Starting Over in My 50s | A Quiet Life in Japan

Hi, I’m Aoi. Welcome to my first video. I’m in my 50s and live in Japan. I work full-time as a pharmacist, and after many years of working and raising my children, I’ve entered a new chapter of my life. My children are grown now, and these days, I live a quiet and simple life with my cat, Fu-chan. In this video, I’m sharing an ordinary day at home — studying English, doing some housework, grocery shopping, cooking lunch, and preparing homemade lunches for work. My life isn’t particularly exciting, but I’ve come to appreciate simple things more as I’ve gotten older: a good cup of coffee, reading a book, spending time with Fu-chan, and having quiet time to myself. Starting this YouTube channel is also part of my new beginning. I hope to share my everyday life in Japan, my thoughts on life in my 50s, and the small moments that make ordinary days meaningful. Thank you so much for watching my first video. See you in the next video. Arigato gozaimashita. 🇯🇵 【Teriyaki Chicken Bowl Bento】 Makes about 2–4 servings Teriyaki Chicken Ingredients * 2 boneless chicken thighs (about 600 g total) * Salt and pepper, to taste * 2 tbsp all-purpose flour * Cooking oil Teriyaki Sauce * 3 tbsp soy sauce * 3 tbsp mirin * 3 tbsp sake * 2–3 tbsp sugar, depending on your preference To serve * Cooked rice (about 3 Japanese cups of uncooked rice) * Nori seaweed, optional Directions 1. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then lightly coat it with flour. 2. Heat some oil in a frying pan and cook the chicken until browned and cooked through. 3. Mix the soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar, then add the sauce to the pan. 4. Cook until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the chicken. 5. Serve over rice and add nori if you like. ⸻ Stir-Fried Vegetables Ingredients * Any vegetables you like, such as cabbage, bean sprouts, carrots, bell peppers, or onions * Thinly sliced pork, optional * Salt and pepper, to taste * Chicken bouillon powder, to taste * Cooking oil Directions 1. Heat some oil in a frying pan. 2. Stir-fry the pork, if using, then add the vegetables. 3. Season with salt, pepper, and chicken bouillon powder to taste. ⸻ Japanese Rolled Omelet Ingredients * 3 eggs * 1 tbsp sake * A pinch of salt * 1½ tbsp sugar, or adjust to your taste * ½ tbsp soy sauce * Cooking oil Directions 1. Beat the eggs and mix in the sake, salt, sugar, and soy sauce. 2. Heat a lightly oiled frying pan over medium-low heat. 3. Pour in the egg mixture in thin layers, rolling each layer as it cooks. 4. Repeat until all of the egg mixture is used. ###yakisoba (Japanese Stir-Fried Noodles) **Makes 1 serving** **Ingredients** * 1/4–1/6 head of cabbage * 1/2 bag bean sprouts * 100 g thinly sliced pork * 1 pack yakisoba noodles * Salt and pepper, to taste * Japanese Worcestershire-style sauce, to taste * Vegetable oil, as needed, for cooking 【Yakisoba (Japanese Stir-Fried Noodles)】 **Makes 1 serving** **Ingredients** * 1/4–1/6 head of cabbage * 1/2 bag bean sprouts * 100 g thinly sliced pork * 1 pack yakisoba noodles * Salt and pepper, to taste * Japanese Worcestershire-style sauce, to taste * Vegetable oil, as needed, for cooking I usually cook by feel rather than measuring everything exactly, so please adjust the seasonings to suit your taste. #LifeInJapan #StartingOver #LifeInMy50s #JapanVlog #SimpleLiving