Just Bento

Photos of the Kyoto LOFT event! continue reading...

A Just Bento Cookbook event in Kyoto! continue reading...

About a bento article in The Japan Times, plus a wave to show I’m still here! continue reading...

This just a short update on what is going on with my health and things.

The good news is that I am feeling a bit better on an everyday basis. The really bad, painful infection I had has finally (mostly) cleared up, so I’m not reliant on heavy duty painkillers anymore. The bad news is that, my actual health condition is a bit worse than the infection. Which means that I’m going to have to start a course of radiation therapy again. But not to worry anyone too much…since I am now getting regular checkups (unlike the last time when you know, I stupidly tried to tough it out until I was almost bleeding to death(!!)) I am not going to have to get surgery or things like that. I guess I will have to face the ongoing fatigue issues, but well…I what to expect, and have strategies to deal with it.

In the meantime, if you want to see short posts from me and you are on Facebook, please consider Liking my Facebook JustBento/JustHungry page, which has been growing steadily since early this year (when I finally started paying attention to it. ^^) I am continuing to translate a few Cookpad recipes every day (previously) - if you want to find ones I’ve done, look for ‘translated by makikowi’ at the bottom of the recipes. I also have a new series in store for JustHungry starting next week, which I hope you’ll enjoy. And for you bento fans, yes JustBento is coming back in full force soon - it’s not dead by any means! You may see some other writing for me somewhere very soon too. ^^ Stay tuned!

And…thank you so much for your continuing patience and support as I battle my health issues. m(.)m

(Cross posted to both JustBento and JustHungry. Note: comments are closed on JB since the site is still a bit broken in the background, but they are open on JH if you want to say something to me, or kick me in the rear for the lack of bento posts, or something. ^_^) continue reading...

A Back To School giveaway! Back to school? Already? continue reading...

…because let’s face it, it’s lame! But the reconstruction of the site is taking a lot longer than planned. But, it will be back as soon as possible - hopefully much improved! In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the archives, such as the Keeping Your Bento Safe and Summer Bento Safety articles now that the weather is warmer in the northern hemisphere. In particular, please be careful about the safety of your proteins - not just meat, but vegetarian protains too like tofu. Be safe and healthy! And wish me luck to finally get this site reconstruction done… -_-

Two quick bits of news:

• monbento is releasing a mobile app soon, and to commemorate they are giving away an iPad and 100 bento boxes.. No purchase necessary to enter.
• Rakuten Global, the international part of the Japanese online shopping mall giant Rakuten, is holding a free global shipping campaign until May 17th. If you buy at least 10,000 yen worth of products from a participating merchant, up to 5,000 yen of your international shipping cost will be free (you’d pay for any extra shipping). This doesn’t just apply to bento box sellers of course so if you are a figure collector or a hobbyist or a Japanese fashion fan and so forth you could use this offer too. (I see one of my favorite craft supply stores there…) (Via @saraosenton - thanks Sara!) - this one is over now.

My mother sent me photos of a gorgeous Mother’s Day bento my stepfather got for her (and for himself too of course!) yesterday. It’s from Hikagejaya, a restaurant in Hayama, a town near Kamakura in Kanagawa prefecture (where Yokohama, where my mom lives, is too). I’ve written about Hikagejaya previously; it’s one of my favorite restaurants in Japan, and their bentos are just wonderful. continue reading...