2026, Memoirs

Entering my 5th year in Japan...I started as a language student and somehow became a Thai restaurant owner. I never thought I’d stay here this long. 

In my first year, all I wanted was to go back to Thailand, but now, I actually want to live here. Another huge surprise is that I never imagined myself running a Thai restaurant full-time. It’s challenging, but honestly, it’s mostly just a lot of fun. 

Every day is a thrill: wondering if everything will go smoothly, if we’ll get the orders out on time, or if we’ll suddenly run out of ingredients. I always find myself asking, "Do my customers and I share the same taste buds?" and "Is my level of 'spicy' the same as theirs?" 

One of the greatest blessings in my life is the amazing people around me my family, friends, and our wonderful customers. Many of them started as customers, became friends, and now feel like family. It warms my heart every time a regular brings their parents to eat, or when couples choose our restaurant for their date nights, eventually get married, and then bring their babies to visit. Some even followed us to support our booth at the Thai Festival! It’s just so sweet. 

Personally, I love this kind of vibe. It gives me so much energy and makes me want to keep doing this. It's a fun journey and a perfect way to balance my time away from the computer screen.

Looking back at the past 5 years, I want to thank my mom, my family, and my friends who always came to visit. Thank you for bringing such good people into my life, and thank you to those who came to teach me a lesson and parted ways on good terms -)