Long before Korea dominated as Asia’s beauty powerhouse, Japan was at the forefront of cutting-edge cosmetics and skin care. The country boasts iconic brands such as Shiseido and SK-II, and has inspired countless others like Tatcha.
None of that, however, had anything to do with why I moved there right out of college before kick-starting my career as an editor. Though I’m proudly Chinese-American, I was inexplicably drawn to Japan at the time, fascinated by how such a technologically advanced country could also remain steeped in centuries of tradition. When the opportunity to teach English there presented itself, I couldn’t refuse.
Most people are shocked to learn I didn’t live in a bustling city like Tokyo, but in Kumenan, a small town of less than 6,000 people in rural Okayama prefecture. But despite my distance from any major city — or quite likely because of it — I felt promptly and thoroughly immersed in Japanese customs and norms. This cultural crash course allowed me to absorb some significant lessons about Japan, including its unique approach to beauty.
Looking back, that year abroad undoubtedly helped shape my thoughts on beauty and appearance. Of course, these ideas might be gleaned from broad generalizations — Japan’s attitude toward beauty, like everything else, continues to evolve as they redefine old rituals or adopt new trends — but I believe all of them are noteworthy, and in some cases, even empowering.
Ahead, six beauty lessons I’ll never forget from the exquisite country I once called home.
Lesson #1
Metropolises, like Tokyo and Osaka, have subcultures of young adolescents who experiment with funky fashion and extreme makeup (see: Harajuku girls).
But for the most part — both in my town and elsewhere — I found that Japanese women valued understated beauty and subtlety. (In other words, they were fans of the no-makeup makeup look way before its time.) When bold makeup, like a red lip or glitter-flecked eye shadow, made an appearance, it was usually to punctuate a natural look.
Nine years after living in Japan, I refrain from wearing a lot of makeup, even though I’m a beauty editor. The less-is-more approach suits my lifestyle, but most of all, I appreciate how generations of Japanese women before me have made it acceptable, even desirable, to sport a more minimalistic look. If you’re the opposite, however, all the more power to you — contouring isn’t easy!
Lesson #2
Nowhere is the saying “patience is a virtue” more true than in Japan. Despite the country’s high-speed bullet trains and other time-saving innovations, when it comes to beauty, the Japanese have perfected the art of patience. I witnessed how Japanese women — instead of expecting overnight results from their creams and serums — remained committed and consistent, biding their time for products to do their job. Most enlightening of all was how they treated their skincare regimens as a ritual, not a chore.
Now, even after a particularly exasperating day, I try to slow down and recognize the joy in pampering and caring for myself — even if it’s merely the 30 seconds it takes to apply my favorite facial oil.
Lesson #3
Don’t get me wrong: Japanese people are just as concerned with maintaining a youthful visage as everyone else in the world. But during my time there, the teachers in my town instilled in me the idea that aging is a natural part of life and, as such, should be approached gracefully.
Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that Japan has the highest proportion of elderly citizens or that honoring seniors is so deeply embedded in its culture (they even celebrate a national holiday called Respect for the Aged Day, or keirō no hi).
Whatever the reason, Japanese women (and men!) don’t seem to have an unhealthy obsession over every fine line. Botox and other cosmetic fillers exist — and hey, I’d never say never — but they haven’t caught on in the way similar procedures have here.
Living in Los Angeles, it’s easy to get swept up in the anti-aging craze, which is why I’ve always thought the Japanese mindset toward aging is one worth considering.
Lesson #4
The Japanese concept of wabi-sabi instantly struck a chord with me. Rooted in Zen Buddhist teachings (Shinto and Buddhism are two of the country’s major religions), wabi-sabi is based on the commonly held Japanese viewpoint that true beauty doesn’t lie in perfection, but rather in imperfection and impermanence. If you look closely enough, you’ll see how Japanese people apply this beautiful and complex philosophy to nearly everything: home décor, gardens, even floral arrangements.
We’re saturated with images of photoshopped perfection — everything is sleek, shiny, symmetrical, and impeccable — but the deeply ingrained idea of wabi-sabi celebrates the opposite, like an irregularly shaped bowl or a slightly off-kilter bonsai tree. In fact, it probably helps explain why some Japanese people seem able to embrace a wrinkle better than others.
As a quintessential Virgo perfectionist, I initially found wabi-sabi hard to grasp. But the more I thought about it, especially as applied to the realm of beauty, the more I loved its appeal. Think of Cindy Crawford without her trademark mole or Lauren Hutton without her gap-toothed smile. There’s incredible beauty in uniqueness; after all, life is far from perfect and it’s pretty damn beautiful. (Keep that in your back pocket the next time you feel hypercritical about any perceived flaws!)
Lesson #5
Japanese women and many other Asians (Hi, Mom!) are notoriously careful about protecting themselves from the sun. High-SPF sunscreen, hats, elbow-length gloves, umbrellas — you name it, they’ve tried it.
In the past, this sun-shielding strategy had a lot to do with the fact that porcelain-white skin reflected conventional Eastern beauty ideals. Viewed through a Westernized lens, the concept now feels impossibly outdated, but today, the practice is more intended to help protect and preserve the skin.
Like most native Southern Californians, I love luxuriating in the sunlight and getting my fill of vitamin D. But since a part of me is acutely aware that too much sun isn’t a good thing, balance is key. For that, I can thank my time in Japan — and my own mother’s sage advice.
Lesson #6
Japanese people firmly believe in the healing powers of onsen, the natural mineral hot springs found all across their seismically active country. (The term, however, has expanded to include bathing facilities of hotels or resorts near a hot spring.) An instant onsen addict, I trekked to a new one every month.
Though the offerings were diverse — outdoors and indoors; gender-separated or co-ed; the promise of skin benefits and relief from joint pain — one thing was clear about each experience: In a country where 12-hour workdays are common, this traditional bathing ritual provides a socially acceptable way to relax and recharge.
I saw it firsthand when even my school’s hard-working Japanese teachers — who started their days before the sun rose and clocked out late in the evenings — observed the importance of unwinding every so often.
The idea sounds staggeringly simple, but when you’re constantly plugged into your devices, social networks, and apps, it’s easy to forget that you’ve simply got to relax, no matter how busy life gets.
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