Why me, and why this story?

As the sole producer of Yoroshiku, I researched, wrote, hosted, and mixed this episode. 

This episode, “The Obento,” uses the concept of the Japanese lunchbox to explore motherhood in Japan. Through an interview with NYT Tokyo Bureau Chief Motoko Rich, a live cooking segment, and personal research and reflections, the episode takes a deep dive into the deeply embedded patriarchal cultures that are contributing to Japan’s alarming population decline. At the same time, we look into the other side of the Obento: a culture of dedication, creativity, and love. 

It’s no secret that Japanese culture has spread worldwide; from media to technology to cuisine, Japan is everywhere. I’m over the moon about this, but I often see very one-dimensional perspectives on Japanese culture. Perspectives that fetishize the culture, erase its flaws, or ignore its nuances. 

As someone who grew up in both Japanese and Canadian cultures, I feel that I’m uniquely situated to explore those nuances and help people better understand them. I’m also on a journey to learn more about Japanese culture myself. This podcast was the perfect way to do that, combining my passions for Japanese culture, exploring social issues through storytelling, and the art of podcasting. 

This podcast was the most intensive, difficult project I’ve done. Securing the NYT interview, managing a live audio cooking show, and hours of research and scripting were just some of the challenges that this piece brought. Most of all, it was a massive editing undertaking! From choosing the right music to perfecting the finale sound story, this experience was difficult but undoubtedly made me a stronger editor. It was time-consuming and frustrating at times, but completely worth it once all the moving pieces were put together. This is one of my proudest works!