Lifestyle

From Japan to Los Angeles Homes: How Kado Blends Tradition with Modern Taste

Published

1 year ago

January 9, 2025

Michelle Langton

Photo Credit: KADO

Byline: Katreen David

When the doors to Kado opened in Los Angeles, they did not just swing open to another retail shop inspired by Japan. With walls lined with handcrafted ceramics, bamboo trays, and elegant decor, the store transports customers halfway across the world into an atmosphere of quiet sophistication and timeless elegance.

Herbert Johnson, Kado’s representative in Japan, describes the store as “a labor of love.” The brand intends not just to sell items but to celebrate Japan’s unique ability to merge functionality with art. “Our goal,” Johnson explains, “is to make it a space where people do not just find beautiful items, but also feel connected to a deeper cultural experience.”

In Los Angeles, a city known for its fusion of global cultures, the novelty store has found an audience that craves authenticity in its home decor. However, unlike many home goods stores, Kado is intentional about each product on its shelves. The team’s keen eye for traditional and modern art ensures that every piece reflects the brand’s values: items that embody traditional Japanese craftsmanship yet cater to modern American tastes.

Crafting a Niche in a Competitive Market

The growing market for home goods from Japan and other East Asian nations is fierce. Yet, Kado stands apart by doubling down on what Johnson describes as “cultural authenticity.” While many competitors might lean on trends or commercialized versions of “Zen-inspired” decor, Kado highlights pieces rooted in genuine Japanese traditions.

“Every piece in our store tells a story,” Johnson explains, reflecting on the significance behind the brand’s curated selections. “Our customers appreciate that connection to Japanese craftsmanship—they can see the quality and feel it. When they shop at Kado, they are buying and owning a piece of that culture.”

Bestsellers like the Shinrin-Yoku AM・PM Mists exemplify this approach. The mists are named after the Japanese practice of “forest bathing,” designed to bring the calming essence of Japan’s natural scapes indoors. In these small bottles, customers find more than just a home fragrance; they discover a sense of calm, a nod to Japan’s reverence for nature, and an invitation to partake in a mindful experience, all within their own living spaces.

Japan to the World: Beyond the Threshold

As the brand establishes itself in Los Angeles, its ambitions do not stop there. The brand plans to expand its product range and build exclusive collaborations with Japanese artisans, bringing even more unique and high-quality items to the U.S. market. For this Asian brand, growth is not simply about scaling up; it is about deepening its commitment to preserving and sharing Japanese craftsmanship with a broader audience.

“Our long-term goal is to make Kado the go-to destination in the U.S. for authentic Japanese home goods,” Johnson shares. “We want to offer a variety of items that speak to different tastes and needs, from the design aficionados to those just discovering Japanese culture.” Beyond the physical storefront, the brand is also exploring the possibility of e-commerce, aiming to reach those who might not have access to the store in Los Angeles but still seek its unique offerings.

In a retail world often defined by the fleeting nature of trends, Kado mirrors the enduring allure of culture and craftsmanship, connecting the space between Japan and Los Angeles.

Lifestyle

Kat Marie Alvarez: Where Innovation Meets Regulation

Published

5 hours ago

January 23, 2026

Michelle Langton

Regulation is often thought of as a limitation, yet in healthcare, it also serves as a foundation for building models that endure. For Kat Marie Alvarez, Founder and CEO of KATALYST & CO, the framework of rules established by agencies like CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid) and the OIG ( office of the Inspector General) create opportunities to design systems that are compliant, ethical, and transformative. Her approach demonstrates that regulation can be a platform for innovation when it is interpreted with both technical rigor and vision.

Kat’s 25-year career reflects this philosophy. A former nurse who advanced into executive leadership and strategy, she has led $2.7B+ P&L operations, advised on over $5B in healthcare transactions, and guided value based organizations including Innovacare, Cano Health, WellMed, Centene, and Humana through periods of exponential scaling. Her perspective combines clinical, financial, and regulatory experience, giving her a unique ability to design structures that support integrity and accountability while driving measurable outcomes.

Turning Statutes into Strategy

For Kat, regulation serves as a framework for building smarter and more ethical models. She interprets CMS guidance and OIG rules as levers for innovation, using them to advance integrity and accountability. With the CMS V28 risk adjustment model, Alvarez refined coding practices, strengthened clinical documentation, and structured risk frameworks that reward accuracy and elevate standards of care. In addressing RADV audits, she crafted strategies that protect stakeholders while keeping patient outcomes at the forefront. She aligns compliance, cost, and care in equal measure. Her current work as a contributor to the CMS IDea Challenge, an initiative focused on strengthening the foundation of trust in our system, further echoes her commitment to advancing regulations in ways that unlock innovation while safeguarding the integrity of care.

Her interpretive approach brings discipline and vision to every challenge. She engages stakeholders to redesign workflows that meet regulatory requirements and enhance the patient experience. Each policy becomes a mechanism to strengthen accountability and operational precision, shaping a system that is both compliant and humane.

Innovation Built Within Boundaries

At KATALYST & CO, this interpretive approach is carried into every project. Kat has integrated predictive analytics and AI-driven tools into care models, with safeguards that ensure interventions remain clinician-led and ethically sound. For example, AI flags in chronic disease management are connected to human-led actions that improve patient care. The result is a model that benefits from technology while preserving accountability and clinical integrity.

Staffing and infrastructure provide another example of her philosophy in action. By leveraging offshore BPO operations in Latin America, Asia, and Eastern Europe, KATALYST & CO extends capacity for health plans and providers. These expansions are carefully designed to meet data security, licensure, and jurisdictional requirements, ensuring that global reach is paired with local compliance. It is a system that balances scale with responsibility.

The Art of Influence Through Alignment

Kat often describes her role as translating complexity into clarity. Whether she is working with payers, providers, or investors, she builds consensus by grounding ambitious strategies in the language of statute. Value-based care models, utilization management programs, and clinical frameworks are designed to prove compliant ROI for stakeholders while maintaining patient focus.

Her approach begins with people. In integrations, partnerships, and platform builds, she respects legacy strengths, listens to frontline voices, and creates systems that are not only efficient but also trusted. This ensures that compliance does not feel like restriction, but like a structure that supports innovation and adoption.

Redefining the Future of Compliance and Care

KATALYST & CO is scaling with $10M in initial funding, expanded international operations, and a growing advisory portfolio. Under Kat’s leadership, the firm is showing how regulation can be a foundation for both innovation and durability. She demonstrates that lasting progress in healthcare is achieved by leaders who know how to design systems that are bold, ethical, and deeply human.

By approaching regulation as a guide rather than a limitation, Kat Alvarez is building models that prove compliance and innovation can move forward together. Her formula ensures that the future of healthcare is shaped not only by ambition, but also by trust and responsibility.