Saki Hayashi, a Tokyo resident, has embraced a plant-based lifestyle that not only transformed her own health but also fueled her passion for helping others. As a certified health prevention specialist, she is committed to promoting plant-based diets to prevent lifestyle diseases and advocating for stronger animal welfare laws in Japan.
Her love for nature and the outdoors has been a constant companion throughout her life. From backpacking in Australia to road-tripping across Europe with her partner, these adventures have influenced her culinary creations, blending diverse cultures and flavors into her plant-based recipes.
Alongside her professional and personal pursuits, Saki is also a dedicated mother of one.
Tell us more about yourself, please
CHANGE IS NECESSARY
一緒に変えていこ！🐄
Hi, I’m Saki. I’m Japanese, born and raised in Japan. I’m a mom and a health prevention management specialist. I taught myself English, so now I can say it’s my second language. Now I’m learning French because my husband is French.( though we usually speak English)
I became pescetarian 10 years ago and transitioned to veganism in January 2024! Though I’m new to veganism, I have a lot of ideas for vegan recipes, thanks to my life experiences.
Eight years ago, I went to Australia to learn vegetarian cooking in a more global style.
I have worked in cafes and a small catering shop. Those experiences have greatly inspired me. Now, I incorporate Japanese flavors into my vegan recipes.
I became pescetarian initially because I watched a video showing dogs being sold for meat in China. As a dog owner, I couldn’t believe that there are cultures that eat dogs. This made me start thinking about how many livestock animals are killed daily. The number was shocking and unimaginable to me. I had heard that fish don’t have pain receptors, so I allowed myself to continue eating fish. (Plus, avoiding fish in Japan is very difficult)
However, after 10 years, I finally discovered that fish can feel fear and pain, which led me to choose veganism. I was concerned about my health without animal products, and that concern led me to study nutrition. It was a huge discovery to learn that we don’t need animal products for proper nutrition.
🌱🤍😮💨
I’m fed up with the questions I get when I say I’m vegan
Is your health okay?
So, what do you eat?
What about fish?
Don’t plants suffer too?
When you choose a plant-based diet, people might see you as weird or claim it’s unhealthy. There’s still a lot of misunderstanding. But I believe there’s no stronger weapon than kindness. Showing compassion to living beings and doing whatever you can to free them from suffering, even if it’s as simple as making tomorrow’s menu plant-based, is a small but incredibly important step.
You might think going vegan sounds hard, but I’ve been vegan for less than a year and already have so many recipes to choose from that I don’t know where to start! Once you begin, I don’t think you’ll be able to stop♡
The culture of animal exploitation started in times when it was hard to find enough food, or in areas where that’s still the case today. In developed countries, people are actually consuming too much protein, and the negative effects are becoming more obvious.
This overconsumption of animal products is a major cause of lifestyle-related diseases and a big threat to health.
Exploiting and sacrificing animals, only to end up unhealthy… doesn’t that sound strange? You can get all the nutrients you need to live well from plants.
Also, Japan doesn’t have any laws to protect farm animals or lab animals. Some say animal welfare just promotes animal exploitation, but I think what’s really needed in Japan right now is strong legal protection for animals that are being sacrificed.
I sincerely hope that animal welfare spreads here because we are the only developed country ranked at the lowest level in global animal welfare.
My favorite vegan restaurant? My own kitchen! Haha! Honestly, I love my own cooking more than eating out, and it’s really delicious, so I hope you’ll try some of my recipes!
🪐Being vegan isn’t hypocritical.
We’re against animal cruelty. Our hope is simple
During my pregnancy, I developed hypothyroidism, but by improving my diet, I lost 12 kilograms. My health numbers are stable now, and I feel lighter and better than when I was eating animal products. I’m constantly learning so I can help people build a healthier relationship with food through plant-based eating! So if you’re struggling, feel free to reach out! 
sakirita_nutritionist
Nutritionist | Plant-based🌱| Animal welfare
Health/beauty
Plant-based recipe creator from Japan🎌
Advisor on promoting a healthy relationship with food🌿
健康予防管理専門士👩🏫
プラントベースレシピとウェルネスアドバイス🌿
アニマルウェルフェア🎌
all images courtesy of sakirita_nutritionist
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