About Kumi

Born in Southern California, Kumi grew up in a Japanese and Cuban household enriched and immersed with both cultures languages, customs and traditional foods. Kumi completed the Los Angeles Marathon twice. After graduating from the University of California at Davis with a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations, Kumi worked at the Sankei Shimbun interviewing directors and celebrities for upcoming films. One of the most impactful experiences she had during that time was traveling to New Orleans to interview those impacted by Hurricane Katrina where she witnessed and reported on despondent residents left vulnerable without housing or basic essentials. In 2008, Kumi joined Toyota Tsusho as Production Control and traversed between California and Mexico, utilizing her multi-linguistic skills to bridge the gap in Japanese & Spanish communications from Japan, Canada, and US to Mexico. Caring for her grandmother inspired Kumi to earn an Administrative license for a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly. Through these experiences, Kumi carries the spirit of compassionate service, unwavering attention to detail, and a strong desire to help people. During her time off, Kumi enjoys spending time with her family, going to the beach, knitting, making jewelry, and lives & breathes ceramics!