Author Spotlight: Bob Kumaki: The Story Behind His Book, Eat-A-Ducky-Mouse

We believe the most powerful books are the ones that bring readers into a world they may never have known otherwise. Author Bob Kumaki does exactly that in his unforgettable memoir, Eat-A-Ducky-Mouse: A Gastro-Memoir and Love Letter to Japanese American Food Culture.

Part memoir, part culinary journey, and part cultural history, Kumaki’s book invites readers to the table where food becomes the starting point for stories about identity, memory, and belonging. Published by First Flight Books in 2025, the book spans generations and captures decades of lived experience through the lens of Japanese American cuisine and family tradition.

The title, Eat-A-Ducky-Mouse, sounds a little unusual. It’s derived from the Japanese expression “itadakimasu,” which is said before meals to express gratitude for the food and those who prepared it. “Eat-A-Ducky-Mouse” is a kind of English mnemonic for that expression. And for Kumaki, the title is a kind of meta expression of his existing within and between two cultures. At its heart, the book is about appreciation—gratitude for culture, family, and the meals that bring people together.

Food as Memory

In Eat-A-Ducky-Mouse, Kumaki explores the rich traditions of Japanese American food culture while reflecting on the personal stories behind the dishes. Meals become markers of time: childhood gatherings, immigrant resilience, and the everyday rituals that shape identity.

Readers encounter kitchens filled with aromas of simmering broths, bustling restaurants, and family tables where recipes carry generations of history. Through these scenes, Kumaki shows how food is never only just food: it is also memory, culture, and community.

A Memoir with Cultural Depth

While the book celebrates the pleasures of cooking and eating, it also dives deeper into the cultural experiences that shaped Japanese American communities across generations. Kumaki weaves together personal narrative with broader reflections on heritage, assimilation, and the enduring role of cuisine in preserving identity.

The result is a memoir that speaks to anyone who has ever understood the meaning of home through a meal.

Why We’re Proud to Publish It

At First Flight Books, our mission is to champion voices with stories worth telling, stories that expand readers’ understanding of the world. Bob Kumaki’s memoir embodies that mission.

Eat-A-Ducky-Mouse is not only a tribute to Japanese American culinary traditions but also a reminder that food connects us across generations, cultures, and continents.

For readers who love memoir, food writing, and cultural storytelling, Kumaki’s work offers something rare: a seat at the table where history, humor, and humanity meet.

You can get your copy of this remarkable book here.

First Flight Books

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