About

🍡Hi and Welcome to Give Me Umami!

Hi, I’m Kurumi—the voice, author, and creator of Give Me Umami!

My mission is to make Japanese food more approachable for everyone by sharing practical, everyday recipes, along with seasonal and traditional dishes that celebrate Japanese culture.

But this blog isn’t just about recipes—I want Give Me Umami to feel like a welcoming space where you can explore Japanese cooking and connect with others who share your love for Japanese food and culture.

Think of it as a virtual guest house where we can all learn and grow together!

* “Umami” is a Japanese word that describes the depth of flavors… something like “salty” and “sweet.”

🤔If You...

• Are interested in Japanese food and culture
• Want to learn how to incorporate Japanese meals into your daily life
• Want to make delicious, authentic, and simple Japanese recipes
• Need ideas for realistic Japanese meal plans and menus
• Have a busy lifestyle but still want to enjoy balanced, healthy Japanese meals

... then you have come to the right place!

🔎What You Can Expect to Find Here

Realistic Japanese recipes I make in real life

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, I decided to share the meals I cook for my family and eat daily—practical, simple, mostly healthy, and always delicious.

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. 🙂

Seasonal and traditional recipes to celebrate Japanese culture

Japan has many rich food traditions, from New Year's dishes like osechi to seasonal specialties.

After moving to the U.S., I found myself appreciating these traditions even more, and I want to share them with you.

My goal is to pass down these beautiful customs to more people and future generations.

Ichiju-Sansai menu ideas (and how to create your own)

The Ichiju-Sansai method is a great way to enjoy balanced meals, but planning it daily can feel overwhelming.

I’ll share my tips for making Ichiju-Sansai more approachable, even outside Japan—like simple meal prep strategies and ways to repurpose leftovers into new dishes.

Plus, I’ll provide sample meal ideas so you can try them yourself.

Knowledge of Japanese ingredients, tools, and cooking techniques

Trying a new cuisine can be intimidating, but I’ll break everything down step by step.

Confused about different types of miso? Unsure how to use a specific Japanese ingredient?

You’ll find all the information you need here!

Everything you need to master bento

Bento-making is one of my favorite ways to share Japanese cooking with people around the world.

You don’t need fancy tools to make a beautiful bento—just a few basic principles to create meals that look as good as they taste!

I’ll share tips I’ve learned from making bento for my husband, plus sample menus to help you get started.

A welcoming community for Japanese food and culture lovers

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!

💌Let's Be Friends!

If you like the content on this blog, please sign up to get email updates whenever new recipes/articles are published!

Please also follow me on social media to stay in touch🙂

🙂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 work full-time as a software engineer.

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.