Photo/Illutration A soup posted Dec. 15 on "#Soup365," a Twitter thread (Captured from Twitter)

A soup recipe that was posted Dec. 15 on "#Soup365," a Twitter thread, made my mouth water.

"I used leftover tomatoes, onions and ground beef," went the text. The attached picture of the soup looked richly spiced and warming.

The poster was Kaori Ariga, 57, a home cook who writes about food and cooking.

Ariga started making soup every morning 10 years ago in December, when her oldest son, who had only a small appetite, was studying for a school entrance test.

She kept up the routine even after her children were grown and only her husband and herself were left at home.

Over the years, she has made more than 3,000 soups.

She has also published a series of recipe books for quick and easy-to-prepare meals, including what she named "Lunch Soup Ready in 10 Minutes in the Morning" and "Soup for After A Long, Hard Day."

"If you creatively combine vegetables in season with prepackaged or frozen foods, you can whip up a pretty decent meal in five minutes," she explained.

While building up her culinary credibility, Ariga devised a new style of kitchen unit that incorporated a table, cooktop and sink.

It is called the "Mingle" because everyone gathers around it to take turns cooking, eating and washing up, enabling the entire family to participate.

I know it's too late for regrets, but I have hardly ever held a cooking knife in my life.

My grandmother, a product of the Taisho Era (1912-1926), was wont to say, "Men do not go into the kitchen."

Having thus never learned to cook for myself, I ate out every day while working away from my family and ruined my health.

When I told this to Ariga, she said as she handed me a knife, "You need to try making something first."

I broke into a cold sweat as I struggled to shave "gobo" (burdock root) for "tonjiru" (miso soup with pork and vegetables).

Even though I have so far devoted myself solely to eating what I was served, I am now envious of people who can cook effortlessly.

But with Ariga's encouraging words--"It's OK to resort to time-saving measures" and "shortcuts are fine"--I am beginning to see a glimmer of hope.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Dec. 16

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.

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