Postcard from Japan!
And a FLASH POLL I really need you to weigh in on
Dear readers and supporters of LookLook, we hear you. You don’t have time to read.
Since late last year, we’ve been conducting proprietary research amongst our BeautyVerse members and providing free magazine-style tracker reports on skincare, makeup, longevity, etc. But as several client mentors have told me - although they find the content beautiful and compelling, they don’t have time to read more reports. I get it. I don’t either.
So… and this will only take a minute… I would love to know what you would enjoy hearing from us on a regular basis. Which is most useful to you? The plan is to keep it to a short, concise newsletter.
If you’d like, please DM me here or email me at malinda@looklook.app with additional feedback on what you would like us to share. We listen to thousands of real people on a myriad of subjects every month and can share authentic highlights and give them context.
What news from us would you be delighted to see in your in-box?
Sakura Spring Awakening Amongst Japanese Youth
I just returned from a week in Japan at the invitation of angel investor Janet C. Salazar who organized a symposium for the Foundation Supporting the United Nations in Nagoya on March 25th. I spoke on longevity and the desires for wellbeing that we hear about it from our LuxuryVerse. (For the full report, go to Insights on looklook.app).
The bottom line? Women talk to other women about longevity. They learn more from word of mouth than from social media.
Also, there were dozens of college students in the audience, many of whom came up to us afterwards. What struck me was how many of them are intent on creating careers around preserving Japanese culture and traditions. Gen Z in Japan appear less willing to endure the old “salaryman grind” and are interested in pursuing creative, freelance, and flexible paths. Freelance numbers have roughly doubled in a decade, despite a strong job market for full-time work.
As we’ve noted many times in our reporting from our China LuxuryVerse, “China pride” (or Zhōngguó zìháo) is also alive and well.
As the West seems to be suffering from an identity crisis and moral decay, East Asian culture appears to be strengthening in confidence and embracing its rich local culture.
An example: I met with a young artist, Ayumi Ueda (her stage name is ALUMA) who is one such individual seeking to explore indigenous cultures globally, starting with Shinto musical rituals in Japan. She’s also gorgeous, loves fashion and when I met her she was wearing the most beautiful obi-inspired dress. Her musical group is @womenoftheworldmusic.
Fun Facts About Vintage Shopping in Japan
I also met a lovely trans woman at the Japanese American Club in Tokyo who unlocked the secret to all the impeccable quality vintage luxury goods available at AMORE (they have three stores now, among them one that specializes in CHANEL and one that specializes in Hermès).
Geishas may be a thing of the past, and the younger generation of wives do not kneel down before their husbands when they arrive home from work to remove their shoes and then feed them dinner as used to be the pattern for many years. So… many businessmen in Tokyo engage “hostesses” for the quiet, subservient company they crave. The law, however, prevents them from paying these women, so they gift them luxury bags instead. The hostesses, in turn, go straight to the vintage shops and collect payment for their “gifts”. Voilà - the unique vintage store experience in Japan full of new goods. These stores limit the number of customers who enter to just a few (so you do have to stand in line sometimes), offer their clients water, sophisticated service, and it feels like a luxury boutique, just with with heavy discounts. And they remove the 10% VAT in the store! No hassle at the airport.
One of Many Mysteries About Japan
I’ve often wondered why more luxury brands are not exported from Japan. They treasure craftsmanship, design, quality and heritage. They take a strawberry and make it the best strawberry you’ll ever taste. They wrap every item you purchase with such care it feels like a ritual in itself. The highest quality goods are always linked to a place of origin, like matcha that comes from Kyoto. Kobe beef from Osaka.
I believe it’s a huge opportunity for certain Japanese brands, if they are interested, to widen their reach and share this commitment to quality craftsmanship with markets in the West. But something tells me it doesn’t always interest them. Part of maintaining the quality they are obsessed with probably dictates the “small batch” concept.
It’s one reason I highly recommend making the journey to this rare and beautiful country. And of course, the cherry blossoms!
Stay curious, and happy spring! Malinda
PS Don’t forget to follow us on IG @luxuryverse100!