Table of contents:
Story of RyuKoch (Ryusei Hosono)
Foreword
Until recently, I had a completely normal, factual and boring "About me" page. The problem: No one was interested in the fact that I am 20 years old and a web designer. That's why I want to do it differently now, or rather, more beautifully and elegantly. I want to tell you a true story about this blog, which is about motivation, development and also failure. It sounds curious and unusual at first, but just stick with me and you'll understand what I mean.
01 The Beginning
It's winter (December to be precise). I was in my room when my mother suddenly came in and told me to come downstairs as she had something important to discuss with me. When I got downstairs, she told me that she had decided to return to Japan with my little brother, who was 9 years old. The reason was: She could hardly speak German. Well, and living in Germany without being able to speak German is pretty bad, even if you live in Düsseldorf. You hardly have any friends, it's hard to communicate with the teachers and so on. That's why she wanted to go back to at least give my little brother a simple childhood. Because when I went to German school, my parents weren't exactly helpful. We always spoke Japanese at home. Well, it doesn't matter so much that I have to go into detail, but it does have something to do with the creation of the food blog, so it's not so unimportant.
02 Back to Japan
It's April now. My mother has been in Japan for two weeks now. Now my little brother had to leave too and I said goodbye to him. A moment I will never forget. So what does my life look like now? I live alone and am preparing for my training as a media designer, because I love programming and designing. What I miss are my mother and especially my little brother. Luckily I still had my middle brother who was 17 years old. Back then I started many projects, but also stopped them again after at least one or at most two months. I was getting tired of that, but I just couldn't see a project through.
03 The Start
For a long time I continued, photographed, produced videos, programmed, designed, helped people and cooked. But everything separately. One day, while I was cooking Japanese food with a friend, I had the idea that I could combine photography, cooking, programming and designing, which is called a food blog. I immediately found out how complex a food blog is, what kind of success you can have, etc. Well, my research was very sobering. There are now large companies that run food blogs, which you can't compete with, that was the opinion at the time. So I thought to myself, well, it doesn't matter, I can start another project. That was then also the best decision of my life!
04 No Motivation
Three months have passed and to be honest, the motivation was gone... Again, and well, I told myself back then, Ryusei, you know what, you learned a lot, you programmed a lot and you learned a lot about that kind of blogger life. So I more or less left the project behind, but with the idea in the back of my mind: Mh, I invested a lot of work and money in this project, so don't give up completely and maybe do something once or twice a month. That's what I did.
05 I miss him
I have a problem. I miss my brother terribly. Because of the 8-hour time difference and my work, there are hardly any opportunities to communicate. My brother used to run into my room every day after school and say heyyyyyy . That was really like that XD. But now I can't see, hear or feel him anymore. I wondered what I could do to be able to travel to Japan, but well, with only 600 euros in training wages there's no way to put money aside. So I capitulated until I learned through marketing, i.e. my job, that you can earn money with blogging if you really see it through. Not much, but a little, so that a trip to Japan would be possible. So I grabbed my computer, or rather I sat down at my PC and started writing. What I hate..... ohhh God, that was boring, 20 - 50 - 100 - 200 words, ok that's enough! I can't write more. Photographing, programming and designing was fun, of course, but writing... But I saw it through, I had a goal!
06 Why do I enjoy this?
So I wrote a text with about 100 - 200 words every week, but the success, as well as the satisfaction, didn't increase. And then marketing came into play again: I watched a few webinars about writing and marketing. They said that a text must have at least 300 words, otherwise it's not a good sign for Google. So I changed my plan and wrote my first "long" text. *Cough* 500 words long. Just enough for Google. I did it two or three times and the fourth time, I suddenly enjoyed it. I wanted to write! I suddenly wanted to form beautiful sentences and it became important to me what words I used. It sounds a bit exaggerated now, but no, it was really a success for me. I've never voluntarily read a book in my entire life, let alone written a text. I always avoided it and now it's suddenly fun. Now I had five great hobbies: cooking, programming, photographing, designing and writing, and all the hobbies fit the food blog. Perfect!
07 Present
Now I'm sitting here in the café and writing this text, full of motivation and fun! I want to travel to Japan with my hobby and see my brother again, experience a lot of Japanese food culture along the way and bring it closer to you. Hug my mother and talk to my grandmothers and grandfathers.
08 The End
If you've read down to here, respect! Before I end this article, I would like to explain something. Why the page /about-us/ is called that and not /about-me/. I have a small team of people behind this food blog who help me and motivate me to write posts. I would especially like to thank Markus Igel, who has helped me a lot in setting up this blog. Also to Daia S.. who has always motivated me to write posts and brought me to cool ideas. Top to both of you! Last but not least, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my true story about me and this food blog. I also thank you for visiting my food blog and hope you like the posts as well as the recipes. Thank you for giving me the strength to keep going to make my dream come true.
If you have any questions or corrections, feel free to post a comment under this post. If you add the word PRIVATE, I will not publish it.
Now there is also a timeline of RyuKoch
April 2023 - Atami Trip
At the end of April 2023, I decided to take a trip to Atami, a beautiful coastal city in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Atami is famous for its hot springs (Onsen) and scenic landscapes, surrounded by stunning mountains and the vast ocean. The city offers a perfect blend of relaxation, culture and adventure, sure to captivate any traveler. In Atami, I visited the Atami Castle, among other things, from where I had breathtaking views of the city and Sagami Bay.
April 2023 - 2nd Trip to Ibaraki (Hitachi Seaside Park)
In April 2023 we went on our second trip to Ibaraki to visit the impressive Hitachi Seaside Park again. This time we were luckier, as we were greeted by a breathtaking sea of blue flowers, which we could enjoy to the fullest.
The bright blue Nemophila flowers, which dipped the park in a fascinating blue, were in full bloom and offered a spectacular backdrop. The hills were dotted with these enchanting blossoms, which blended harmoniously into the blue sky and created an almost surreal atmosphere.
February 2023 - Trip to Chichibu
In February 2023, I took a two-day trip to Chichibu, a city in Saitama Prefecture, not far from Tokyo. I enjoyed a pleasant train ride there and explored the station and the city upon arrival. During my stay, I marveled at the fascinating icicles of Ashigakubo and explored the beautiful Onouchi Gorge. My hotel offered comfortable accommodations and I had the opportunity to enjoy traditional Japanese cuisine as well as local cafes and wine tastings. Overall, the trip to Chichibu was an unforgettable experience that I can recommend to anyone looking for a relaxing and culturally enriching experience in Japan.
February 2022 - Trip to Kusatsu Onsen
In February 2022, I embarked on an unforgettable journey to the picturesque hot spring town of Kusatsu Onsen, known for its hot springs and breathtaking panorama of the surrounding mountains and snow-covered landscapes. Kusatsu Onsen is located in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, and is a popular destination for relaxation seekers and nature lovers, especially during the winter months.
February 2022 - Trip to Ibaraki (Hitachi Seaside Park)
In February 2022, I went on a trip to Ibaraki to visit the beautiful Hitachi Seaside Park. Unfortunately, we weren't lucky on our first try, as no flowers were blooming. Nevertheless, the overall experience was nice and relaxing.
Hitachi Seaside Park is known for its stunning seasonal blooms, especially the bright blue Nemophila flowers that transform the park into a sea of blue in spring. But upon our arrival, we were surprised by the absence of the colorful blossoms, but we weren't discouraged and decided to enjoy the natural beauty of the park nonetheless.
January 2022 - Trip to Nikko
In January 2022, I embarked on an exciting trip to Nikko, a charming city in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Nikko, famous for its beautiful natural landscapes and rich history, was the perfect place for a 1-2 day discovery tour in the midst of nature.
In my travelogue, I share my experiences, tips and recommendations for an unforgettable stay in Nikko. The post is titled "Nikko (日光市) Trip - Travel Guide" and is intended to serve as a comprehensive guide for your own trip to this fascinating region.
January 2022 - RyuKoch and Mattzip
In January 2022, we made an important decision: We decided to shelve the Korean part of our blog and launch a new blog called "Mattzip." This step was taken to provide our readers with a better and more specialized experience, especially with regard to Korean cuisine and culture.
July 2021 - Fukui Travelogue: Experiences and Discoveries
Learn more about my exciting adventures and fascinating discoveries during my summer weekend trip to Fukui in 2021.
July 2021 - Trip to Shiga and Lake Biwa
In July 2021, I went on an unforgettable trip to Shiga and Lake Biwa in Japan. Shiga, a prefecture in western Japan, is known for its stunning landscapes and the majestic Lake Biwa, the largest freshwater lake in the country.
June 2020 - Collaboration with K-Shop
In June 2020, we began an exciting collaboration with the renowned K-Shop, a popular online store specializing in Japanese and Korean foods. As our focus is on conveying Asian culture and cuisine, this partnership is very beneficial for both parties. K-Shop offers a wide selection of authentic foods that provide our readers and visitors with the ultimate taste experience.
Thanks to this collaboration, we can now link many of their outstanding products directly on our website, making it easy for our users to access these fantastic foods and order them conveniently to their home. In return for linking these products, we receive a commission from K-Shop. This partnership allows us to continue to provide high-quality content and information about Asian cuisine while simultaneously giving our readers access to the best Japanese and Korean foods.
February 2020 - Emigration to Japan
February 2020 marked the beginning of a whole new chapter for me. I had decided to follow my mother and brother to Japan to build a new life there. This step was not only a spatial change for me, but also a great personal challenge.
Upon arriving in Japan, I was warmly welcomed by my family, which made the transition to the new environment easier for me. The first few weeks were full of new impressions and experiences that life in a foreign environment brings with it. I started learning the language more intensively and familiarizing myself with the country's traditions and customs. During this time, I laid the foundation for my new life in Japan and looked forward to continuing this exciting and educational journey.
August 2019 - USA Trip
In August 2019, we embarked on an exciting trip to the USA, where we visited numerous Japan and KoreaTowns. These vibrant neighborhoods are known for their cultural offerings and exotic flavors, taking us on a culinary journey through the diverse cuisines of Asia. In cities like Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco, we were able to experience the best of both worlds by strolling through the lively streets and dining in the many tempting restaurants and cafes.
The food, in particular, was an absolute highlight of our trip. In the JapanTowns, we enjoyed delicious Shabu Shabu, steaming bowls of Ramen and refreshing Kakigori ice cream
March 2019 - Japan Trip
In March 2019, I had the pleasure of traveling to Japan again. Since I had to continue with my normal work during this time, I unfortunately didn't have the opportunity to share many of my experiences with you. Nevertheless, I would like to give you a little insight into my trip here.
January 2019 - New Figures
In January 2019, we had exciting new figures and statistics from the RyuKoch food blog. We would like to share this great news with you and express our gratitude for your continued support.
August 2018 - second RyuKoch Japan trip
I am very happy to announce that thanks to your great support, I will be flying to Japan for the second time! This time I will be focusing even more on the blog to provide you with even more exciting insights and tips from the land of the rising sun.
August 2018 - Miso Course
In August 2018, I had the pleasure of taking a Miso course together with my brother on my trip to Japan. This experience proved to be incredibly exciting and enriching, as we had the opportunity to experience the traditional Japanese art of Miso making firsthand. During the course, we learned how to make Miso from various ingredients such as soybeans, rice and salt, and gained a deep insight into the fermentation processes that create the unique flavor of this staple food.
December 2017 - my first RyuKoch Japan trip
In December 2017, thanks to your generous support, I had the wonderful opportunity to fly to Japan! As a Japanese who has lived in Germany for years, this was a unique opportunity to see my home country again and visit my beloved family.
October 2017
We were invited to the FoodCamp 2017 by Chefkoch.de - you can find the article here .
July 2017
Our first cooperation - You can find the recipe here .
May 2017
We were mentioned by the Rheinische Post ("RP Online is one of the German news portals with the largest reach and reaches 8
Comments
Hey, dein Über uns Beitrag hat noch einige Rechtschreibfehler! Überarbeite es und es wird perfekt.
Ich habe mir soeben mal deine Geschicht durchgelesen, und war sehr berührt gewesen. ;__; dass du deine Familie vermisst. und so viele Rückschläge hattest. ich kenne das mit der Motivation auch und bin noch dabei mich irgendwie anzuspornen etwas aus meinem Leben zu machen, trotz einem kleinen Kind.. desweiteren habe ich mir schon ein paar Beiträge seit gestern den 3.1. 2018 durchgelesen und habe spontan mich dazu entschlossen, Onigiris zu machen, und war darüber mehr als erstaunt, wie gut sie mir gelungen sind, und dass ich ohne das video vorher anzusehen, genau alles richtig gemacht habe. :> habe nämlich vor, mich komplett Japanisch zu ernähren. da ich merkte, dass es mir und meiner Gesundheit gut tut. doch dann stieß ich auf eure Seite und bin motiviert ohne ende (jedenfalls, was die Ernährungsumstellung angeht, - ernähre mich seit gut 2b bis 3 monaten schon asiatisch ^^ liebe grüße Jana Ryu
Hallo Ryusei, zuerst einmal muss ich dir meinen Respekt aussprechen, weil ich deine Geschichte gelesen habe und sehr gerührt war. Familie ist das höchste Gut im Leben eines Menschen. Man kann alles erreichen, wenn man die richtigen Beweggründe hat. Jetzt zu mir..... Japan ist für mich ein eindrucksvolles Land, mit einer langen Geschichte an Tradition, Kultur und Entwicklung. Schon immer war ich von Japan fasziniert. Nun hab ich durch den Film THE LAST SAMURAI mit Tom Cruise auch meine 12 Jahre alte Tochter auf den Geschmack der japanischen Kultur und Geschichte gebracht, sie ist ein totaler Manga und Anime Fan, zeichnet selbst sehr gern und hat schon so manches Kunstwerk vollbracht, sogar schon Preise bekommen. Das ganze wollen Mama und Tochter noch etwas ausbauen, da wir uns beide für die Kunst des Samurai Schwertes interessieren, und das große Glück haben, in Brandenburg an der Havel zu wohnen, wo auch Sebastian Kopke "SATO" lebt, der sich in großem Stil mit Kampfsport befasst und seine Lebensweisheiten, sein Können in Kursen mit jedem teilt, der Interesse hat. Dazu kommen etliche Projekte mit Kindern und Jugendlichen, denen er die Chance auf ein neues leben gibt. Zu allem Überfluss bin ich gerade dabei meine Ernährung umzustellen, gesünder und bewusster zu leben. Durch meine große Tochter bin ich auf die Idee japanische Küche gekommen, dass diese sehr gesund ist, ist ja allgemein bekannt. Und für sie könnte sich alles um Japan drehen, auch das essen, so möchte sie ihren Freund, der ebenfalls großer Fan von Anime und Manga und natürlich Japan ist, japanisch bekochen. Die beiden haben sich auch auf japanisch geschrieben, dass sie sich lieben. Also Japan hat sich bei uns überall eingeschlichen und nun kommt das essen dazu, mal sehen wie mein mann reagiert lach. Dadurch habe ich euren Food Blog entdeckt und muss ganz ehrlich sagen, gerade für sein ein Greenhorn wie mich, sehr übersichtlich und leicht verständlich, also super wie ihr das aufgebaut habt und ich kann nur sagen weiter so, Daumen hoch. Schade, dass die Originalzutaten in Deutschland doch recht teuer sind, daher wird täglich kochen schwierig, aber da es sich erstmal nur um uns zwei beiden Weiber handelt, geht es noch, insgesamt sind wir fünf Personen, drei kinder mein mann und ich und drei Hunde, also langweilig ist es nicht. Die japanische Küche wird dann ein kleiner Vorgeschmack, denn unser großes neues Hauptziel wird ein urlaub in Japan sein, natürlich aus Kostengründen nicht alle fünf, aber ich mit meiner großen auf jeden fall. Viele liebe Grüße aus Brandenburg an der Havel hinterlassen Mama Jessika und Tochter Nyah
Hallo zusammen, habe eben diesen Blog gefunden und finde ihn super. Ich interessiere mich seit einigen Wochen sehr für die koreanische Küche und bin auf der Suche nach Inspiration. Hier habe ich sie gefunden - danke. Macht weiter so. Evelyn
Super Blog,werde mich mit meiner Tochter mal in der Küche austoben bei den schönen Rezepten....Danke Ryu&Matthias
Ich suche schon so lange nach Odeng, fishcake, um mein koreanisches Gericht zu kochen.nirgends wurde ich im Netz fündig. Könnt ihr mir helfen ?
HI interessante Seite ;o genki desu ka ? Gruss A.L.
Korrektur von Ryuseis Vorstellungstext: Entscheidung statt Endscheidung (Ende vom Absatz „03 Der Start“) Sehr interessante Geschichte! Ich bin neu auf Eurem Foodblog und bin gespannt auf die weitere Entwicklung :) PRIVAT (da lediglich Korrektur)
Hey, vielen Dank für Eure tollen Erklärungen und Rezepte zu Dashi und japanischem Fondue und macht weiter so mit Eurem klasse Blog! Liebe Grüße Linus
Hallo,habe soeben euren Blog entdeckt.Ich bin durch meinen Sohn Luca dazu gekommen mich auch für Japan zu interessieren.Land,Leute,Kultur und natürlich essen.Unser großer Traum einmal dort Urlaub zu machen.Werde mich in der nächsten Zeit ausgiebig mit dem Blog beschäftigen und sich einiges dazu lernen.Danke für die Infos und Rezepte und noch viel Spaß damit und Erfolge.Grüße aus Italien Bettina.
Hallo, ich habe deine Seite mit Interesse gelesen und nun eine große Bitte: Mein Mann und ich haben ein winzig kleinen Eigenverlag, den Hans Hauer und Ruth Linhart Eigenverlag HARU Wien. wir sind kein kommerzieller Verlag, sondern das Büchermachen ist nur unser Hobby. Ich schreibe die Texte, Hans macht die Bücher mit der Hand und bindet sie in japanisches Papier. Jetzt haben wir ein Büchlein über unsere letzte Japanreise im November 2023 gemacht. Es heißt: Im Reich des Schwarzrachen. eine kulinarische Reise in Japan. Darin kommen auch Rezepte vor. Meine Bitte ist diese: Bitte gib uns die Erlaubnis bei unserem Oden-Rezept auf deine Internet-Seite mit dem Oden-Rezept zu verweisen. Wir geben auch deinen URL an und den QR-Code deiner Seite. Ich habe dir auch bereits zwei Emails an die Email-Adresse, die im Impressum deiner Webseite angegeben ist, geschrieben. Unsere Webseite ist http://www.ruthlinhart.com/verlag.htm . Ich habe dir in den bisherigen E-Mails auch den Rezepte-Teil unseres Buches geschickt mit deiner URL und dem passenden QR-Code. Wir wären sehr dankbar, wenn du uns kontaktieren und die Erlaubnis geben würdest. Viele liebe Grüße aus Wien Ruth