主宰
東京都生まれ。神奈川県育ち。
夫の転勤で、結婚と同時にシンガポール～フィリピン・マニラで計8年の海外生活を送る。
帰国後は愛知県に住み、コーヒー専門の喫茶店に約5年勤務。
2010年、再びの海外赴任でアメリカ・アリゾナ州～アメリカ・テキサス州に5年住む。
帰国後は長野県に半年住んだのち、現在愛知県在住。
**************************************************
"Living abroad"
What kind of image comes to mind?
Countless opportunities for learning and growth, excitement, and unforgettable encounters with new friends.
Each day filled with a sparkling and fulfilling experience.
Indeed, such days can be lived.
However, getting to that point is by no means an easy task.
Encountering language barriers, struggling with cultural and habitual differences, and grappling with the complexities of communication.
Feeling the loneliness of being far from family and friends back home, and experiencing moments of anxiety and sadness over trivial matters, all of these are frequent occurrences.
But with just a small trigger and taking a step forward, life in a foreign country can change significantly.
I love eating!
During my time abroad, by trying the local cuisine and attending cooking classes,
and even trying to cook them at home,
I found that my horizons expanded rapidly, revealing new worlds I had never known before.
As I continued to visit the local markets, I started to be recognized by the locals, receiving a little extra service here and there.
On the cooking class's shopping tours, I was introduced to local spices I had never seen before.
Through culinary adventures with my husband and friends, we ventured into neighborhoods we had never stepped foot in before.
Many of my cherished memories from my fulfilling life abroad
are all connected to scenes revolving around food.
Each one of them was an irreplaceable moment of happiness.
I believe that "eating" is a universal shortcut to happiness.
Moreover, after returning home, I realized again that Japanese cuisine is delicious!
Especially the vegetables in Nagano Prefecture, where I lived right after coming back from the United States, were fresh, succulent, and surprisingly delicious.
Visiting local farmers' markets to seek out highland vegetables grown in the area became a delightful pastime for me.
If there are foreigners living in Japan right now
who, like my past self, find it challenging to fit in and feel lonely in a foreign land,
I would like to extend a small gesture of inviting them into my kitchen,
hoping that this place becomes a comforting sanctuary for them.
Since they have the opportunity to live in Japan, I wish to guide them towards experiencing the joy of life through connecting with Japanese culture through food.
I hope they come to appreciate the abundance of Japanese ingredients and the deliciousness of Japanese cuisine.
With such intentions, I started "I.C Class Kitchen."
I want them to understand the value of cooking Japanese dishes at home
and to be able to enjoy a more delightful and enriching life in Japan.
And someday, when they return to their home country, I hope they occasionally cook Japanese dishes,
reminiscing fondly about their time in Japan.
That is my wish and my joy.
「海外で暮らすこと」
どんなイメージが浮かびますか？
数えきれない多くの学びや刺激、楽しみ、かけがえのない友達との出会い。
キラキラ輝く充実した毎日。
確かに、そんな日々を送ることもあります。
だけどそこに至るまでというのは、けっして簡単なことではないんです。
言語の壁にぶつかり、文化・習慣の違いに戸惑い、コミュニケーションの難しさに悩み。
母国の家族や友達と離れた寂しさもあり、些細なことで不安になったり落ち込むことがたくさんあります。
でも、ほんの小さなきっかけと一歩を踏み出すことで、異国の暮らしは大きく変えられます。
私は食べることが大好き！
海外生活の中で、その土地の料理を食べたり習いに行ったり
家で作ってみたりしたことで
自分の知らない新しい世界がどんどん広がっていきました。
マーケットに通ううちに現地の人に顔を覚えてもらって、少しサービスしてもらったり
料理教室の先生と買い物ツアーに出かけて、初めて見る現地の調味料を教えてもらったり。
夫や友達との食べ歩きでは、足を踏み入れたことのなかった街まで出かけてみたり。
私の充実した海外生活の思い出の多くは
食にまつわるシーンと繋がっているものばかりです。
それらはどれもかけがえのない幸せな時間でした。
「食べること」って、世界共通の幸せへの近道だと思います。
また、帰国後あらためて思ったのは「和食って美味しい！」ということ。
特にアメリカから帰った直後に住んだ長野県の野菜は新鮮で瑞々しくて衝撃の美味しさ。
地産の高原野菜を求めて直売所に通うのが楽しみでした。
今、日本に住んでる外国人の方で
あの頃の私と同じようになかなか異国になじめず心細い思いを抱えて暮らしているとしたら
小さな一歩として、私のキッチンに足を運んでもらい、
ここがその人たちにとって心地良い居場所になってほしい。
せっかくご縁あって住んでる日本、食を通じて日本の文化に触れることから
暮らしの楽しみへつなげてほしい。
日本の食材の豊富さ、和食の美味しさをぜひ知ってほしい。
そんな思いで 「I.C Class Kitchen」 を始めました。
家庭で作れる和食の良さを知ってもらい、
日本での生活がより楽しく豊かなものになるお手伝いが出来ること。
そしていつか母国へ帰って、時折和食を作っては
日本での暮らしを懐かしく思い出してもらえること。
それが私の願いであり、喜びです。