One thing I love about podcasting is getting to know all the wonderful women who are out there doing things in their own corner of Japan. Without this podcast I wouldn't get that chance! 

Melissa Uchiyama is a writer, a US National Board Certified educator, and mom who has made Japan her home for eleven years after growing up, getting her education, and marrying near the beaches of South Florida.

In the episode today Melissa and I talk about: 

Her road to finding her feet in Japan 

How she created a writing camp in Tokyo  

How we deal with "Bad Japan days"

Creating a community around baking

Her new project “Eat en”: https://www.instagram.com/melissa.uchiyama.946/

Mentioned in this podcast:

Best Living Japan: https://bestlivingjapan.com/

Tokyo Writers Camp: https://tokyokidswrite.com/

Bilingual Baking Classes: https://cocofuluandmelissa.com/

Other Links:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/cocofuluandmelissa/

https://www.instagram.com/tokyokidswrite/

https://www.instagram.com/melissa.uchiyama.946/ 

More info about Melissa:

Melissa is on a mission to document and showcase the beauty found in kitchens throughout Tokyo with her big Eat•en project! She believes that value is found in the process of creating, making, and procuring that which feeds us, while also believing that our food provides a window into culture, heritage, and the soul of a person, people, or a family, she has begun a project that brings her into the real cooking and dining spaces throughout Tokyo, where she documents the people, stories, and craft behind each meal, drink, or snack.

More to come soon!

*If you have special food that reflects your immigration story or family heritage in Japan or anywhere in the world, and you are based in or near Tokyo, wanting to welcome Melissa into your home kitchen, she would love to hear from you!