Hello! My name is Makiko Itoh (伊藤牧子). I've been writing about Japanese food and cooking for nearly 15 years. I'm the author of two cookbooks: The Just Bento Cookbook: Everyday Lunches To Go; and The Just Bento Cookbook 2: Make-Ahead, Easy, Healthy Lunches To Go. I write a monthly column for The Japan Times called Japanese Kitchen, and I'm the owner/author of two blogs about Japanese food, Just Hungry (since 2003) and Just Bento (since 2007). I also have a brand new site about general Japanese culture and society called Just My Japan, and I do a lot of writing on my Facebook Page too.

While I love writing about food, I also want people to know more about the complex history, culture and society of my homeland too. There are lots of sites in English about Japan these days, but there are precious few actual Japanese people who are able to communicate the nuances of the good, bad and in-between parts of our old, yet post-modern, society from a native's point of view. You may think you know about Japan - but do you? And when you have a question about something Japanese, who do you ask about it?

That's where I think can help to bridge the gap. I was born in Tokyo, and both my parents are Japanese. But I can speak, write and think in English just as easily as I do in Japanese, because I grew up in the UK and the US as well as Japan. It's not just a matter of being fluent in the languages. I am also culturally fluent in Japanese and American, as well as to a limited extent British and French, and Swiss (yes I've lived in a lot of places) cultures. I know when certain Japanese concepts or norms that are taken for granted by Japanese people are puzzling to others, and can help to de-mystify them beyond mere translations.

Why Patreon?
Although I have two cookbooks out, both of which have have sold well, it takes months and years for a book to get to publication using traditional channels. I feel the time for me to branch out with my writing is now, and I also want to explore new methods of making this viable.

My ultimate goal is to be able to spend most of my time writing about Japan and Japanese society, food and culture. With enough support from patrons, that could become possible. Through my writings, I hope that I can help you gain some new insights into many aspects of Japan.