Celebrity homemaker Harumi Kurihara. (Akio Takeuchi, from Kurihara Harumi: suteki reshipi, published by Fusosha) SPICING UP LIFE: Celebrity Homemakers Make Everyday Activities Fun January 28, 2002 Celebrity homemakers show others how to spice up an ordinary household and are noted for devising ways to make everyday activities creative and fun. Recently among housewives, from newlyweds to those who have been married for decades, celebrity homemakers are enjoying tremendous popularity. Cookbooks written by these women have been flying off store shelves, and clothes and other products bearing their own brand names are all the rage. Martha Stewart, a celebrity-homemaker icon in the United States, opened her own store in Tokyo in November 2001, and the celebrity-homemaker trend shows no sign of letting up. Japan's Answer to Martha Stewart What sparked the celebrity-homemaker boom in Japan was the release of a cookbook in 1992 by Harumi Kurihara (site is Japanese only). Kurihara's attitude of enjoying life as a homemaker soon made her popular with other housewives. By simply following her example, Kurihara's fans can gain a sense of satisfaction by becoming able to make things by hand. One example is the preparation of osechi ryori (New Year cuisine), something that is not often made at home these days because of the time and effort needed for preparation. Kurihara showed how to use a microwave to make some of these traditional dishes in just a short period of time. Kurihara has authored some 40 cookbooks that have sold a combined total of about 15 million copies. There are even four restaurants in different parts of Japan that serve food prepared according to her recipes. She has her own brand of dishes and kitchenware that is sold at department stores, and Kurihara even offers tips on table settings and arranging seasonal flowers.   Your Name What did you think of this article? It was interesting. It was boring. Send this article to a friend While Kurihara is the most well-known of Japan's celebrity homemakers, others are making their marks as well. Emi Inoue is also quite popular, and the cooking classes she offers are packed with young women. Inoue is known for her advice that it is better to save time and effort when cooking by making use of canned and frozen foods; the time saved can be enjoyed relaxing with guests. The elegantly dressed Inoue has also been featured in women's fashion magazines. Other popular celebrity homemakers include Sachiko Murakami and Makiko Fujino (sites are Japanese only), to name but a few. Martha Stewart Comes to Japan America's Martha Stewart is, of course, the original celebrity homemaker. The entreprenurial mogul opened her first store in Japan, Martha Stewart Yurakucho (site is Japanese only), in November 2001. Yurakucho is a fashionable area in Tokyo popular with women. From the day it opened, the store has been packed with housewives eager to shop, and sales have been twice the level that was originally expected. Especially popular are Stewart's line of towels, which come in 24 different colors. Housework can certainly become a chore for those who have to do it day in, day out, so many housewives have been quick to embrace celebrity homemakers, who show how to enjoy everyday life without spending a lot of money. Copyright (c) 2002 Japan Information Network. Edited by Japan Echo Inc. based on domestic Japanese news sources. Articles presented here are offered for reference purposes and do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the Japanese Government.