Asuka Hashimoto
橋本 明朱花
Born and raised in the wilderness of Fukushima, Japan, I studied abroad from a youth, accumulating values and different aesthetic sensibilities from various cultures
before returning to Japan and eventually ending up in Finland.
The world of cooking drew me in when I felt the connection between nature, people and food through my upbringing. The way we eat is reflective of our culture as well as our individual stories - The act is both social and very personal at the same time. Above all, I was fascinated by how food sustains life itself.
I ran my own vegan restaurants serving organic food in Tokyo and subsequently Kyoto for over a decade. Taking on Japanese traditions, the wisdom of grandmas along with knowledge my own ancestors have passed down from ancient times and combining them with the macrobiotic way of thinking that my parents have practiced and taught for almost 50 years led me to create my original cuisine that aims to be both ethical and healthy, which I call "mindful food".
My rules for cooking are simple; fun for the eyes, tasty for the tongue, and healthy for the body and mind. Cooking is like a prayer for me - a ritual for thinking of mother earth and the connection to our everyday joy in the enjoyment of nature.
These days you'll likely find me working with food in some capacity either in Helsinki, Finland or Kyoto, Japan and always looking for fun projects & collaborators!
For catering, cooking lessons & writing assignments I can be reached at:
+358 41 717 0197
hello@asukahashimoto.com