"Self-care recipes" and being yourself: What chef Sawa Hashimoto wants to convey through her cooking and tools

Sawa Hashimoto is a chef who provides "self-care recipes" that will help you relax a little in the midst of your hard work every day .

On Instagram and Nadia, her posts about gentle, single-dish meals using seasonal ingredients and her message about being mindful of the body and mind have garnered a lot of sympathy. She is known for her ingenuity in using ingredients without waste, choosing utensils that can be cherished for a long time, and "not overdoing it." We spoke to Sawa about the "personality" she values ​​through her daily cooking.

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Sawa Hashimoto | Relaxed Sawa Meals
Instagram [ @gohantowatashi.1228 ]
We offer "comforting, soothing meals" through simple recipes of steamed dishes and seasonal vegetables.
Currently active as Nadia Artist.

Cooking creates a foundation for emotions

--What does cooking mean to you, Sawa?
For me, cooking is something that helps me to build a foundation for my emotions.
When I'm cooking, there are moments when I suddenly lose my mind and my mind calms down. It makes me think, "I'll do my best tomorrow," or conversely, it gives me the courage to stop.
I think it's one way to keep myself in a good mood.

You can continue because you don't have to do it properly

-Where do you get the motivation to continue cooking every day?
I think the source of my motivation is the mindset that "I don't have to try too hard." Cooking becomes more and more difficult if you strive for perfection, but if you relax and think "this is good enough" and the food you make is delicious, that alone makes me happy and gives me a little confidence. I think the accumulation of those small moments of satisfaction is what makes me feel like "cooking might be fun," and it's the foundation that allows me to continue cooking every day.

Based on the feeling of "I want to eat this"

-When do you come up with ideas for recipe development?
For example, I think, "I want to eat something sour" or "I want to eat something with a strong flavor," and combine my physical condition and mood at the time with seasonal ingredients . I also feel like I often create recipes based on how I feel I can make it if I have this much energy. I feel like the recipes I share reflect my feelings when I make them.

What I realized because I "tried too hard"

--What experiences led you to your style of "bringing relief and healing to the hard work of everyday life"?
When I first started working, I started living alone and really wanted to live a "careful life." But I tried too hard and it never lasted.
I'm a lazy and careless person (laughs).

-So you sometimes struggled with the gap between your ideals and reality.
Yes, there was. But once I found that "just right level of comfort" that didn't force me , I felt so much better. Everyone has some kind of role to play and works hard every day. If cooking every day can be a way to relax even a little, or to let off some steam, maybe there will be people who find some relief, just like I did back then. That thought led me to share my thoughts today.

Key points for choosing products that will "add color to your life"

--When choosing tools and tableware for your daily use, is there anything you pay particular attention to?
It's about whether it can be used for a long time without getting bored, whether it's practical, and whether it has a "story" to it . If it makes me feel a little better every time I pick it up, and if it brings kindness and joy back into my life, I feel like I can spend every day in a good mood.

--You also value your relationship with your tools.
I cherish the feeling that "I'm sure I'll be happy if I'm with this person."

Reasons for using the "KANZEN Knife"

-What was your impression after using Tashinam's "KANZEN Knife"?
Not only does it have the sustainable value of being able to be used for a long time, but I was also strongly attracted to the fact that it is imbued with the desire to protect, pass on, and pass on traditional Japanese techniques to the future .

--There are some overlapping points with the SDGs, which are the core of Sawa's message.
Because I use them every day in cooking, they remind me of the importance of cherishing things . It gives me a warm feeling to think that I too am playing a part in that cycle through the act of cooking.

Rather than forcing myself to choose something because it's good for the environment, I feel a sense of "comfort" in it that makes me want to continue using it for a long time because it makes me feel good, and I hope that this comfort can help start a natural cycle that ultimately has a positive impact on the Earth and society.

"Communicate in a relaxed manner, but with clarity"

-What kind of messages do you want to send out through your future activities?
I want to cherish the feeling that "you don't have to try hard," and I feel that small moments of cooking, such as cutting some vegetables, the moment when steam rises, or the sound of soup simmering, can suddenly relax the soul, without forcing myself, through my cooking .

Another theme I would like to share is the importance of valuing ingredients , such as using vegetables with the skin on and eating them whole, right down to the root. It doesn't have to be extravagant, but I hope to continue sharing recipes that are easy to find at home.

--Sawa's recipes are truly relaxing and soothing. Finally, could you please say a few words to everyone?
Because I'm a lazy person, choosing tools that lift my spirits and things that I want to use for a long time leads to a sense of comfort for me, which can ultimately lead to choices that are kind to society and the earth.

I would be happy if I could provide an opportunity for this natural cycle through my messages. It's fine if not everyone can relate to it, but if even one thing can be incorporated into people's lives, that would be enough to make me happy.

👇Watch Sawa's review video of the KANZEN Knife here👇

👇 Check out Sawa's recipe video using the KANZEN Knife here👇

What is the KANZEN Knife that Sawa uses?

This flagship model from Tashinam uses 100% high-quality VG-10 (V Gold No. 10) stainless steel for the blade, achieving the perfect balance of sharpness, ease of maintenance, and design. Each knife is crafted by skilled artisans in Seki City, Gifu Prefecture, a region renowned for its blade production.