Dear Japanese Food Lovers,
Hello from Aiko at isfor WA, Oxford!
“3-Minute Cooking” (Sanpun Kan Kukkingu) TV show in Japan, first aired in 1963, this long-running program has become a cultural icon, teaching viewers how to prepare simple, seasonal dishes in just a few minutes.
📺 The Concept
Despite its name, the recipes don’t actually take only three minutes. Instead, each short segment demonstrates everyday cooking ideas that are quick, approachable, and suitable for the home kitchen. The “three minutes” refers to the show’s bite-sized length — short enough to catch during a busy day, yet long enough to inspire.
🍲 Why It Matters
- Longevity: The show has been on air for over half a century, with thousands of recipes introduced.
- Accessibility: Ingredients are familiar, affordable, and tied to seasonal Japanese cooking.
- Education: Many people remember watching it with parents or grandparents, learning kitchen basics along the way.
More Than Just Recipes
“3-Minute Cooking” reflects Japan’s food culture — valuing seasonality, balance, and practicality. It’s not only about cooking fast, but about making cooking part of daily life.
Isfor WA shares the same idea 🌱 — helping you enjoy delicious Japanese food at home using ingredients you can easily find. We also create step videos that are short and to the point, perfect for busy lifestyles.
Have you got everything ready for the new term? The packed-lunch making is nearly at its end, too. I offer an omelette rice (omurice) recipe in my Isfor WA classes, but I also made omurice rice balls and square-shaped omurice for my daughter’s lunch box! I personally thought those are cute😉
Happy Cooking!
Aiko
isfor WA
