Celebrating Just One Cookbook’s 10th Anniversary. Get to know the team and some exciting plans for JOC in 2021!
This January 1st marks Just One Cookbook’s 10 year anniversary (yay!). This 10th-year milestone means so much to all of us from the team, and perhaps also the readers who have been with us for a very long time. So on this day, I’d like to share our visions of JOC for this and next year or two.
First, Much Gratitude
I want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to you on behalf of the JOC team. Thank you for choosing our site when you are cooking Japanese food, when you are researching your upcoming travel destinations in Japan, or when you miss Japan and read everything about its cuisine and culture.
Every day we receive messages from all over the world with your heartwarming stories about what dishes meant to you and your family, how JOC helped reconnect to your roots or bring back fond memories, and how much you learned about Japanese cuisine, especially in 2020. These stories are what fuels us to keep cooking, creating, and sharing delicious adventures with you.
To many of you who connect with us on social media — whether it’s Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest — Thank YOU. Because of you, we have an engaging and supportive community. Your participation also helps others who are new to Japanese cooking feel welcomed and inspired.
Mr. JOC and I started off this food blog 10 years ago as a hobby to help our friends cook, and we never ever imagined this website would be visited by 75 million readers over this span of time! Your support means the world to us.
What to Expect in 2021
With a new year and a new beginning for another decade milestone to achieve on my mind, I’ve listed some of the big plans and smaller plans for this coming year.
Big and exciting plans!
- Update our site with unit conversion (easy toggle), nutrition information, and more.
- Offer ad-free subscription membership. We’re currently working hard to launch this service.
- Publish JOC ebook volume 2.
Smaller yet important plans!
- Focus on easy, home-cooked dishes that are not too well-known outside of Japan.
- Add more reader-requested recipes.
- Continue with more vegan and vegetarian recipes.
- Adding more videos to our YouTube channel (maybe achieving 1 million subs this year? Am I too ambitious?).
While I work on developing solid recipes and writing the instructions on the blog, Mr. JOC is constantly working to improve the website. This brings me to the next topic.
Re-Introducing Who’s Behind Just One Cookbook
Just like all other blogs, Just One Cookbook started as a passion project of mine to translate all my recipes (written in Japanese) to English and store them all in digital format (sounds so old 👵🏻). I did get occasional help from Mr. JOC late at night or on weekends for technical issues, but it was pretty much a one-woman show.
Our first team member Kayoko joined us in the summer of 2016, and then Reese a few months later. As the workloads increased, we gradually expanded the team. Fast forward today, we have a team of 7 awesome members that I’d like to introduce today. Some of them are on part-time or project-basis, but each of them plays important roles. Now you know I’m not a superwoman doing everything by myself.
- Reese – She is our marketing manager and contributing writer. Reese also wears many hats behind the scene, and sometimes she makes sure I get up and stretch. She helps me responding to piles of emails, too!
- Kayoko – Based in Tokyo, Kayoko shares her deep knowledge about Japanese cuisine by contributing food-related articles to JOC.
- Morgan – She manages JOC’s Facebook and Instagram accounts, making sure our community a fun and safe place for delicious exchanges.
- Naomi – She’s our readers’ support. When you leave a comment on the blog, she will answer your questions. Naomi is also an amazing cook and we love trading food with each other.
- Seimi – She’s our copy editor. When she’s not busy with her master’s degree in creative writing, she helps to update our older posts.
- Richard – He makes short videos for our social media.
- Kylie – She’s our very first intern while attending college. She’s been working closely with Mr. JOC to learn various aspects of blogging.
I hope you get to know them! You can read more about our team on this page.
Just in case you’re wondering what Mr. JOC and I do all day besides walking Miso…
- Nami – I am responsible for all things recipe-related; I develop recipes, take pictures/videos of them, and write blog posts about them. Recipes on JOC is one thing that I do not delegate to anyone.
- Mr. JOC – He’s the tech, finance, and operations person behind JOC. He is also in charge of video filming and travel content, and my well-being.
Answering FAQs
Since we receive some of the same questions regularly, I want to address them here.
Q: Do you have a hardcover cookbook?
A: We appreciate your strong interest in our hardcover cookbook and I hope we can do it someday. We currently don’t have a plan as we dedicate our time to the blog and many other projects.
The good news is we’ve made our e-book printable on-demand, and you can order the print copy of our ebook here (or ebook version). We’re also releasing volume 2 of our ebook (also printable) very soon!
Q: Do you have this Japanese recipe?
A: Interestingly, many of the recipes requested are on the blog already. We have a SEARCH box on the top right corner of the website. To look for a specific recipe, just type in the name, an ingredient, or any keyword of the food you’re looking for. Chances are we may already have the recipe for it.
You can also use a Recipe Filter to narrow down your recipe search. If it still doesn’t work, use Google to find “just one cookbook (recipe/ingredients name).”
If I haven’t shared a particular recipe, we will file your request and review it.
Q: Which ingredient brands do you recommend?
A: We have a resourceful Pantry Page on Just One Cookbook where you can learn about the ingredient, the product recommendation (with picture), and usage (how we use it in the recipes).
Q: Where do you buy this kitchen tool/tableware etc from?
A: You can find many of my recommendations on favorite items such as kitchen tools, essential Japanese pantry, household items, and more on our Amazon Shop. Whenever I have a new discovery, I will update the list so you may enjoy browsing from time to time. You can find this shop link on the menu bar of our website.
Most tableware (plates, bowls, chopsticks, etc) is from Japan. Recently a big Japanese furniture/home accessory store Nitori opened a new online store called Aki Home in the U.S. where you can purchase some Japanese-style cookware/tableware.
Q: Why are most of your giveaways open for the US only?
A: I wish we could offer more international giveaways too! But since we’re based in the US, naturally we get most of the sponsorships from US-based companies. Having said that, we do occasionally run giveaways for our global readers. When I host a giveaway myself, it’s always for everyone worldwide. You just need to keep an eye out or subscribe to our newsletter so you won’t miss it!
Q: Can you remove the advertisements?
A: The advertisements are the primary source of our income in order to provide free content and support to you. However, we do make sure that the ads are not excessive and bothersome.
Your readership means everything, and it’s our goal to make sure you have the best experience while browsing our site. This year alone we’ve removed three ad units after accessing feedback from readers. It means a big cut but we want you to know that we care.
The majority of food blogs and websites have advertisements. Some may have less because they have another stream of income. But please know that we work with a reputable publishing company. If you encounter any unpleasant ad, please take a screenshot and send it to us. We always reach out to the publisher so they could have it resolved.
Say Hi or Share Your Feedback Below
Again, thank you so much for being here, whether you’re a long-term reader or are just stopping by. Feel free to leave a comment below to say hi.
Sending you lots of love and I hope 2021 brings you everything you wish for!
Warmly,
Nami & JOC Team
congratulations in 10 years !!!!
I have been enjoying your recipes so much! looking forward to another 10 years ( or more)
Hi Sylvia! Thank you so much for your support! Yes, I’ll do my best for another 10 years and more! 🙂
Congratulations on your 10 year anniversary! I only discovered your website and YouTube channel about a year ago and have been cooking from it more and more. In fact, for the first time ever, I attempted a few dishes for Japanese New Year (I grew up with obachan, aunties, sisters cooking for me!) I made your soba, pounded gobo, spinach ohitashi and homemade dashi recipes. All were delicious. Arigato gosaimasu! I love your YouTube tutorials. They are easy to follow and give me confidence to try making recipes I grew up with (but never made on my own). Happy New Year and New Decade!
-Patricia
Hi Patricia! Welcome to JOC and thanks for trying many of my recipes! Thank you for trying New Year recipes too, and I hope you can adjust the flavors of my recipes similar to your Obaachan, aunties, and sisters! It’s wonderful you get to enjoy all the dishes from them! 🙂 Thank you again for watching my youtube tutorials and I hope to add more videos this year!
Congratulations on reaching your 10th Anniversary! You are my go-to site for any Japanese recipe, and I share your links freely because I know the recipes work. Thank you for making Japanese food and culture accessible to us all! Happy New Year, JOC Team ♥️
Hi Pearl! Thank you very much for your kind words and support! We’re so happy to hear you enjoy the site.
Congrats on your 10th! You and I started blogging at almost exactly the same time. It’s been a fun 10 years, hasn’t it? You really should do a hardcover cookbook — the writing is much different than it is for a blog, of course, but the recipes aren’t, and you have plenty of those. 🙂 Looking forward to another 10 years — and much more! — of your posts. Thanks for all the joy.
Hi John! Congratulations on your 10 year anniversary, too! It’s been so nice to know you all these years. I really, truly miss visiting all the friends’ blogs and get inspiration, yours included. The joy of blogging and exchanging food-related conversation with blogger friends. I’ll never forget. Best wishes for another decade of blogging, and I look forward to celebrating together with you!
Happy 10 years! I LOVE your site!! 🙂
Hi Eme! Aww, thank you so much!! 🙂
Wow congratulations on 10 years!!!! I think I found you after I came back from Japan the first time in 2013 and it brought me so much joy to cook things I got to know there. Japan is the country I spent the most time (besides my home country) and since I mostly lived with host families or worked, it is so nice to recreate the home cooked meals I love so much. Especially in 2020 your website helped us a lot, since my husbands and my trip to Japan was cancelled because of Covid – your recipes are so well written, my husband has no problems following even though he does not have the same “on-site Japan experiences” that I have.
I am really looking forward to your 2021 plans, because our Japan trip will not happen in this year either… But you help us bring a piece of Japan home to us, which is a nice comfort in this weird times. Keep up the good work but also don’t overexert yourself for the anniversary year!
Hi Christin! Ohhh since 2013! Thank you so much for your continued support and I’m so happy to hear my recipes help you reconnect with the food you enjoyed in Japan. It seems like you had such wonderful years living in Japan and I’m glad to hear that too. 🙂 I hope you and your husband will be able to visit Japan one day soon, and till then I hope my recipes will continue to bring you two joy. Thanks again for your kind words!
Happy 10th Anniversary! Thank you for JOC. You’re a good reference when I am trying to figure out how to make a dish my grandmother or mother would make. Unfortunately, all their recipes were in their heads and they are gone now.
I’m one of your Canadian fans in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Hi Lorene! Thank you so much for choosing JOC to make nostalgic recipes your mom/grandmother used to make! My mom also didn’t keep any recipes, too, just like most Japanese moms. 🙂 Thank you so much for your support. P.S. I LOVE Vancouver and look forward to visiting again!!!
Can’t believe its been ten years! I’ve been around for around five of them, and thus website has been my favorite for finding recipes and learning about Japanese culture. I just started college this year, and I was inspired by all they you’ve taught me to take a Japanese language course. Thank you for all the time and effort you put into this, it’s really appreciated. May 2021 be a great year, and every year after that too!
Hi Max! I know, time flies so fast, and my kids were so small back then! I’m so excited to hear that you’re taking the Japanese language! Good luck and have fun in college!
Thanks Nami and team. I found you years ago, can’t remember how, and I have loved learning more about Japanese cuisine from you. It’s been a wonderful journey.
Congratulations on 10 years
Love Diane
Hi Diane! Thank you so much for your continued support! Happy to hear you enjoy our website. 🙂
Congratulations on your 10 year anniversary! I enjoy your Instagram feed and blog. I also look forward to what you have planned in 2021.
Best,
Kayoko
Hi Kayoko! Thanks so much! We are excited about this year’s projects and working hard now! Stay tuned! 🙂
Congratulations on 10 years! JOC is my number one go-to resource for Japanese cooking. Every recipe I have tried have been really successful and oh so delicious. I look forward to all the new content and recipes coming!
Hi Nancy! Thank you so much for your kind words. I’m so happy to hear you enjoy my recipes. Thank you for your support!
Congratulations on 10 years since starting JOC! I really enjoyed this blog post, learning more about behind the scene team, and always enjoy your English recipes. Would love to see a hard copy of your recipe book to add to our bookshelf one day.
Hi Sophia! Thank you very much for your kind words! Haha, not sure if that would happen, but we never know what to expect in the future! 🙂
Hi Nami,
Congrats on 10 years!
I discovered Just One Cookbook two years ago as I wanted to start cooking Japanese food prior to my trip to Japan. I have made 67 different recipes from your site and I plan on making many more. I’ve learned a lot about Japanese cooking, cookware, ingredients and so much more.
I have recommended your site to friends and family. I am looking forward to new content and more recipes!
Hi Josh! WOW, 67 different recipes! You made me very happy. Thank you for trying my recipes and recommending the site to your friends and family. It means so much to us!! 🙂
Congrats on your 10 year anniversary! I started cooking Japanese food regularly after finding your website. My family enjoyed the food. Thanks again!
Hi Wendy! Thank you so much! I’m so happy to hear you’re cooking more Japanese food at home. 🙂
Wow 10 years!! Congratulations on such a monumental milestone and for turning this passion project into a small business! JOC continues to be one of my favorite food resources that I use and share with friends all the time. Thank you for all the hard work and I can’t wait to follow along on more food adventures with you guys! 🙂
Hi Lillian! Aww thank you so much for the kind words and for sharing the site with your friends! Let’s enjoy cooking Japanese food! 🙂