This time we're introducing the founder and representative of “Harmonious Kitchen,” Takako Taniwaki.

1. Please tell us about how you got into your current job?

Before my current job, I worked in the US as a translator and interpreter specializing in environmental issues and food safety. I was always asking myself if this is what I really wanted to do, and one day I started thinking that I wanted to offer foods other than sushi and ramen, which are popular Japanese foods. Based on my knowledge and experience until that point, I decided to open a side dish shop that offers safe and delicious food.

2. Please tell us about your current job.

We registered Harmonious Kitchen in May 2017 and actually started operating in 2019. Our business focuses on selling Japanese bento boxes and side dishes, catering, and operating stalls at farmer's markets.

The concept of Harmonious Kitchen is "Japanese cuisine bringing joy to the body through heart-warming meals.” Based on this concept, the meals we offer encompass three ideals. The first is “harmonious tastes," which refers to a balanced meal. By skillfully balancing the five flavors of salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and umami, we are able to make our food safe to eat without using additives or chemical seasonings. These days it's well known that sweet, salty, and fatty foods sell well, but continuing to eat these foods will lead people to develop lifestyle-related diseases. Some of our customers have said that they used to have to need repeated exams for colorectal cancer but, after adopting a diet based on our meals, they no longer need to be re-examined.

The second concept is "Harmonious community," which refers to a circle of people; expanding your network through delicious food. Delicious food connects people across generations. One way in which this occurs is through how our current kitchen operates; our team spans all ages, from senior citizens to high school students. The third ideal is harmony with the natural environment. We aim to provide food that is environmentally conscious by not wasting ingredients and compostable containers.We are also focusing on dietary education by collaborating with organizations such as Table for Two.-

3. What do you enjoy about your job?

I enjoy connecting with people. I'm happy to receive emails from various customers after they've gotten their delivery on Thursday. They say things like, "it was so delicious," and “Harmonious Kitchen's lunchbox was the highlight of my week." Sometimes our customers connect with us. When I'm introduced to a farmer who has a stall at the same farmer's market we are at, I will try to use that farmerr's radishes and turnips in future meals. I am also grateful for the people I have been blessed to work with. Working in the kitchen is tough work, but I feel a sense of accomplishment when I create together with my team. The contents of the lunch boxes are continuously evolving, and I'm very happy to see the growth. Now I am able to make 100 bento boxes a day.

4. Please tell us about the difficulties you face in your current job.

Since I started from scratch with no experience in commercial kitchens or the food industry, the steps to launching the business was difficult. The next difficult thing was obtaining financing. There were many times when I felt depressed while starting the business, but I believe I am where I am today thanks to the support group that my friends created. We were also able to raise money for the business license through crowdfunding. We received support from people who bought bento boxes, as well as from friends and family in Japan.
The pandemic has also affected my business. Harmonious Kitchen started by selling bento boxes at the offices of Japanese companies in Washington, D.C., but due to the pandemic, sales were suspended temporarily. Fortunately, however, the people who had already been buying bento boxes requested that we deliver them to their homes, so we started delivering bento boxes every Thursday, though currently it is every other week. We currently deliver bento boxes throughout the Washington DC metropolitan area. We are happy to hear that our lunches don't weigh your stomach down and instead make your body feel light and clean.

5. Please tell me about an experience that led to your growth.

I believe that through this job I have been able to interact with people of all ages that I wouldn't have before, which is a way for me to grow. Through this job I've also been able to address environmental issues, which I've always been interested in. Looking back, I feel that all of my past experiences have been useful and this job has been the culmination of that growth.

6. What are your dreams and goals for the future?

It's been six years since Harmonious Kitchen was established, and we would like to be more profitable, even if just a little. One of our goals is to have a place, even if it's small, where we can showcase and sell freshly prepared foods. We believe that selling in stores will make it easier for people to use Harmonious Kitchen gift cards. We're aiming to create a system that allows people to purchase gift cards as gifts for families with newborns or someone recovering from an illness. I would also like to try an online cooking class that focuses on miso soup.

Currently we're using disposable, compostable containers, but the containers I recently purchased are Japanese-style bento boxes that are reusable and look stylish. They're also perfect for catering, so I hope to do more catering work from now on. Also, when I get older and can no longer cook, I want to create a community and system where I can eat what I like through Harmonious Kitchen. I want to continue doing things like this without looking back. Even though there are times when I feel down, I want to keep moving forward.

7. Please give a message to Japanese women living in the US who may be feeling confused and unsure of what to do.

I don't think you need to worry even if you're feeling uncertain about yourself right now. If you focus on what you like, what you're good at, and on things that don't bother you, even if you can't see it now, you can pursue it. I hope you never stop thinking about what you want to do.

Harmonious Kitchen : https://harmonious.kitchen/
Facebook: @harminiouskitchen
Instagram @harmoniouskitchendc

★ Interviewer's note

Takako can confidently say, "This is the happiest time of my life,” and I felt her strong and unwavering commitment to providing delicious food that is kind to both the body and the environment. After the interview, I ordered a bento box and was impressed that I could eat such a healthy and delicious bento box in the US. My kids and husband also loved it! I tend to get caught up in my schedule, but as the concept suggests, I was soothed by the comforting food. Next time I would like to visit them at the farmer's market. I'm looking forward to your future success.

★Recruiting Part-time staff

Harmonious Kitchen is currently looking for people who want to work in the kitchen part-time. Takako talked about the appeal of working at Harmonious Kitchen.
“I believe that the secret to extending a healthy lifespan is a balanced diet, moderate exercise, and contributing more to society, and making bento boxes is a job that encompasses all three secrets. Currently, those working in the kitchen include mothers raising children, senior citizens, artists, picture book illustrators, writers, interpreters, translators, and high school students, all of whom work together in peace. Kitchen work is hard work but everyone is able to work independently without waiting for instructions, and they all leave saying they enjoyed it. I think it's a workplace where they can feel a sense of accomplishment.
If you are interested, please contact Takako.
Contact Information:
Takako Taniwaki
Harmonious Kitchen, LLC ; harmoniouskitchendc@gmail.com