🍡Hi and Welcome to Give Me Umami!
Hi, I’m Kurumi, the voice, author, and creator behind Give Me Umami!
Give Me Umami is a space for everyday Japanese cooking, guided by simplicity, seasonality, and intention.
Here, you won’t find restaurant-style dishes or Pinterest-perfect food.
Instead, I share authentic home cooking and the philosophy behind it; the kind of meals many Japanese people (at least the people I grew up around) eat in daily life.
I focus on cooking in a way that feels realistic, nourishing, and sustainable, using simple ingredients and uncomplicated steps.
* “Umami” is a Japanese word that describes the depth of flavors… something like “salty” and “sweet.”
🤔If You...
- Are curious about everyday Japanese food and the culture behind it
- Want to cook Japanese meals in a simple, realistic way
- Prefer simple cooking over complicated recipes
- Need healthy meal ideas that support busy, real life
- Want to enjoy balanced, nourishing food without chasing perfection
... then you have come to the right place!
🔎What You Can Expect to Find Here
Everyday Japanese Cooking
When you think of Japanese food, ramen and sushi might come to mind, but those aren’t dishes we (or at least I) eat every day.
So here, I share the meals I actually cook for my family and eat in daily life.
You'll find everyday meals that are:
- simple and comforting
- naturally flavorful
- adaptable to real life
Many of my recipes are gluten-free and refined-sugar free, and I’m increasingly developing recipes that rely on fermentation (like koji) instead of added sweeteners such as maple syrup or honey.
You'll also find:
- Bento ideas
- Beginner-friendly guides
- Home-style Japanese meals you can cook again and again
Some recipes may be unfamiliar to you, but I encourage you to be adventurous and try new things!
I personally love learning about what people eat daily in different countries, so I hope this concept excites and inspires you too. 🙂
Japanese Cooking, with Intention
I believe restaurant food and home cooking are completely different, and that’s a good thing.
Home-cooked meals don’t need to be fancy.
They have their own charm that restaurants can’t recreate.
Japanese food, especially home cooking, is deeply connected to how we live.
Here, I explore ideas like:
- Simplicity over excess
- Seasonality and eating with nature
- Mago wa yasashii and balanced meals
- Letting go of perfection
- Food as a daily practice, not a performance
This also means choosing natural ingredients over quick fixes, and learning to cook in a way that feels calm, grounded, and sustainable.
Meal Planning & Prep (for real life)
I understand the benefits of meal planning and prepping, but I’m not a fan of spending my entire weekend cooking or eating rigidly planned meals.
I like flexibility.
I like choosing what I feel like eating that day.
So I share a more realistic approach, such as:
- Flexible meal prep structures
- Prep-friendly, everyday recipes
- “Good enough” routines that actually stick
Batch-made seasonings like shio koji or miso-based sauces are part of this, and this simple foundations make everyday cooking easier and more intuitive.
Japanese Cooking Basics
Trying a new cuisine can feel intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be.
I break things down step by step, including:
- Ingredients and seasonings
- Fermentation basics (including koji)
- Techniques and tools
- How to build confidence cooking Japanese food at home
You’ll find all the information you need here!
A Warm, Welcoming Space
This isn’t just a recipe blog. I want Give Me Umami to feel like a warm, inviting space, something like a virtual guest house.
Here, you can connect with others who share your love for Japanese food, exchange ideas, and find inspiration.
No matter your skill level, whether you’re just starting or have been cooking Japanese food for years, this is a place for you.
I can’t wait to get to know you, see your creations, and help you along your Japanese cooking journey!
đź’ŚLet's Be Friends!
If you enjoy the content here, you can sign up for my email list to receive updates whenever I publish a new recipe or article.
(I’m not very active on social media, so email is the best way to stay connected.)
🙂A Little Bit About Me
My name is Kurumi, and I was born and raised in Nagano, Japan.
Cooking and food have always been my passion. I have cooked a lot with my mom since I was a kid (my mom is a baking teacher) and I LOVE food. I plan everything around food... trip plans, date plans, weekend plans, etc.
I came to the States to study abroad. I have a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and had worked full-time as a software engineer for a few years.
After living in the States for a while, I realized that Japanese food isn't known as much as other cuisines such as Chinese and Korean food. So I decided to share my love and knowledge about Japanese food here, Give Me Umami.
Currently, I live in Wisconsin with my American husband and have enjoyed the delicious cheese here🙂 I'm obsessed with Indian curry, dark chocolate, and fitness.
👨‍💻Team
My hubby
He is my editor and a taste tester checking my draft posts to correct my grammar mistakes and taste-testing my recipe prototypes!
His favorite Japanese foods are gyudon and sushi. He likes to play golf and video games during his free time.