An unexpected journey, a lot of sugar, and the wonderful people behind the jars.
Until recently, I had no idea that there was such a thing as the World Marmalade Awards & Festival. A whole international competition dedicated to marmalade? Who knew! And here's the funny part. I had never particularly liked marmalade. In fact, I had very little interest in it at all. Haha. So how did I end up at a marmalade festival, surrounded by some of the most passionate marmalade makers in the world?
It all started through a friend of a friend, a pastry chef named Yuichi, based in Hiroshima, Japan. He is the person behind you-ichi, a brand whose name he came up with himself. "You" means you, and "ichi" means one in Japanese. I love that little story behind the name. I went along to help him at the event, knowing almost nothing about marmalade. Without that connection, I would probably never have discovered this wonderful and rather extraordinary world. I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into.
While everyone around me was enthusiastically discussing recipes, citrus varieties, cooking methods, and all sorts of technical details, I could barely follow the conversations. I had never even looked up a marmalade recipe in my life! I was probably the only person there who knew almost nothing about marmalade. But something about all these people fascinated me.
They were so serious, so passionate, and so full of enthusiasm for what they were making. And somewhere along the way, I realized I had tasted over 100 different jams and marmalades in a single day! Just a tiny spoonful of each, of course. But when you add them all up, I must have licked my way through more than an entire jar. You can probably guess what happened next. Haha! All that sugar made me ridiculously happy and perhaps a little too excited. Suddenly, I wasn't shy or nervous about approaching complete strangers and asking them my rather unusual question.
"What does marmalade mean to you?"
Maybe it was genuine curiosity. Maybe it was the sugar rush. Probably both. And I received the most wonderful answers.
"Marmalade is magic."
"Heritage and relationships."
"A tool for connecting people."
"My life's work."
"A way of registering ourselves in the world."
"A way of keeping time."
I loved how different their answers were. Some spoke about family and memories, others about traditions, relationships, or simply the joy of making something. I began to see that every little jar contained much more than oranges and sugar. There were stories, memories, years of experience, and sometimes an entire philosophy of life behind it. Isn't that wonderful?
Something I had never given much thought to suddenly became so interesting. And it reminded me of something I've always believed. When you know who made something, why they made it, and what kind of life exists behind it, even the most ordinary object starts to look different. You begin to see things with a little more curiosity, and perhaps a little more affection. I feel that knowing these stories somehow makes everyday life richer. This has always been at the heart of Yoka Good Things.
Not simply introducing Japanese crafts or beautiful things, but sharing the people, stories, and lives behind them. And hopefully creating connections between people through the objects they make and use.
Since moving to London, my work with Yoka has been on a bit of a pause. But being surrounded by these passionate makers reminded me how much I enjoy what I do. Meeting people, asking questions, listening to their stories, and discovering the unexpected things that connect us. I also found it quite funny that the world of marmalade and the world of folk craft, which seem to have absolutely nothing to do with each other, actually share so much in common.
The dedication to making something with care. The knowledge passed down through generations. The individuality of each maker. And the stories that make every object unique. Who would have thought I'd find all of that in a jar of marmalade?
I'm so grateful to the friend who brought me into this world, and to all the wonderful makers who took the time to talk to someone who knew almost nothing about their craft. It reminded me once again how much I love meeting people. No matter where I go, there always seem to be interesting, funny, and inspiring people to discover. You never know what a chance encounter might lead to.
And now, whenever I see a jar of marmalade or jam, I find myself wondering about the person behind it. I suppose I'll never look at marmalade quite the same way again. What an unexpected and lovely little adventure. And the funniest thing is, my fascination with marmalade and jam has only just begun!
