Kumiko Ibaraki is an established chef, nurse, health and nutrition counselor, and health care provider. Her work in health care began soon after she graduated nursing school. She started working in health care management centers as a health and nutrition counselor and managing at the centers as well. She applied herself largely to child nutrition within the school system. She also went on to work in health management union offices before starting her own school of cooking.
Her research includes healthier alternatives to baked goods. She is a licensed cook and studied with Tomioka Nobuka before beginning the Ibaraki Cooking Studio. Today she is a celebrity chef widely known for her indulgent sweets that are deceivingly low in calories. She has completed seven books, and has an instructional DVD as well. Her website sells baked goods and provides advice on how to make her recipes. When she is not doing research and working on her publications, she conducts cooking courses at her school in Tokyo.