Hi, my name is Azusa.

I live in a quiet but vibrant mountain town on the island of Shikoku, Japan. Food has long been my way of exploring ideas of community, belonging, and the interstitial spaces of cultural identity.

In 2020, I wrote a cookbook to make Japanese home cooking more approachable, using accessible ingredients and methods that are uncomplicated. You can hear a review of the book here or find out more here.

Occasionally, I write about Japanese food online.

Currently, I’m collaborating with Robert Ji-Song Ku and Emily Anderson on a companion book for an upcoming exhibition on the topic of the FOOD OF JAPANESE AMERICA, opening in 2027 at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.

Beyond the kitchen, I’m drawn to different forms of teshigoto—small, thoughtful acts of making—like mending, sewing, ceramics, and drawing, though graphic design is my main gig.

Photo credit: Anna Moss