食を慈しみながら楽しむ「お食慈会」。人はここで、栄養は美味しいことを知る。

Feature | 2025.5.24


Enjoying Food with Gratitude: Oshokujikai,
where people realize that nutrition can be delicious.

Friends gather, share lively conversation, and savor fine food,
reaping health and happiness.

“Well-being” has taken hold, with more people waking up to the importance of nurturing a healthy body and mind. It’s not a passing trend—it’s something essential we must remember if we want to live joyfully as human beings. Noriko Yamauchi lives this truth and shares it with others.
“I’d planned to start a project around feminine care, but then the pandemic hit and everything stopped. I began asking what people were eating at home, and was shocked by how unhealthy it was.” With fear keeping people indoors, diet took a back seat, and food delivery surged. “Seeing people trapped at home, stressed out, and eating poorly made me realize they would only get unhealthier—and that’s when the idea for Oshokujikai came to me.”
Oshokujikai isn’t just a dinner party. The character “慈” (ji) means “a heart that brings happiness to life”—a concept rooted in Buddhism. ““At its core, Shokujikai is about using thoughtfully chosen ingredients. It’s simple, but because people are eating what we serve them, I feel deeply responsible for what goes into their bodies.”

To create meals that promote health and happiness, Yamauchi turned to Chef Narihisa Tateno, a long-time acquaintance. “He worked at a major restaurant but couldn’t push for additive-free ingredients. So I asked him to bring his food philosophy to Oshokujikai.” A chef who wanted to create healthy meals, and Yamauchi, who wanted to serve them—their collaboration sparked Oshokujikai.
“It’s hard to make everything additive-free and pesticide-free. But I believe that if about 70% of what you eat is clean, your body stays in good shape. We source directly from trusted producers. Sometimes, we even invite them to join our gatherings and share the value of their work.”
Oshokujikai has been held about twice a month for nearly five years, welcoming many participants. Close friends gather to savor Chef Tateno’s dishes made from the finest seasonal ingredients, beautifully plated on carefully chosen tableware. It’s the kind of experience that leaves you rejuvenated in body and mind. “Eating without thought or emotional connection isn’t really eating,” he says. “I want people to imagine the story behind each dish—even something as simple as honey. When you connect with where food comes from, you develop a deeper respect for ingredients, and in turn, nourish both body and soul.”
We eat to live—so eating for health should be second nature.That’s the simple truth Oshokujikai taught me.

閲覧中の特集はこちら

私をつくる食。

yoff

VOL.17

私をつくる食。

人は食べて生きている、という話。

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