– Life as a Rural Revitalization Entrepreneur –
In what ways does visiting over forty-one countries before the age of twenty-four connect up to becoming a rural revitalization entrepreneur in a country like Japan?
What is it like running a sustainability based business in the Japanese countryside? What’s the secret to leveraging a tool like social media to drive a new business forward?
These are a few topics, amongst many more, you’ll soon have insights from this episode of LIFE AS A..
Guest Intro
Kira Bella is a bold entrepreneur, global citizen, and visionary leader in rural revitalization and sustainable energy. Born in Tanzania to a Burmese-Australian-American-Polish family, she grew up in Australia before moving to the United States alone at the age of 15.
With her father in the United Nations (UNHCR- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), Kira was immersed in internationalism from an early age, sparking a lifelong passion for exploration, culture, and impact.
A Passion for Life, Learning and New Experiences
After majoring in Environmental Studies, Political Science, and Geography at the University of Oregon, and spending three months conducting field research in the Amazon Rainforest, Kira set out to travel the world indefinitely. Having visited 41 countries across six continents by the age of 24, she unexpectedly found a home in the Japanese countryside, a place as foreign as it was familiar.
Surrounded by mountains and rice paddies, she joined a 3,500-year-old Kagura performing arts troupe, deepening her connection to culture and community.
Now pursuing a master’s degree in Sustainable Energy at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, Kira is at the forefront of pioneering solutions that merge innovation with tradition.
A New Life in the Japanese Countryside
She recently launched Kirameki, a rural revitalization business that embodies everything she has learned in her global journey.
In just two weeks, her videos about Kirameki garnered over 4 million video views, 50,000 new social media followers, and earned Kira the role of an official tourism ambassador for her town.
Leading Japan’s rural revitalization movement, Kira is reshaping the narrative around sustainable development, cultural preservation, and community-driven progress. Her future is just beginning, and she’s determined to make every moment count.
Reasons to Listen
This will be a talk worth listening to for:
- those interested in finding out more about operating a passion driven business
- those interested in hearing an inspirational conversation and why it may be worth your time to pursue your own dreams
- those wanting a peek into a life less ordinary
Listeners will come away with insights on:
- a look at what rural revitalization means to Kira from the standpoint of her efforts of running a biz in the Japanese countryside
- the types of activities and services she provides within her adopted Japanese town
- some of the challenges associated with initially setting up her biz in Japan
- how she got started and the type of success she has experienced early on
- how Kira’s personal background, experiences and mission aligned to create this new entrepreneurial life for herself
- how social media has impacted her business growth
- empowering tips on how to leverage social media for business growth
- a day in the life of Kira and her business
- her views on entrepreneurship and why simplifying things can be a helpful approach
- how Kira’s professional purpose has truly come to enrich her own personal life
- direct advice to those looking to start their own passion driven enterprise
- much more!
A Memorable Quote from the Episode:
“I have people from all over the world that are pouring their love into this project with me. I don’t feel alone anymore. Even my community, everyone is just helping me so much.”
–Kira Bella
Check out the Video Conversation:
For those who desire to view video highlights of the conversation, you can do so via Youtube.
Discover More
For those interested in learning more about Kira Bella and her company Kirameki, you can find and follow her on the following platforms:
Keep Listening!
I hope you enjoyed the episode. For more, check out additional episodes here!
