Introduction: My 20s, Surviving (or so I thought) on Pure Guts and Willpower
Is everyone getting enough sleep and rest these days? In our busy modern lives, between work, household chores, and personal schedules, there are always times when we end up pushing ourselves a little too hard.
Let me share a story from my past. It was back in my 20s, during my apprenticeship when I had just thrown myself into the world of Yakiniku (Japanese BBQ). Perhaps it was the culture of the times, but working 14 hours a day was just a normal part of my routine. I rarely had a full day off; getting a half-day off once a week was considered a luxury. Looking back now, it was a grueling and relentless schedule.
And because I was young and foolish, whenever I did get that rare half-day off, I was so thrilled that I would stay out drinking until dawn. Instead of using my precious time to rest my body, I was actively accumulating more fatigue.
Despite all this, I went to work full of energy every single day. The joy of learning how to butcher massive blocks of beef with my own hands, the sense of accomplishment as my knife skills improved, and above all, the sheer fun of interacting directly with customers and seeing them smile as they ate delicious meat—I loved every second of it. I genuinely believed that my mental fulfillment and fiery passion for my work left me with no time to even feel tired.
“I was able to pull off such recklessness back then simply because I had the guts, willpower, and youth,” I would often think with a hint of nostalgia.
The Real Source of My Energy: My Daily “Makanai” (Staff Meal)
Recently, however, I had the chance to reconsider this. A simple question popped into my mind: “No matter how mentally fulfilled and young I was, is it really possible to sustain such a grueling work schedule for years on pure willpower alone?”
Short sleep hours, long working hours, and drinking until morning on days off. Logically speaking, my body should have broken down in no time. Yet, I never collapsed. I stood in that kitchen day after day. As I carefully retraced my daily habits from that time, I arrived at one specific dietary routine.
It was the “makanai” (staff meal) I ate every single day during my apprenticeship.
Back then, without fail, I drank Komtang Soup (Bone Broth) every day. But it wasn’t just a plain bowl of soup. I would drop a massive amount of grated garlic into it, and I would eat it alongside “old fermented kimchi”—kimchi that had fermented so much and become so sour that we could no longer serve it to customers.
“Could it be that the real reason I survived those grueling days wasn’t my youthful willpower, but actually that combination of Komtang soup and fermented kimchi?”
Now that my knowledge of nutrition and food has deepened, the reason is crystal clear. That daily staff meal was, in fact, the ultimate “recovery food,” logically designed to restore fatigue and replenish stamina to the highest degree.
The Overwhelming Power of Bone Broth: A “Drinkable Nutritional Serum”
Rich Amino Acids and Minerals that Build the Body’s Foundation
Komtang soup, which is essentially “bone broth” made by slowly simmering beef bones for many hours, is packed with an astonishing amount of nutrients.
By boiling bones, cartilage, and marrow, nutrients that are normally hard to get in a regular diet seep out abundantly into the soup. The primary components are high-quality collagen, gelatin, and a wide variety of amino acids. Furthermore, it is rich in essential minerals like calcium and magnesium.
My muscles and joints, worn out from long hours of standing and carrying heavy blocks of meat, were likely being repaired daily by these nutrients dissolved in the soup. Additionally, because the nutrients in bone broth are already broken down, they are smoothly absorbed without putting stress on the stomach and intestines. Even if my digestive system was exhausted from overwork, the soup gently adapted to my body and quickly converted into energy.
Supporting High-Quality Sleep, Even When Time is Short
Another crucial element to note is the presence of “glycine,” an amino acid abundant in bone broth.
In recent years, glycine has garnered attention for its ability to lower core body temperature and induce deep sleep. In other words, it is an exceptionally excellent supporting player for enhancing the quality of your sleep.
Back then, my actual sleep duration was incredibly short. However, by drinking Komtang soup almost every day, my brain and body were able to achieve deep, high-quality rest within that limited timeframe. Even on mornings after drinking all night, the feeling of “Wow, my body is actually moving” was likely the result of the high-quality sleep and powerful recovery effects brought on by glycine.
Bone Broth × Fermented Foods = The Ultimate Synergistic Effect
The True Power of Sour Kimchi (Fermented Food)
We must not forget the presence of the “sour kimchi” that I ate alongside the soup.
As days pass and kimchi becomes more sour, lactic acid bacteria multiply explosively. While its intense sourness made it un-servable as a restaurant product, from a health perspective, it was a literal “treasure trove of live beneficial bacteria.”
When this massive amount of lactic acid bacteria reaches the gut, it beautifully balances the intestinal environment (gut flora). The gut is often called the “second brain” and is a vital organ that controls a large portion of our immune system. By regulating the intestinal environment, my immunity was boosted, building a sturdy body that rarely caught colds or fell ill.
What’s even more fantastic is that a healthy gut dramatically increases your “nutrient absorption rate.” No matter how much nutrient-rich bone broth you drink, it won’t be absorbed if your gut is in bad shape. Cleansing the gut with sour kimchi, and then pouring the nutrients of Komtang soup into it—this was the perfect nutrient intake cycle I was unconsciously performing.
Boosting Stamina with Plenty of Grated Garlic
The final, decisive touch was the massive amount of grated garlic I put into the soup.
“Allicin,” the source of garlic’s pungent aroma, has the effect of drastically increasing the absorption of Vitamin B1. Vitamin B1 is an essential nutrient for converting carbohydrates from food into energy, often referred to as the “fatigue recovery vitamin.”
Bone broth packed with amino acids and minerals, fermented kimchi that conditions the gut, and garlic that explodes energy metabolism. This trinity was the exact reason I could generate the energy to stand in the kitchen at full power every day, without carrying over the physical damage of a 14-hour workday to the next morning.
Easy Fatigue Recovery at Home! Kuro 5’s Bone Broth and Recommended Store-Bought Kimchi
“I understand the power of bone broth and kimchi, but I can’t go to a yakiniku restaurant every single day…”
If that’s what you’re thinking, I have great news. You can actually easily recreate this ultimate recovery meal right in your own home.
Restaurant Quality at Home: “Rich Soup” Retort Bone Broth
At Kuro 5, we wanted our customers to enjoy the deeply simmered, time-intensive bone broth from our restaurant in the comfort of their homes, so we developed a retort pouch soup called “Rich Soup”.
We carefully simmer domestic beef bones to lock in the umami and nutrients (high protein, low calorie, rich in amino acids). This is our proud masterpiece. You can heat it and drink it as is, or use it as a base for hot pots or soup pasta. Just adding it to your everyday cooking gives you an incredible boost of rich flavor and nutrition. When you feel like “I’m a little exhausted lately,” having this soup stocked at home is truly reassuring.
My Top Pick for Store-Bought Kimchi: “Hanul Artisan’s Exquisite Kimchi”
As for the kimchi to pair with the bone broth, let me quietly share my recent favorite. It’s relatively easy to find in supermarkets: “Hanul Artisan’s Exquisite Kimchi (400g)” (ハンウル 匠の絶品キムチ).
Many commercially available kimchis in Japanese supermarkets are sweet, lightly-pickled types that haven’t actually been fermented. However, this “Artisan’s Exquisite Kimchi” is rare among store-bought products because it is properly lactic-acid fermented, which is its greatest feature.
The deep sourness from aging and fermentation, combined with the strong umami derived from 100% domestically sourced vegetables, is simply spectacular. You really feel like you are eating “live lactic acid bacteria.” It’s so delicious that my entire family devours a whole pack (400g) every single day (laughs).
Heat up the “Rich Soup” at home and serve it with the “Hanul Artisan’s Exquisite Kimchi.” With just this, you’ve completed the “Ultimate Fatigue Recovery Set” that supported my apprenticeship days. Please try incorporating it into your daily health management routine!
Conclusion: Healthy Body and Mind Through Delicious Food
Looking back, my 20s were not built on “guts and willpower” alone. The traditional food culture, packed with the wisdom of our ancestors that I consumed unconsciously, was fundamentally supporting and protecting my mind and body.
“Komtang soup” and “Kimchi” are standard, everyday menu items at any yakiniku restaurant, but they harbor a magnificent power that rivals modern nutritional supplements.
If you find yourself feeling like you just can’t shake off your fatigue recently, or if you have an important job tomorrow and want to build up your stamina, I highly recommend ordering a bowl of Komtang soup to finish your meal after enjoying delicious meat at a yakiniku restaurant. And please, don’t forget to eat kimchi with it.
Satisfy your soul with delicious meat, and heal your body from the inside out with bone broth and fermented foods. I believe this is the happiest and most surefire way to live energetically tomorrow.
Experience the Best Meat and Ultimate Soup at “Yakiniku Kuro 5”
At “Yakiniku Kuro 5”, with the same passion we’ve had since our founding, we prepare the highest quality Wagyu beef and our signature Komtang soup, simmered slowly without sparing any time or effort.
- Strictly Selected Wagyu Quality: From rare cuts to standard favorites, we offer premium meats procured through our unique supply routes.
- The Magic of Binchotan Charcoal: The far-infrared effect ensures the meat’s umami is locked in, grilling it to be fragrant on the outside and incredibly juicy on the inside.
- Full-Attendant “Yaki-Bugyo” Style: Our staff, who know the absolute best grilling conditions, will cook your meat to its ultimate state right at your table.
- Bone Broth of the Soul: Our proud Komtang soup, made by slowly simmering beef bones to condense umami and nutrition. It’s a blissful bowl that satisfies both body and soul.
Come heal your daily fatigue with our delicious meat and soup. We sincerely look forward to welcoming you.
Store Name: Yakiniku Kuro 5 Main Store (Honten)
Address: Cima 100 Bldg 1F, 2-46-3 Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-0014
Nearest Station: 5-minute walk from JR Ikebukuro Station West Exit
Hours: 17:00–24:00 (L.O. 23:30)
Closed: Open year-round
Store Name: Yakiniku Kuro 5 Ikebukuro East Exit Store
Address: Need Bldg 2F, 1-42-16 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-0013
Nearest Station: 5-minute walk from JR Ikebukuro Station East Exit
Hours: 17:00–24:00 (L.O. 23:00)
Closed: Open year-round
Store Name: Yakiniku Kuro 5 Kabukicho
Address: Sankei Bldg 1F, 2-21-4 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Nearest Station: 5-minute walk from Seibu Shinjuku Station / 7-minute walk from Shinjuku Sanchome Station
Hours: 18:00–05:00 (L.O. 04:00)
Closed: Open year-round
