Both of my parents lived through the Japanese occupation period. Maybe that's why the food at home always had a Japanese touch. In my childhood memories, the elders often talked about life during that era—older generations working hard in the fields all day, only to have a pot of sweet potato stems with just a little white rice to get by. My grandmother, who was a child bride from a young age, took on the responsibility of caring for the whole family. Even during tough times, she never cut corners with meals and always found creative ways to make them special. Even something as simple as homegrown vegetables boiled and topped with soy sauce was a rare treat back then. My father used to tell me, 'After eating so many sweet potato stems as a child, just having a bowl of white rice with boiled greens and soy sauce was better than any feast.' My Japanese-style spinach carries my father's memories and mine—a simple dish, but full of deep feelings.