First it was the news. I immediately wanted to learn about the situation more, not through Japanese or international media, but from Ukrainians or people actually in Ukraine. I joined Twitter in February 2022, because I thought that would be the best way I can hear directly from Ukrainians. I read US/ UK news a lot, and knew that information on countries that are outside of the "major" Western countries (like US/ UK) tend to be shallower or slower than what is reported locally, since that happens with news on Japan, and since we have social media now, I wanted to learn directly about the situation from Ukrainian voices. 

How did you find out about our foundation?

On Twitter. I kept on following Ukrainian journalists like Maksym Eristavi, Olga Tokariuk, Kyiv Independent, Sara-Ashton Cirillo (American in nationality, but in Ukraine and has now joined your army), which introduced me to Ukrainian volunteers/ volunteer groups. First Ukraine Aid Ops, 3xR, Alex Bond, and others. All4Ukraine popped up on my timeline.

Why did you choose it?

I did not immediately donate after finding All4Ukraine, I want to be sure I am donating to the right place, so I started with donating to organizations that people like Maksym or Sarah recommended. I have been looking at your Twitter and website a bit before deciding to donate, seeing your reports of activities before I felt comfortable. 

You won a flag signed by Yevhen Klopotenko. Have you tried to cook according to his recipes?

I saw his YouTube tutorial and have bought his recipes translated in Japanese before buying the flag he signed, and have already tried some of his recipes. A Japanese lady, who married a Ukrainian man, translated Chef Klopotenko`s recipes to Japanese (with his consent) and donated the proceeds to the Embassy of Ukraine in Japan. I also learned from various tweets, including tweets from Ambassador Korsunsky (Ukraine`s Ambassodor to Japan) that borscht is a Ukrainian dish, and that Chef Klopotenko was elemental in having borscht recognized as World Heritage from Ukraine, so I really respect him. 

I am attaching pictures showing my progress in making borscht. When I first made one (Borscht 1), I sent the picture to my first Ukrainian friend, Hanna, who I met on Etsy. She sells embroidery designs. She said I should get a grater, so I got one and started making borscht using a grater (borscht 2 to 5). I also have made deruny, Kyiv chicken and Lviv cheesecake. Kyiv chicken and Lviv cheesecake did not look very photogenic, but I used Chef Klopotenko`s recipe for Lviv cheesecake. I am attaching a picture of my cheesecake, which looked very very different from the picture of Chef Klopotenko`s!

I wanted to use the recipe on the flag, but couldn`t read the letters. I am learning Ukrainian right now, but still have trouble reading handwritten Ukrainian. I always ask my teacher how to read something handwritten, but I had a really busy work schedule in October/ November (worked through weekends) and had to postpone lessons. Also, she is in Kyiv and sometimes did not have internet access. So I am waiting until my next lesson to see what it says.

The picture of deruny is when I made it for my husband`s family in the summer. My husband`s father, who had Ukrainian dish for the first time, liked it! 

Do you plan to learn to cook something from Ukrainian national cuisine?

Yes. I don`t cook that much, but want to cook Ukrainian food more! I have a pretty busy work schedule, and usually do not have time to cook. But I like cooking and Ukrainian dishes are very good. They taste good and also good for our health. My husband`s blood pressure, which is always high, gets normal every time we have borscht.

Would you like to visit Ukraine after our victory?

Yes, of course. Slava Ukraini!