Backstory

I was born in Kumamoto and raised in Kanagawa and Texas. Looking back, my time in Houston was especially formative - it’s where I developed a deep comfort with cultural diversity and an instinct for self expression (true to the saying, “Don’t Mess with Texas”). I'm a tree-hugger at my core, thanks in part to my grandparents' poultry farm, where I first learned to care for living systems. After experiencing both Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, I learned to also fear nature and felt pulled to understand how the Earth works. Thanks to the generous support of the Grew Bancroft Foundation, I had the incredible opportunity to move to California and pursue an education in Environmental Science at Pomona College.

Today, I hope to be part of allocating capital to gamechanging startups who are helping make the planet a more livable place, or are redefining what it means to be well or productive.

What’s a book, podcast, or movie that’s had a big impact on you - and why?

Monocultures of the Mind by Vandana Shiva challenged me to think more critically about power and the role of science. In it, Shiva critiques industrial agriculture and Western scientific paradigms, drawing on personal stories of growing up in the lush Himalayas and observing the vital role women play in land stewardship. As the title suggests, monocultures can be harmful not just in nature, but in society as well. Every time I reread this book, I'm moved to ask: "Who holds the power to define what counts as knowledge?" "How can we weave indigenous wisdom into our global legacy?"

About Kirara

After graduating from Pomona College, I began my professional career at Bain & Company Tokyo in 2020. I was driven by a desire to understand how large enterprises think and operate - knowing that businesses are responsible for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions. My case work spanned a range of areas, from due diligence for private equity funds to new business development and cost reduction strategies for Japan-based global companies. Eager to play a more proactive role in advancing novel technologies and business models, I joined MPower Partners in 2023.