Ja!pan Bakery

Risa Hasegawa of Ja!pan Bakery smiling in her kitchen, hands together.

A small kitchen, a long afternoon, and the patience of making something by hand. The Workshop follows Risa Hasegawa of Ja!pan Bakery as she opens her baking space to a small group and teaches the craft of Japanese baking, one piece of dough at a time.

Gloved hands lifting a piece of soft dough.

Risa Hasegawa / Professional Baker

Ja!pan Bakery makes homemade Japanese bread in the Netherlands. Melon pan with its crackled sugar crust comes first, alongside anpan, cream pan and the soft, everyday breads found in any bakery in Japan.

Risa looking down, focused on her work.

We filmed the workshop as it happened: one camera, natural light, no script. Risa guided, the group followed, and we left room for the quiet moments, like hands scoring dough, sugar settling, and the pause before the oven door closes.

Baking and filmmaking teach the same lesson. Most of the work is waiting, and the waiting is where the care shows.

Beaten egg being poured into a jug on a kitchen scale.
Milk pouring from a carton into a pan.
Risa speaking to the group in the kitchen.
Two participants in blue gloves at the table, whisks and bowls in front of them.
Workshop participants at a table with whisks, bowls and baking mats.

We hope this film leaves you with the feeling of a warm kitchen, and maybe the urge to bake something yourself.

Watch the full film here: