Nancy Matsumoto

Nancy Matsumoto is a James Beard award-winning writer and editor who specializes in the areas of regenerative agriculture, food, saké, arts and culture. She has been a contributor to The Wall Street Journal, Time, Newsweek, TheAtlantic, People, Food & Wine, Saveur, The Los Angeles Times, Civil Eats, and NPR, among other publications.

Her next book, “Reaping What She Sows: How Women Are Rebuilding Our Broken Food System,” is due out from Melville House Publishing on October 28, 2025.

“By the Shore of Lake Michigan,” a translation of a book of Japanese tanka poetry by Nancy’s grandparents, Tomiko and Ryokuyō Matsumoto (in collaboration with translators Mariko Aratani and Kyoko Miyabe), was published in October 2024 by UCLA Asian American Studies Center Press.

Nancy’s book "Exploring the World of Japanese Craft Sake: Rice, Water, Earth," co-written with Michael Tremblay, was awarded a James Beard book award in 2023, was longlisted for the UK's André Simon 2022 food and drink book awards, and named a top 10 finalist for Tales of the Cocktail Foundation 2023 Spirited Awards.

Other books include "Displaced: Manzanar 1942-1945, " "Unforgotten: Voices From Heart Mountain: An Oral History of the Incarceration," co-written with Joanne Oppenheim.