The World's First Entrepreneur Talent Featured on 'Shark Tank' & 'America's Got Talent': My Journey from Face Yoga to Nonenal Aging Odor Soaps

I’m Koko, a Japanese businessperson who’s always dreamed of living in the United States. Inspired by American TV shows like Ally McBeal, I wanted to make my mark in this land of opportunities. This dream took me from Japan to California, where I shifted my focus from face yoga to tackling the unique issue of aging odor. Along the way, I even found myself on Shark Tank and America’s Got Talent.

Growing up with my grandmother Sayomi, I saw firsthand the embarrassment and hurt caused by aging odor. Friends would sometimes mock her smell, which was painful to witness. Japanese scientists later identified this smell as Nonenal, which intensifies with age. In Japan, persimmon soaps became popular because they helped eliminate Nonenal. Motivated by this, I decided to bring these soaps to the U.S. market.

I began by testing the persimmon soap market in the U.S. Three years later, on May 19, 2013, at exactly 5:30 pm, I resigned from my well-paid job and moved to California to pursue my American dream. California was chosen because Mirai Clinical's factory is located there, and its owner's husband, Francis, was supposed to handle fulfillment for me. Unfortunately, Francis passed away unexpectedly just before my move. Even though this was a major setback, I pressed on and tackled the many challenges that came my way, including adapting to new business practices and cultural differences.

Mirai Clinical started to grow steadily over time. Once things settled down, I was finally able to return to my passion for face yoga. After a failed plastic surgery at twenty-seven years old and turning to natural remedies, I had been teaching online face yoga since 2010. While managing Mirai Clinical, I also started face yoga as a business.

I heard about in-person auditions for Shark Tank and applied, pitching both businesses. My persistence paid off as I pitched face yoga on the show in 2019 after failing twice. Although I didn't secure a deal, the experience was incredible, and I even managed to mention Mirai Clinical's persimmon soaps during my pitch.

I applied for the show because comedians on America's Got Talent said that my face yoga tutorials felt like comedy. Although I was featured, being booed by Simon Cowell and Howie Mandel wasn't something that happened every day for me, as making it to the finals was unlikely.

Thanks to the unwavering support of our loyal clients, mentors, and friends, we’re pushing forward with Mirai Clinical and working hard to grow. Our goal is to tackle the issue of Nonenal aging odor and help countless people regain their confidence. It’s been a journey full of ups and downs, and I truly appreciate all the support we’ve received along the way.