I am a second-generation Japanese Brazilian living in Cambridge, MA. I immigrated to the United States to work as a educational writer. I have 20 years of experience writing English language multi-media materials for children.
For the last 15 years, I have been an independent Kamishibai (Japanese Paper Theater) artist. Yumi creates her own kamishibais. Her stories are based on folktales from around the world. Others are nature-inspired original stories. The nature stories mainly depict the wildlife of Somerville and surrounding area. I actively present my work in multiple libraries and schools in the greater Boston both in English and Portuguese. I also present her work in public events such as the Cambridge River Festival, the Monarch Butterfly Release Celebration at Fresh Pond and Block Parties in East Somerville. Recently I have also been devoting her time organizing community events for the local Brazilian and Asian communities at the Somerville Growing Center.
In my spare time, I enjoy hiking and gardening. I am an active volunteer at the Somerville Growing Center. My nature stories are often inspired by my outdoor activities.