Why Do People Talk About Their Own 'Homemade Miso'? A Journey Through Boasting and Empathy

"If I may say so myself..."

When we start a sentence this way, we speak about ourselves or the things we have created with a touch of shyness, yet with a certain sense of pride.

Why don't we explore together how this expression, "temaemiso" (homemade miso), has changed over time, and how it still reflects the unchanging essence of humanity?

Recently, when looking at the social media of young people, I see the hashtag
"#temaemiso"
.

For example, a college student who makes a stylish cafe-style brunch on their day off and posts it with the caption,
"I did a great job! #temaemiso"
.

Or a working professional who spends hours building a plastic model, photographs it with careful attention to the lighting, and uploads it saying,
"Finally finished, this quality is my own homemade miso!"
.

What exactly is this?

It feels a bit wasteful to just dismiss it as mere bragging. Because what they are pouring into it is,
"Look, look! I worked hard to make this!"
"Isn't this pretty well done?"
It is an expression of pure joy and modest confidence.

Isn't there a moment where it overlaps with the scenery of the past, as if you had time-traveled?

A scene from the countryside long ago.

Neighbors gathering together and saying,
"My miso is the best. Everyone says yours is too salty, and the one next door is too sweet."
They say this with a look of triumph, yet with a shy smile.

In that era, "temaemiso" had a truly literal meaning.

Each household would prepare homemade miso, and the flavor would be passed down through generations. In the summer, they would mix the koji; in the winter, they would wait for it to ferment; and in the spring, they would finally taste the finished miso. It was the history of that house and the very taste of the family.

The neighbors would have serious "miso discussions," saying things like,
"Your miso has a real depth to it."
"I think mine might have failed a bit this year."

The phrase
"My miso is the best"
spoken there contained not just simple boasting, but the time and effort put into that miso, love for the family, and above all, an unwavering pride in what they had created with their own hands.

It was a warm culture of "temaemiso" that was nurtured and shared within the local community.

At first glance, it seems quite different from the modern "temaemiso" where people worry about the number of "likes" on social media.
However, the feeling behind it—
"I made this, isn't it good?"
—might be something that transcends time.

Will this "temaemiso" continue on forever?

In a future where technology evolves and our lives change drastically, what kind of "temaemiso" will be born, I wonder?

Try to imagine it.

You are talking to an AI assistant.

"Can you make me a special miso that suits my mood today?"

"I want you to suggest the best pasta sauce that fits my allergies and the ingredients left in my fridge."

Then, the AI will instantly suggest the optimal recipe, taking into account your health data, past preferences, and even the weather and your mood for that day.

You can make it yourself following the AI's suggestion, or have the AI generate it with a 3D printer. You create your very own "miso" or "pasta sauce."

It is truly "my own best miso" or "a pasta sauce made just for me."

And you will surely say with pride, "Hey, this is my own homemade miso, isn't it the best? The AI made it just for me!"

There is almost no effort involved in mixing koji by hand or chopping ingredients anymore. Even so, what is born there is an attachment to a "one-of-a-kind original" or a "personalized masterpiece," and the desire to share it with someone.

Even in a future where AI technology is ultimately developed, "Temae-miso" will likely continue to accompany our lives while changing its form.
But can what lies beyond this convenience really be called "Temae-miso"?

We have changed the way we live along with the times.

In the past, the wisdom and labor passed down within a community became "Temae-miso,"

Now, "Temae-miso" is born that is instantly shared in the vast world of social media,

And in the future, AI might create "Temae-miso" that is close to each individual "me."

However, no matter what era it is, the fundamental human desire to share what we believe is "good" with others, to be recognized, and above all, to feel pride in "something I created myself" will surely never change.

It is no different from the shining smile of a small child showing off a drawing they made for the first time, saying, "Look! I drew this!"
Even as adults, we wish to call the things we poured our heart and soul into, the ideas born from inspiration, the skills we worked hard to acquire, and the experiences we cultivated over a lifetime our "Temae-miso," and share them with someone.

The word "Temae-miso" might be a magic word that gently draws out the joy of self-affirmation sleeping deep within us.
That is why we will surely continue to cherish and weave our own "Temae-miso" that fits each era.

What is your "Temae-miso"?

Whatever form it takes, don't you think it's truly wonderful to have something you can say with pride, "This is the best!"?