Yumiko Kano has published over 30 books on plant-based cooking in her native Japan. She is well-known in the West and has been featured in food and restaurant review columns in the New York Times. Born into a farming family, she always loved natural foods which has led her to a lifelong study of vegan and vegetarian cuisine. From 2000 to 2012, she cooked vegetarian Kaiseki cuisine at her award-winning restaurant Sen in Tokyo. Now, in addition to her writing, she teaches cooking classes all over Japan.