Namiko Hirasawa Chen

I was born and raised in Yokohama, Japan, a vibrant port city south of Tokyo with a rich culinary culture shaped by global influences. I moved to the U.S. at age of 20 to attend college, and I’ve been cooking ever since. However, my culinary journey began long before that (more on that later).

Mr. JOC and I married and settled in the San Francisco area. It has been my second home for so long that I’ve now lived in California longer than I did in Yokohama.

I’m a proud mom to a son and daughter and a happy grandma to a mini Aussiedoodle named Miso.

Outside the kitchen, I love to travel, wander through national parks, explore new foods, and hunt for beautiful tableware and unique kitchen tools. That inspired me to launch JOC Goods—a curated shop offering artisan Japanese tableware and kitchenware that brings beauty, heritage, and joy to everyday cooking.

Curious what my job looks like day to day? Let me take you behind the scenes.

I’m a food blogger and entrepreneur who wears many hats. Here’s a glimpse of what I do with a team supporting me:

• Content manager and planner 
• Recipe developer 
• Food stylist and photographer
• Video creator
• Food writer and editor
• Marketing and social media manager
• Community manager
• Curator for JOC Goods
• And yes…I’m also the taste-tester and dishwasher for every recipe—multiple times!

I developed my home cooking skills through hands-on experience, daily practice, and my mother’s deep knowledge and passion for Japanese food. Starting at age 12, I spent countless afternoons in the kitchen as my mom’s sous chef. She taught me katei ryori (家庭料理) —Japanese home-style cooking—through repetition, care, and intuition.

When 4:30 p.m. rolled around, she would call me in to help prep dinner. Like most teenagers, I often wished I could be doing something else. I didn’t realize how much I was absorbing at the time. When I moved to the U.S., I was amazed by how easily I could recreate her dishes from memory.

After starting my own family, cooking became my way of staying connected to my roots. In 2011, I launched Just One Cookbook with the simple goal to preserve and share my family’s Japanese recipes. Today, I’m deeply grateful that it’s grown into a go-to resource where people around the world come together to discover, cook, and enjoy authentic Japanese food at home.

Thanks to your incredible support, Just One Cookbook is now the largest English-language Japanese recipe site with over 3 million monthly visitors. Over the years, we’ve been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, The Washington Post, The Japan Times, The New Yorker, and more. 

In 2017, we were finalists in the SAVEUR Blog Awards for Best Food Video. And in May 2025, our YouTube channel reached 1 million subscribers!

Thank you for being here. Your support, and love for Japanese cooking continue to inspire me. I can’t wait to share more recipes, stories, and meaningful moments with you.

There’s another side of my story that many people don’t know—one that has quietly shaped the way I create and share recipes every day…

I was in my late 40s when I first discovered that I might suffer from a learning disorder. For nearly 30 years, I had quietly struggled with reading, comprehension, speech, and short-term memory without knowing why.

I always sensed something was different, but it was hard to explain. In college, I pushed through long nights with sheer determination, thinking I just had to work harder. I did well academically, which made it even harder to pinpoint the reason for my challenges.

Because I learned English as a second language, I assumed my difficulties were part of that journey. Everything changed when I read that dyslexia can present differently across languages, often going undetected in languages like Japanese that rely on visual scripts. For the first time, it all made sense. I realized I might have been living with a learning disorder my whole life.

I naturally turned to visual and hands-on learning since reading and processing written information has always been difficult. That instinct shapes how I share recipes. From the start, Just One Cookbook has featured step-by-step photos, clear instructions, and video tutorials to make it accessible for all kinds of learners.

What began as a system to help myself has grown into a format that many of you have said helps you, too—whether you’re a beginner, a visual learner, or navigating your own unique challenges.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed in the kitchen or struggled to follow long blocks of text, please know:

You’re in good company, and you’re always welcome here.

If you ever need help, don’t hesitate to reach out. My team and I are always here for you!