Hi everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year! Today I would like to write about a very unexpected thing that happened last month! I got a direct message on social media from a middle school student from Japan, asking for an interview on the theme of Nerikri Wagashi and being overseas. Nerikiri Wagashi is a type of traditional Japanese confectionery usually served at Japanese tea ceremonies. Nerikiri Wagashi is also one of my favorite types of Wagashi to make.

She found my blog post and Instagram account and decided to contact me via her parent’s account. I was so surprised and impressed by her action, and I was so happy to receive her message.

We scheduled our interview date and met on Zoom!

She mentioned that this was one of her assignments for her school’s English class. She will write a report about the interview. I asked her how she found my blog, and she said she typed ‘Wagashi’ and ‘Kaigai (overseas)’ in Japanese on the internet; my blog post showed up! Here is my blog post that she first found.

“How Nerikiri Wagashi changed my life overseas “

She said that after reading my blog post, she immediately thought about contacting me because I am the right person to interview for her report! I couldn’t help but think, ‘Awww…’

She also asked several questions to my husband. I liked how he answered her questions.

Question: What do you think about Japanese sweets that have a special name, kamei(菓銘) based on haiku and history? *Each different design of Nerikiri Wagashi has a name after haiku, history, and the seasons.

Answer: Honestly, it is a bit hard to imagine the meaning of Kamei, sweets named after haiku. But the Wagashi that my wife makes, the name and the designs of the sweets are from our memories, so it’s fun and easy to understand.”

He also mentioned about how he feels differently about certain things as an American. For instance, he expressed how he perceives the different seasons and the limited-edition sweets produced in Japan, which evoke the sounds of seasonal insects like cicadas.

My husband and I grew up in completely different culture and environments, so I often find myself wondering, Why does he think that way? Why does he do things like that? Why does he like that? If I want to share my thoughts with him, I try to keep his perspective in mind and explain things in a way he can understand. Maybe we’re both doing that unconsciously. Understanding each other is the most difficult and important part for us.

I’m able to enjoy making Wagashi no matter where I am. And we are enjoying and understanding each other’s cultural differences through Wagashi at home. I believe there’s no sweeter way to understand and appreciate each other’s cultural differences than through this wonderful confectionery.

The student who interviewed me described the Nerikiri Wagashi that I create as colorful confections that connect hearts across oceans. I feel like my journey of learning has only just begun. The reason I’m able to enjoy making Wagashi while living abroad is thanks to the many Wagashi instructors who have shared their knowledge with me through online lessons. I am truly, truly grateful to them.

I’ve been writing my blog little by little, and wondering who might read it. Writing in both Japanese and English is challenging, but I put my heart into it every time I write, hoping it will reach someone who might be interested in it. This time, I was truly surprised when someone from Japan went out of their way to send me a direct message. It made me so, so happy.

By the way, the picture pasted below is the Nerikiri Wagashi that I introduced to the student during the interview.

Kamei (Sweet’s Name)”Aki no kago ～Autumn Basket”

The picture above is Nerikiri Wagashi that I made while living in Virginia, USA. Autumn in Virginia is incredibly beautiful. In October, there’s a tradition of visiting a pumpkin patch, where families visit farms to pick pumpkins to decorate their homes for Halloween. It’s an autumn event in America that feels as essential as Koyogari, 紅葉狩り (autumn leaf viewing) in Japan. I was inspired by the variety of pumpkin shapes and colors I saw, as well as the joyful moments when my daughters excitedly said, “I’ll take this one!” while choosing their favorites. I expressed those memories with my family through these sweets.

In Japan, we celebrate the changing of the seasons and enjoy many seasonal traditions. Some countries have year-round summer, while others, like Shenyang, China, where I currently live, have long winters. It’s fascinating to learn about how different countries experience seasons, traditions, and seasonal foods. I often think how wonderful it would be to use Wagashi to convey the things I’ve seen, experienced, and felt abroad, and to connect with my family and people around the world through these creations.

A few days after the interview, the student contacted me again and told me that the English report about the interview was highly praised by her English teacher. It was even selected as the class representative and went on to receive an award for the entire grade! Congratulations on such a wonderful achievement! Hearing this news made me so incredibly happy!

Thank you for reading!