Meet Yumi

Meet Yumi, a curious young Japanese girl with a big heart and a love of adventure. She loves traveling the world, discovering new places, and making friends along the way.

Her journey begins with her grandmother, Obāchan, a tea master who travels with a global organization to share the importance of the Japanese Tea Ceremony. Through Obāchan’s travels, Yumi meets animal friends from different parts of the world—each with a story to share and something wonderful to teach her.

Inspired by the ceremony’s four guiding principles—Harmony, Respect, Purity, and Tranquility—Yumi and her friends discover how everyday moments of kindness can bring people closer together. (See Wa Kei Sei Jaku)

Come explore with Yumi, where every new friendship opens a door to adventure—and every act of compassion helps the Garden of Peace grow.

From Japan’s cherry blossoms to Hawaii’s beaches, China’s whispering bamboo forests, and beyond, Yumi’s Universe is a world of wonder where every destination holds a new story.

Travel alongside Yumi and her friends to discover different cultures, explore nature, and learn through stories, songs, and exciting adventures. Along the way, practice kindness, celebrate what makes each of us unique, and discover how much we share.

Guided by compassion, friendship, and peace, every adventure invites children to become curious explorers—and Keepers of the Garden of Peace.

Invented by Yumi’s best friend Jay from Hawaii, the Mystical-Magical Orb-Ship turns shared intentions into extraordinary adventures. Crafted from celestial bamboo, it is invisible to everyone outside—allowing Yumi and her friends to travel unseen through a world of wonder.

Its fuel? Everyone coming together with a common intention. Whether they choose compassion, wonder, patience, or insightfulness, each friend helps power the journey by bringing that intention to life.

Once their intention is set, Jay guides the ship using a mechanical dashboard filled with clever gadgets and a steering wheel. His invention brings imagination and ingenuity together, carrying the friends toward new discoveries.

Every flight begins with a shared intention—and the possibilities grow when everyone contributes.

Wa • Kei • Sei • Jaku
Harmony • Respect • Purity • Tranquility

The Japanese Tea Ceremony, known as Chadō, or “the Way of Tea,” grew over centuries from tea traditions brought from China to Japan. Influenced by Zen Buddhism and shaped by tea masters such as Sen no Rikyū in the sixteenth century, it became an art of hospitality, mindful attention, and connection. Preparing and sharing a bowl of tea invites people to slow down and appreciate their time together.

Creator Tess Cacciatore researched the Japanese Tea Ceremony and drew inspiration from its traditions and the meaning of each principle to create Yumi’s animal friends. Holly represents Harmony, Ravi represents Respect, Zuri represents Purity, and Seren represents Tranquility. By choosing animals children love, connected to different parts of the world and their cultures, Tess brings these timeless values to life through friendship, discovery, and adventure.

At its heart are four guiding principles, traditionally expressed in this order: Wa, Kei, Sei, Jaku.

Wa — Harmony: Living in balance with one another and with nature.

Kei — Respect: Treating people and the things around us with care.

Sei — Purity: Caring for our surroundings while bringing clarity to our hearts and minds.

Jaku — Tranquility: Discovering inner stillness through the practice of harmony, respect, and purity.