Today we’d like to introduce you to Marine Lulu and Millie Nene Nabeshima.
Marine Lulu and Millie Nene, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
We are two sisters born and raised in the South Bay. Food, art, nature and a conscious lifestyle have always been the driving factors for us in all endeavors. Having traveled well-over 15 countries and recently engaging with communities back in Japan (which is where our roots are) – we have been learning about all sorts of cuisine and culture along the way.
We find joy in sharing the foods that we grew up with in our Japanese household. It excites us to see people who are foreign to this specific palate find pleasure and comfort in such tastes 🙂
We truly believe that food is a fantastic common denominator through which to reach people and gather ourselves behind a common goal. As Vandana Shiva says, “the Revolution starts on our plates!” – with the decisions we make on what and how we eat (impacts on environment, the importance of choosing local, organic, nutritious; choices for our health & wellbeing + conscious consumption, fair share, supporting ethical practices, community, etc.).
“The revolution starts on our plates..” also being a simple way of connecting us closer to one another, to gather around the dinner table with loved ones, friends new and old, communities close and afar. We believe that food is a channel of love, like music and art – a sense of connection, belonging, and unity.
We aim to eventually work with the city and other non-profits within the community to continue help in the work to implement community gardens, education centers, and more local support. We hope to be a part of this by bringing people around great food, mindfulness, wellness, art, and connection.
Recently we have been engaged in interactions through our online restaurant that we hope to slowly expand on and use as a channel to share our food and lifestyle. Through our ethos and actions, we hope inspire and impact the community around us 🙂
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We truly believe that obstacles are placed for us with teachings and in divine timing, and everything happens for us, never TO us. With this outlook, we have made each mistake into our greatest lesson and each struggle our ultimate teacher in facing all aspects of ourselves and the greater picture.
Like everything, it is filled with ups and downs, highs and lows. The greatest struggle is to maintain confidence and momentum, to not give up on our dream and mission, to continue believing in ourselves keeping our heads high and our hearts humble.
We have had times where we felt like we were being beat up, feeling like giving up would be easiest. However, with the encouragement, support, and love from our friends and family, we are always brought back to clarity and inspiration. The community beyond us is what motivates us to be and do our best each day. We are finding that as most things, we as humans are not capable of doing everything alone. We are always influenced, inspired, and endlessly on our way moving forward thanks to those around us.
Please tell us about Kimama Cafe.
With the continuing and hopeful growth of sustainable business practices and the expansion of conscious consumerism, consumers are turning to authenticity and ethics behind goods and services. Our emphasis on ethics and moral responsibility is a highlight of our cause. We hope to create a space and join the community by offering educational workshops and events, finding ways to build resilience, working with the city in expanding on sustainable practices.
Our simple wish is to share art and delicious food, celebrating community and great company. We want to continue to learn and share ideas on what it means to be a citizen of the earth in this day and age, as individuals and as a company. We aim to keep authenticity through transparency, real human connection and interaction, oneness and love 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kimama.cafe
- Phone: 5629002085
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimama_cafe/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimamanicafe
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