為せば成る (naseba naru)

Asian cuisine and culture are more integral to my life than my public persona might suggest. Many of my subscribers would assume hamburgers are my favorite food, but the truth is that I adore Asian cuisine above all others, whether it’s Yakitori, Sushi, Korean BBQ, Dim Sum, Shabu Shabu, Hot Pot, or Tempura. There are countless Asian dishes I haven’t tried yet, but among those I have, Japanese food holds a special place in my heart, and so does Japanese culture and its influence.

When I heard about the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, I was as devastated as the rest of the world. The images and videos were overwhelming, and I was in shock for a while. My only experience with a major earthquake was in January 1994 when the Northridge Quake struck Southern California. That was terrifying to endure, so I can only imagine the suffering, fear, and anxiety felt by those in Japan. In March 2015, a report was released with the death toll numbers. Over 15,000 people lost their lives, more than 2,500 were injured, and property damage was in the billions. Despite this tragedy, the Tōhoku region strives to regain a sense of normalcy.

This weekend, a food fair was held at Mitsuwa Marketplace in Torrance, CA. The event was exciting, educational, and quite entertaining. I learned a lot, including the symbolism behind four really cool Japanese characters: Nebutan (of Aomori City), Benichan (of Yamagata City), Musubimaru (of Sendai City), and Momirin (of Fukushima City). These characters are a recent addition to Japanese culture, but their impact is remarkable.

Japanese food varies in style, taste, and selection. On today’s journey, I indulged in a Tempura Squid Bento with Miso Soup. The meal was satisfying and concluded my experience with Japanese culture. I can confidently say that I look forward to traveling to Japan one day, learning, experiencing, and becoming more involved in the culture.

A community-oriented culture is trying to recover from a tragic event, and together they will. Naseba Naru.

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