Emiko Tanaka

How a Kitchen Disaster Turned Me into a Cook I never set out to become a cook—honestly, I just wanted to survive in the kitchen without embarrassing myself! But life has a funny way of nudging us in the right direction, and in my case, it all started with the world’s worst miso soup. Back when I was preparing for university entrance exams, I thought it would be a great idea to take a break and impress my friends with a homemade Japanese meal. I mean, how hard could it be? Just a little miso soup, some tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelet)... easy, right? Well, it turns out that mistaking sugar for salt is a pretty big deal. One sip, and my poor friends were doing their best not to make that face—you know the one. I could see the confusion, the silent suffering, and then... we all just burst into laughter. That night, I realized something important: cooking isn’t just about perfect technique or fancy ingredients—it’s about connection, laughter, and the little moments that bring us together. I promised myself that one day, I would truly learn the art of Japanese home cooking—not just to avoid future disasters, but to create meals that made people happy. Fast forward to today, and here I am, sharing my love for Wafu-style cooking in this book! I’ve taken everything I’ve learned—traditional Japanese flavors, a touch of global inspiration, and lots of trial and error—to make Japanese home cooking easy, fun, and stress-free. I hope this book brings you as much joy as cooking brings me! And if you ever mix up sugar and salt—just laugh, enjoy the moment, and try again. Who knows? You might just discover your own unexpected love for cooking!