What Japanese summers taught me about why I don’t like cooking

You don’t need willpower, but you do need foresight

Kaki Okumura

--

Illustrations by Kaki Okumura

I don’t know where you are in the world right now, but where I am right now it’s really hot. Days are often over 30°C (86°F) and rarely do I ever feel like stranding over the stovetop to cook something over heat. I’m sweaty enough as it is!

In fact, I have many days where I don’t want to cook. There are many reasons why I don’t want to– it can be stress, lack of time, and sometimes it’s just the weather.

Admitting that has been freeing for me.

What Japanese summers taught me about why I don’t like cooking

Summers in Japan are notoriously hot (especially in Tokyo, where I’m from). Not only are the temperatures brutal, but because it’s so humid there is little reprieve even in the mornings and evenings.

But spending summers there made me pay more attention to how seemingly inconsequential details– like the weather– would affect my desire to cook. It wasn’t that I didn’t like cooking, but when walking outside felt like soup, I needed to make my cooking routine as hands-off as possible.

--

--

Kaki Okumura
Kaki Okumura

Written by Kaki Okumura

Born in Dallas, raised in New York and Tokyo. I care about helping others learn to live a better, healthier life. My site: www.kakikata.space 🌱