On March 4, 2026, the long running Japanese morning show Asaichi on NHK General TV presented a compelling feature titled “Harumi Kurihara — 100 Things I Want to Do: Life Lessons for Enjoying Every Moment.” The episode, now available on NHK ONE catch up streaming until March 11, followed celebrated cookbook author and cooking personality Harumi Kurihara as she pursues passion, creativity, and connection well into her later years.
This episode is not just a biography; it is a thoughtful exploration of personal reinvention, emotional healing, and living life with curiosity and joy at any age.
Who Is Harumi Kurihara?
Harumi Kurihara is one of Japan’s most beloved culinary figures. As a cookbook author with over 32 million copies sold worldwide, she helped define modern home cooking in Japan over the past several decades.
Born in 1947, she became widely known for her accessible recipes, warm writing style, and ability to turn simple ingredients into comforting meals. Her influence touches generations of home cooks, not just through cookbooks but through television appearances, product lines, and lifestyle advocacy.
While Kurihara’s legacy has long been centered on food, Asaichi’s feature revealed an even deeper side of her story, one of vulnerability, loss, reinvention, and ongoing adventure.
The “100 Things I Want to Do” Project: A Life List for Joy and Discovery
After the death of her beloved husband, former TV announcer Reiji Kurihara, in 2019 from lung cancer, Harumi faced a deep emotional turning point. Grieving his loss, she confronted the question that many of us avoid: What truly matters in life?
It was around this time that she created what she calls her “100 Things I Want to Do” list, a personal compilation of goals, passions, and experiences she did not want to leave untried. While goal lists are often associated with young entrepreneurs or productivity culture, Kurihara’s list is deeply reflective, emotional, and rooted not in achievement but in engagement with the world.
These 100 things range from creative pursuits like playing the electric guitar to deepening relationships with people in regional communities, including those in Fukushima, and expanding her engagement beyond the kitchen.
Kurihara’s list challenges assumptions about aging and timidity, showing that age truly is not a barrier to joy, exploration, and meaningful interaction.
Inside the Asaichi Feature: Highlights from the Episode
The Asaichi segment titled “Life Lessons for Enjoying Every Moment” unfolds as a documentary style journey, blending interviews, personal reflections, and real world encounters.
Here are some key elements from the broadcast:
Learning Electric Guitar
One of the most unexpected moments in Kurihara’s journey was her decision to take up the electric guitar, a bold pursuit for someone best known for writing recipes. The show captured her practice sessions and candid reflections, illustrating how new challenges can bring new energy and self discovery.
Connecting with Fukushima Residents
Kurihara traveled to Fukushima Prefecture to meet with local residents, share experiences, and participate in community life. This part of the program highlighted not only Kurihara’s warmth but also the resilience of locals still shaped by recovery efforts after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.
Her interactions were more than symbolic; they revealed how shared meals, conversation, and mutual support can bridge emotional landscapes and bring people together.
Cooking and Inspiration
While the episode is not purely a cooking show, Kurihara’s culinary roots were present. For example, during the same Asaichi broadcast, she demonstrated her pan fried char siu, an easy one pan recipe designed to uplift everyday cooking.
This recipe reflects Kurihara’s philosophy that cooking, like life, should be energizing, accessible, and shared.
Healing After Loss: A Personal Story with Universal Themes
A major theme running through the Asaichi feature is emotional resilience. Kurihara has spoken publicly about how difficult the years after her husband’s passing were, describing moments when there wasn’t a day without tears.
Rather than retreat, she chose to live differently by focusing on what she still wanted to experience, not what she had lost. This honest approach to grief, acknowledging pain while moving forward, is one of the core takeaways for viewers.
Her story resonates because it transforms loss into motivation, not resignation. It reminds us that joy does not erase sorrow; it builds around it.
Why This Episode Matters: Broader Cultural and Social Insights
The feature is not just about one person’s journey; it reflects broader values that are meaningful in Japanese culture and globally.
Life Beyond Age Stereotypes
Kurihara’s continual pursuit of new activities dispels age related stereotypes. Whether it is learning guitar at nearly 80 or collaborating with community kitchens and farmers, her list shows that curiosity and growth are lifelong pursuits.
Community Connection
Her focus on Fukushima underscores the importance of rebuilding and human connection. By engaging with people whose lives were impacted by disaster, Kurihara shows that joy can be rooted not in isolation, but in shared human experience.
Cooking as Cultural Glue
Food, while not the sole focus, remains a powerful metaphor throughout the episode. Cooking bridges generations, cultures, and emotions, making everyday moments rich and meaningful.
How to Watch
The special episode portion of Asaichi featuring Harumi Kurihara’s “100 Things I Want to Do” is available for missed episodes on NHK ONE until March 11 at 6:23 am JST.
For English speakers, NHK often provides limited subtitling or summaries via its international service NHK World, though full subtitled streams may not always be available on NHK ONE depending on region.
Lessons for Viewers: How to Craft Your Own “100 Things” List
Harumi Kurihara’s approach inspires reflection and action. Here are key tips drawn from her example:
- Write Down Your Desires
Putting goals on paper helps clarify what you truly want, whether big dreams or simple pleasures. - Start with Small Steps
Not every ambition needs to be dramatic. Small actions, like learning something new, can shift perspective. - Connect with Others
Shared experiences, meals, conversations, collaborations, enrich personal goals. - Embrace Vulnerability
Choosing joy after loss does not mean denying grief. It means living sincerely with both.
Conclusion: Embracing Life at Every Stage
Harumi Kurihara’s feature on Asaichi is more than a TV segment; it is an invitation to live more fully. Her “100 Things I Want to Do” list is both a personal roadmap and a universal mirror reflecting how curiosity, passion, and human connection shape a rich life.
Whether you are 20, 50, or 80, her story encourages you to ask: What would be on your 100 things list?
