The Kimono Mom UMAMI SAUCE Tour

The Kimono Mom UMAMI SAUCE is a plant-based, vegan, gluten-free, non-alcoholic, all-purpose Japanese sauce with no added MSG. I, Kimono Mom, created it to cater to diverse dietary needs. With this sauce, anyone, anywhere in the world, can easily make Japanese cuisine.

We, the Kimono Mom family, will bring the UMAMI SAUCE to North America and embark on a one-year road trip in an RV to visit major cities in the US. Along the way, our family will share UMAMI SAUCE directly and participate in various activities to spread the word about UMAMI SAUCE. Achieving the stretch goals in this campaign as explained below, will determine whether we can add more stops to our trip. Join our mission—we can’t wait to see you in North America!

The Story Behind the Kimono Mom UMAMI SAUCE Tour

Our Journey Begins: From Postpartum Struggles to YouTube Community

It all started in a moment of vulnerability. While battling postpartum depression, I turned to YouTube as an outlet to share my experiences and connect with others. To my astonishment, my very first video garnered 20,000 views! It was a sign that I wasn’t alone and that maybe, just maybe, my voice could make a difference.

As more videos followed, the comments poured in—nearly 1,000 each day. Reading them became a daily ritual. Through these messages, I realized the vast diversity of our world. People from every corner of the globe shared their stories, their struggles, and their dreams. I learned about various dietary restrictions, religious practices, and the rich tapestry of cultural traditions that define our global community.

Kimono Mom’s Kitchen: A Bridge to the World

Inspired by messages from around the world, I created Kimono Mom’s Kitchen to share the essence of Japanese home cooking. This platform goes beyond food; it’s about embracing our roots and passing traditions from parent to child.

This journey led to the creation of UMAMI SAUCE, a product I meticulously developed over three years to accommodate all dietary restrictions and religious practices, allowing everyone to enjoy the flavors of Japan.

Creating a sauce that was vegan, gluten-free, non-alcoholic, and had no added MSG was a significant challenge. I faced numerous rejections from manufacturers but persevered, determined to take full responsibility and produce a sauce under the Kimono Mom brand for my supporters, Kimonoko.

I aimed to make something that could be shared at the dining table, regardless of different backgrounds, religions, or food restrictions. A customer lived in Japan for a long time but couldn’t cook Japanese food for her family because they could not consume alcohol. Now, with UMAMI SAUCE, the customer can prepare Japanese food for her family.

A Dream for Global Connection

Our dream is ambitious but heartfelt: we want UMAMI SAUCE to be easily accessible in every home worldwide. We’re starting in the US, thanks to our incredible Kimonokos here. Our initial test sales on Amazon US were a success, even reaching the top spot on the wish list rankings. In the future, we plan to expand to Asia, Europe, and beyond, ensuring that wherever you are, you can bring the flavors of Japan to your table. We are fortunate to receive so many messages from around the world expressing interest in UMAMI SAUCE.

Bring UMAMI SAUCE to North America

In the Kimono Mom UMAMI SAUCE Tour, our mission is to connect directly with Kimonokos across the US in an exciting and interactive way. We’ll be traveling nationwide in an RV, bringing the unique flavors of our UMAMI SAUCE to every corner of the US. Our tour may include meet-and-greets, where we’ll engage with Kimonokos, and offer face-to-face cooking demonstrations to show how to use our UMAMI SAUCE in your own kitchen. Our goal is to share 10,000 bottles of UMAMI SAUCE within a year at farmers markets and through new channels. Along the way, we would like to participate in events and media interviews to spread the word about our delicious sauce. We also love to visit pesticide-free food producers to learn more about the beautiful ingredients sourced in the US, and it will be ideal to create unforgettable moments in nature as a family. 

Join Us in Our Mission

We invite you to join us on this journey. Your support will help us bring UMAMI SAUCE to homes around North America, fostering a greater appreciation for Japanese cooking and culture. Together, we can create a world where everyone can celebrate their roots and share their traditions with pride.

What is UMAMI SAUCE?

Experience Japanese Flavors at Home

Would you like to experience the authentic flavors of Japanese cooking from the comfort of your own home? Japanese cooking is renowned for its unique seasonings, such as dashi, soy sauce, mirin, and vinegar. However, gathering these ingredients outside of Japan can be quite challenging, making it difficult to recreate these distinctive flavors.

A Sauce for Everyone

UMAMI SAUCE was created to solve this problem, allowing everyone around the world to easily enjoy the flavors of Japan. This all-purpose Japanese sauce is vegan, gluten-free, no added MSG, and alcohol-free, making it accessible for all dietary preferences and restrictions. With just one bottle, you can conveniently recreate the flavors of Japan in your own kitchen.

Created by Kimono Mom

Moe, also known as Kimono Mom, developed UMAMI SAUCE with the hope that everyone, regardless of where they live, can enjoy the deliciousness of Japanese food. This sauce embodies the rich, umami flavors that are essential to Japanese cooking, encouraging people to gather around the same table and share a meal together.

Authentic and Traditional

UMAMI SAUCE is made using concentrated Tamari soy sauce and plant-based ingredients, crafted through traditional Japanese methods. Produced in a soy sauce brewery with 220 years of history and now in its eighth generation, this sauce preserves the tradition of authentic Japanese flavor.

Ingredients

Tamari soy sauce, Organic brown rice syrup, Water, Brown sugar, Kombu extract powder, Shiitake extract powder, Salt

*We received comments from customers saying that the original bottle was too big, so we reduced the size from 16 fl oz to 10 fl oz for production in the US.

How to use

Who is Kimono Mom?

My Journey as a Geisha

My name is Moe, and I began my journey as a maiko, or geisha-in-training, at the age of 16. This marked my first experience of living independently and working as an adult. I cherished strolling through Kyoto’s historic streets in a traditional Kyo-yuzen kimono, zori sandals, and kanzashi hairpins, each crafted by skilled artisans. Wearing them filled me with pride, knowing I was part of Kyoto’s rich heritage. My six years as a geisha profoundly shaped my life.

Navigating Motherhood

Four years ago, my daughter Sutan was born. My husband, running a restaurant with no days off, came home before dawn, leaving me to care for our daughter alone. Despite my desire to work, my daughter wasn’t admitted to nursery school and I found myself increasingly isolated, with my husband being my only confidant. This isolation grew daily, severing my ties to the outside world.

Launching My YouTube Channel

A turning point came when an American YouTuber featured me, showcasing a day in the life of a Japanese mother. Inspired, I began learning to shoot and edit videos on my smartphone, sharing Japanese home cooking that had comforted me in tough times. My first video, a month-long effort while my daughter slept, was about cooking deep-fried stuffed lotus root. Filming often included scenes of me comforting my daughter, resonating with mothers worldwide, and helping me realize I wasn’t alone in my struggles.

I decided to film my daily cooking, integrating my past as a geisha by wearing a kimono and kappogi apron. This routine turned into weekly videos featuring family cooking, such as making oden stew or pounding rice to make mochi. With over 500 videos, my channel has connected me with viewers worldwide, making me feel like part of a global community from my kitchen.

Building a Business

In 2022, I launched an online shopping business to share Japanese home cooking globally. By offering products like Donabe (earthenware pot) and UMAMI SAUCE introduced on this page, I aimed to create a bridge between different cultures through food.

Being a female entrepreneur in Japan comes with its challenges. Yet, as Kimono Mom, I proudly advocate for recognition of my achievements. The media often focuses on my role as a mother, but I strive to be acknowledged for my entrepreneurial efforts and contributions.

Hopes for Sutan

Sutan has one more year before she starts school. During this year, I want our family to embark on adventures together. Through our road trip across North America, I want to show Sutan that the world is vast and full of possibilities. I hope my daughter grows up fearless, pursues her dreams without hesitation. I want her to break free from gender-based constraints and societal expectations. Reflecting on my own upbringing, I encourage her to be independent and determined. It is crucial for me to challenge stereotypes, not just for other women, but to show Sutan she can shape her own future, whatever she chooses to be.

To Learn More about Kimono Mom

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KimonoMom
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimono_mom/
• Media page: https://kimonomom.com/media/ 
• Linktree: https://linktr.ee/kimonomom 

Why did we start this campaign?

We are embarking on an exciting journey to bring the authentic flavors of Japan to homes across America and beyond. Our first stop is the US, where we will spend a year on an RV camping tour!

Overcoming Initial Challenges

Our mission began with the challenge of transporting Japanese-made bottles, which resulted in high shipping costs and elevated prices for our customers. However, we are thrilled to announce that the 200-year-old Japanese soy sauce manufacturer in America, San-J, has stepped in to help us overcome this obstacle. After successfully completing our prototypes, we have secured manufacturing capabilities in the US, maintaining the same concept and quality as our original products. This move allows us to increase our production capacity without limits and significantly reduce shipping costs, making our products more affordable for everyone.

Expanding Our Reach

Our preparations are well underway, and we are planning to relocate our family to the US to distribute UMAMI SAUCE. Our ultimate goal is to expand our reach to Asia, Europe, and beyond, making UMAMI SAUCE available worldwide. We believe in the power of direct connections with people and are committed to sharing and teaching the use of UMAMI SAUCE in as many places as possible. We dream of traveling across the US and eventually the world, to personally deliver our products to our followers in 192 countries.

How You Can Help

At present, we operate from a modest Japanese room lent to us by a friend, that serves as our office and warehouse. This space has become a hub for visitors from overseas to Japan and has evolved into what we now call the Kimono Mom Store.

Fortunately, thanks to our channels on YouTube and Instagram, many people follow and enjoy our content. However, our funds are not abundant. The main reasons are the high costs associated with preparing the UMAMI SAUCE and the impact of the weak yen. We have invested significantly in developing the sauce. During the three years of development, we did not generate any sales. Although we have started selling on Amazon US, the shipping costs from Japan are high, resulting in minimal profit. We have focused on raising awareness of Kimono Mom and UMAMI SAUCE, investing heavily without making much profit. Additionally, the prolonged period of the weak yen has created another economic obstable for us.

Although our company is only two years old and has a small team, we are passionate and dedicated. We kindly ask for your support to help us grow and share the flavors of Japan with the world by backing the Kimono Mom UMAMI SAUCE Tour.

How is the fund going to be used?

Thank you for considering supporting our campaign. The funds raised will cover the essential expenses for our one-year road trip and all the activities we have planned along the way. These expenses include purchasing a used RV, which will serve as our mobile base of operations, as well as the costs of gas, accommodations, food, activities, insurance, and more.

Your generous support will help us bring the authentic flavors of Japan to North America. Thank you for your contribution.

About Perks

We are currently applying for visas, preparing for travel, and raising funds. Simultaneously, we are arranging for the delivery of Perks and other logistics. It will take some time for the Perks to reach you. Although the delivery date is not yet determined, we will keep you updated on this page and our social media. Please look forward to joining us on this journey..

All funders will be invited to our exclusive Discord group chat! You will get sneak peeks behind the scenes of the Kimono Mom UMAMI SAUCE tour, receive updates, and communicate with the funder community!

Other ways to support us

• Share this campaign on social media with a personal note about why you support it
• Share this campaign on social media with a note saying why YOU also contributed
• Send an email to your circle of friends so they can learn more about Kimono Mom and UMAMI SAUCE
• Talk to people about Kimono Mom and UMAMI SAUCE
• Join us on YouTube and Instagram
• Say hi at the farmers market

Risks and issues

Thank you for considering supporting our campaign. While we are committed to delivering our products and achieving our goals, there are some risks and challenges we want to highlight. 

Firstly, there is a possibility that shipments may experience delays, which could affect our overall timeline. 

Additionally, although we have plans to expand to countries outside of the US, the specific timeline for this international expansion is still undetermined. For this campaign, our primary focus is on bringing our products to customers across the US. 

Your understanding and support are greatly appreciated as we navigate these challenges. Thank you for your contribution.