What Is “Essential Service” by Global Standards? Rethinking Japan’s Excessive Hospitality Japan’s service industry is often said to be “the best in the world.” Wherever you go, you are greeted with a smile and polite words like “Welcome” or “Thank you.” From the outside, this may strengthen the impression of Japan as a “kind and gentle nation.” However, after living abroad, I began to question the hidden side of this “excessive service.” Scripted Smiles and Empty “Thank You’s” In Japan, you are always greeted with “Welcome” when entering a store. Of course, some say it sincerely, but many are simply following the manual. “Thank you” or “Please come again” without […]

Don’t Know What Makes You Unique? Everyone Has a Beautiful Side. Let’s Discover It Together. “I don’t have anything special about me.” So many people say this. But let me be clear. That is absolutely not true. I’ve met tens of thousands of clients over the years, and not once have I met someone who lacked uniqueness. Everyone has their own charm, strength, and beautiful individuality. It may just not be visible yet—or you might not have noticed it yourself. The Diamond Within You You, too, have something that shines inside. Maybe it’s still buried under the surface or a little cloudy right now, but just like a rough diamond, […]

Ferraris and Hairstyles: A Story About “Your Own Sense of Value” Even with the same Ferrari, the “value” can differ greatly depending on the person. Some people collect them as a hobby, some own them as an investment, some drive them to show off, and others simply because they genuinely love them. There may even be people who think a Ferrari is only worth 100 yen. Isn’t that exactly the same as hairstyles? Did you choose that hairstyle because you truly “love it”? For example: “Because this hairstyle is trending” “Because my friends might compliment it” “Because I want to make a good impression on my boss” “Because I want […]

What criteria do you use when choosing a hair salon? Price, location, skill level, interior design, Instagram aesthetic, staff numbers—or “reviews”? Many people rely on online reviews, such as those on Google. It’s true that reviews let you read real customer experiences, which can be helpful when deciding. But in today’s world, reviews can be “bought.” It’s easy to pay for fake reviews to be written. Getting 100 or 200 five-star reviews is not difficult at all. That’s why blindly trusting all reviews is a dangerous choice. All of my reviews are 100% real. The Google reviews I’ve published were never written by paid reviewers or agencies. They were all […]

Aging Cannot Be Stopped. But Deterioration Can Be Prevented. As we age, changes in hair quality and scalp condition inevitably appear. You may think, “It’s harder to get volume lately,” or, “My hair feels drier than before.” That itself is completely natural. ——Yes, aging cannot be stopped. But I don’t want to end it with, “That’s just because I’m getting older.” Why? Because “change” and “deterioration” may seem similar, but they are completely different. Age-related changes happen to everyone. But deterioration, which progresses when those changes are simply left unattended, can indeed be prevented. For example, situations like these: Hair becomes thinner and loses resilience An increase in gray hair […]

When you get your hair colored, do you think “long-lasting color = good color”? That’s actually a bit of a misunderstanding. Of course, enjoying beautiful color for a long time is nice. But methods such as “using strong alkaline dye to make it last longer” can often lead to hair damage. Designing with Fading in Mind Hair color will inevitably fade. This is a natural phenomenon that cannot be avoided. The important thing is to create a design that still looks good even as it fades—“not awkward, but naturally beautiful.” What I recommend as “long-lasting color” is not about making it dark and resistant to fading, but about designing it […]

Hair Salons That Only Promote Their Techniques—Do You Really Know If They Suit You? You often see advertisements from hair salons and hairdressers that emphasize their techniques, don’t you? “The latest chemicals,” “the world’s first treatment,” “the trendiest hairstyle”—they all sound appealing. But can you really tell if they are right for you just from that? You can’t judge by appearances alone This is not only true for hair salons, but also for hospitals, cosmetic surgery, hotels, restaurants—almost every industry. “It must be good because it has the latest equipment,” “It’s safe because it’s located downtown,” “It’s expensive so the quality must be high”—we tend to get caught up in […]

What Is Good Customer Service? When you hear the words “good customer service,” what comes to mind? Reading the atmosphere? Enjoyable conversation? A comfortable space? Or perhaps receiving service in a stylish salon with the latest equipment, or in a luxurious, high-end environment? The standards differ entirely from person to person. Some may think, “This person’s service is wonderful,” while others may feel, “It didn’t really suit me.” In other words, the value of customer service is different for everyone. ⸻ The Difference Between Large Salons and Freelance One of the reasons I became independent as a freelance hairdresser was precisely this issue of “customer service.” In large salons, a […]

“Can you make my hair look like this picture?” This is a common request in salons, but in reality, even if two hairstyles look the same, subtle differences can arise in the final result. Why is that? One of the reasons is: “Where the cut begins.” The point where the haircut starts can subtly change the balance, texture, and shape of the final style. The first cut becomes the “reference point.” For example, when creating a style with distinct layers and movement at the top— If you start cutting from the sides or back, the top may end up longer and heavier than intended. On the other hand, if the […]

The Difference Between “Quick-Turn” Salons and Me, Who Thinks About How Time Is Spent Lately, I often see advertisements for salons promoting speed, like “Cut + Color + Treatment in 2 hours.” It’s true that finishing quickly is convenient, and in our busy daily lives it can be a very welcome service. But when I see that, to be honest, I feel a little conflicted. My style is completely one-on-one. From consultation to finish, I handle everything myself. So, especially for first-time clients, the process inevitably takes more time. Sometimes, even just the consultation before starting the actual service can easily take over 30 minutes. You might think, “Does it […]