Living Alone at 54 | A Quiet Weekend in Japan

A quiet weekend in my life in Japan. In this video, I share some simple home cooking, bento preparation, and a few thoughts on solitude, human connections, and how my perspective has changed with age. Thank you for watching! Recipes & Ingredients I don't usually measure ingredients very precisely, so the amounts listed below are approximate. Feel free to adjust the seasonings to your taste! 1. Chicken Breast with Grated Daikon Serves 1 1 chicken breast (about 300 g; chicken thigh also works) For seasoning the chicken: 1 tbsp sake A little salt and pepper 2 tsp potato starch For coating and frying: 2 tbsp potato starch Vegetable oil, as needed for frying For the sauce: 1–2 tbsp sugar 2 tbsp sake 2 tbsp mirin 1 tbsp vinegar 2 tbsp soy sauce For topping: Grated daikon radish, as desired A little chopped green onion 2. Carrot and Onion Salad Serves 4 1 carrot 1/4 onion For the dressing: 1/2 tsp salt 2–3 tsp sugar 2 tbsp vinegar 2 tbsp olive oil Black pepper, to taste Mix the salt, sugar, and vinegar with the vegetables before adding the olive oil. 3. Chicken Tsukune (Japanese Chicken Meatballs) Serves 2–4 350 g ground chicken 2 tbsp sake 2 tbsp potato starch A pinch of salt A little grated ginger 1/2 small onion Vegetable oil, for cooking White sesame seeds, as desired For the sauce: 2 tbsp sake 2 tbsp sugar 2 tbsp soy sauce 4. Tamagoyaki with Red Pickled Ginger and Green Onions 3 eggs 1 tbsp red pickled ginger (beni shoga) 2–4 green onion stalks 1 tsp Hondashi (Japanese instant dashi powder) 5. Spinach with Sesame Dressing (Goma-ae) 1 bunch spinach A pinch of salt (for boiling) For the dressing: 2 tbsp sugar 3-5 tbsp ground sesame seeds 1 tbsp soy sauce #LifeInJapan #LivingAlone #JapaneseHomeCooking #BentoMaking #SlowLiving #LifeInMy50s