Meet Kanako Kawata of Salon de KIREI

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kanako Kawata.

Hi Kanako, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I moved to the United States as an immigrant and later became a single mother after going through a divorce. I had to rebuild my life while raising four children, in a country where I had no foundation.
It wasn’t an easy situation, but through working in the beauty industry, I was able to support my family and gradually build a stable life in Los Angeles.
Through that experience, I realized something very important: there is a big gap between learning a skill and actually being able to make a living from it.
Many people learn techniques, but without real-world experience and the right environment, it doesn’t translate into income.
That realization led me to build not just a salon, but a system.
Today, I run Salon de KIREI, and I also created a training program where students don’t just learn techniques, but reach a level where they can actually generate income. We don’t compromise on technical quality — our focus is on building real, practical skills that meet professional salon standards.
At the same time, we place strong emphasis on service and hospitality, influenced by Japanese “omotenashi” — the mindset of anticipating client needs and delivering thoughtful, consistent care. This is not just about being polite, but about creating a level of service that clients can truly feel and trust.
In addition, I develop and provide products that meet those same standards, so everything—from learning to practice to income—is connected.
My goal is to make this process visible and repeatable, so that people—especially those looking to build a second career or restart their lives—can create a stable income through skill and consistency.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road.
One of the biggest challenges I faced was having to rebuild my life in a foreign country while raising children after my divorce. I didn’t have a strong support system, and I had to manage everything — work, childcare, and daily life — on my own.
Time and financial limitations were constant realities, which made it difficult to invest in long-term education or take risks without immediate income.
Another challenge I noticed early on was the gap in the beauty industry between learning a skill and actually being able to earn from it. I saw many people invest time and money into training, but still struggle to turn that into stable income.
Instead of accepting that as the norm, I focused on finding a more practical approach — learning through real salon experience and refining skills that directly translate into results.
These experiences shaped how I built my business. I wanted to remove that gap and create a system where people can realistically move from learning to earning.
The challenges I went through were difficult, but they became the foundation for everything I do today.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Salon de KIREI is not just a beauty salon — it is a system designed to turn skill into sustainable income.
We provide high-quality beauty services, but at the same time, we have built a structure that connects salon work, education, and product development into one continuous process.
Through our salon, we maintain real-world service standards. Through our training program, we help students develop practical skills that meet those standards and can generate income. Through our products, we ensure consistency and quality in both learning and execution.
What sets us apart is that we do not separate learning from earning. Many programs focus only on teaching techniques, but we focus on results — the ability to perform in a real salon environment and build a stable income.
We are also deeply influenced by Japanese hospitality, or “omotenashi,” which emphasizes attention to detail, consistency, and anticipating client needs. This allows us to train not only skilled technicians, but trusted professionals.
What I am most proud of is creating a structure where people can realistically move from learning to earning, regardless of their starting point.
Our goal is to make this process clear, practical, and repeatable — so that anyone willing to put in the work can build a stable and independent career.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
One thing that might surprise people is how structured and logical my approach to business is.
While the beauty industry is often seen as creative or emotional, I focus heavily on systems, standards, and repeatable processes.
I am continuously working toward building a model that produces real, consistent results — not only in service quality, but also in helping people develop skills that can generate stable income.
My goal is to connect salon work, education, and product development into one consistent system that supports those results.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://salondekirei.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DXcsHGtEnoH/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/kirei-torrance?dd_referrer=