Wabi Sabi - The Perfectly Imperfect Podcast with Candice Kumai

EP 203 Happy AANHPI Month: Stand Proud, Stay Rooted, and Know Where You Come From

May 04, 2026

AANHPI Month: Honoring Japanese Beauty, Wellness & the Truth About Matcha: Konnichiwa, my friends. Genki desu ka. This AANHPI Month, we begin not with trends—but with truth, reverence, and remembrance. Because behind every bowl of matcha, every beauty ritual, every moment of calm that the world now celebrates...there are generations of Asian hands, stories, discipline, and devotion that made it possible. And for a long time, those stories were not told. This episode is about honoring them. ...

EP 202 Why Japanese Women Age Differently: 6 JBeauty Rituals That Actually Work

April 13, 2026

In this episode of the Wabi Sabi podcast, I take you deeper into the Japanese beauty rituals I was raised with practices that go far beyond surface-level beauty and into how we live, care for ourselves, and honor our bodies daily. Long before J-Beauty became a trend, these rituals were part of my everyday life, rooted in discipline, mindfulness, and a deep respect for simplicity. I share how true beauty begins with what we nourish ourselves with, how we slow down, and how we care for our ski...

EP 201- Matcha Is Japanese: Here Are the Facts

March 31, 2026

On today’s episode of Wabi Sabi, I’m setting the record straight on matcha. There’s a lot of misinformation out there right now, and as a journalist with over 20 years in media and deep roots in Japanese culture, I felt it was important to share the facts. I break down the real history, the difference between mo cha and matcha, and why matcha is a distinctly Japanese product defined by its process, craftsmanship, and cultural continuity. This is about clarity, respect, and telling the truth. ...