Series: Rei Tanaka | Part 11: "The Morning Begins"

Part 11: The Dawn

By Rei Tanaka
Photos by Masahiko Nakagawa

I sense the morning when a soft, dim light filters into the room and the sounds of people starting their day can be faintly heard from afar, accompanied by a slight feeling of hunger.

Mornings when there's no need for an alarm clock often begin like this.

As I make an effort to eat dinner early, breakfast is not only my first pleasure of the day, but also a meal I cherish to mark the beginning of my day.

I am an unparalleled bread lover, so I always eat bread in the morning. Since childhood, I've gone to sleep looking forward to the bread I'd have the next morning, and that preference hasn't changed. While a Japanese-style breakfast at a ryokan is nice once in a while, when it comes to every day, I find that the familiar taste of bread suits me best.

Bread and milk. This alone satisfies my mind and body, but when I have the time and feel inclined, it's also a joy to spread a colorful array of fruits, yogurt, egg dishes, and salads across the table. Having several types of drinks like coffee, vegetable juice, and grapefruit juice, along with a few kinds of jam, can make the table look festive. Eating such a large breakfast fills me up completely, both in calories and stomach, so it often turns into a brunch that doubles as lunch.

What's indispensable for breakfast is, above all, delicious bread. It doesn't have to be from a famous bakery; as long as it's stored properly to maintain its flavor, you can enjoy bread anytime. "Bread is a living thing"—this is a phrase I often say. Similarly, butter is kept sealed and frozen in portions to prevent it from absorbing refrigerator odors.
On clear May mornings, the gentle breeze makes breakfast taste even better.

These days, there are various theories about whether eating breakfast is good for health or not. Opinions like "You can't think without breakfast" or "Modern people eat too much, so skipping breakfast is better for the body" are quite convincing. I don't know which is correct, but I believe it depends on the individual. If you've eaten too much dinner, you don't have to force yourself to eat breakfast, and if you lack motivation without it, perhaps you should eat. I don't think people who have never had a habit of eating breakfast should suddenly start. While I do enjoy breakfast, I sometimes skip it if I've overeaten the night before.

Whatever the case, when I can look forward to breakfast and have a pleasant meal to start the day, I feel like good things are bound to happen, and the entire day feels wonderful. Even eating sweet bread in the morning doesn't feel wrong. Breakfast has a wonderful charm that seems to overlook even such indulgences.