Saya Sugimori
Saya Sugimori is a model, painter, and columnist. Originally from Hokkaido, the large northern island of Japan, she moved to Tokyo to pursue her career. Saya specializes in nude photography, seeking to express the creative impulse of life through this art form. She celebrates the joy and strength of being oneself, without constraint.
Beauty
What images do the word “beauty” evoke for you?
“Body and soul in unison. The emotions of the soul are reflected in the expressions of the face and body.”
Japanese beauty
What elements do you think make the Japanese approach and vision of beauty unique?
“Its holistic approach. For millennia, rice, tea, bran, and legumes have been part of the daily diet in Japan. These are the same natural ingredients that we incorporate into our cosmetic products to nourish our skin.”
Is there a Japanese woman or man who inspires you with their beauty?
“The novelist Atsuhiro Yoshida. Yoshida’s books—his stories, his words, his sentences, and each of his characters—exude a warmth comparable to steam. His stories teach us that we must preserve a space free from judgment in order to welcome the other in their uniqueness.”
What are your favorite beauty tips, the essential face or body care rituals in your daily routine?
“A morning bath upon waking. A reset for body and mind. A refocusing for me.”
Wisdom and inspiration
Is there a Japanese proverb or mantra that particularly inspires you?
“The other is a mirror of oneself.” If I smile, they smile. If I get angry, they do too. This adage guides me every day. Our openness to others is the first step towards a virtuous circle in any relationship.
Harmony and serenity
An activity to maintain inspiration and serenity?
“Cafés, bookstores, libraries, hot springs, mountains and lakes, there are many places I love, but… Buying a book in a bookstore I happen to stop in during a stroll, then reading and painting while reading in a café I also happen to stop in. These moments are the most restorative for me, the ones that bring me warmth.”
Memories and transmission
What is your earliest memory of beauty?
“My parents loved hot springs. Through these trips, I learned to immerse myself deeply in the hot water to purify myself and rid myself of the fatigue and impurities of the day.”
A piece of advice (beauty or other) passed down through generations in your family that you would give to a young person starting out in life?
“Courtesy. It is important, even with loved ones, to express our gratitude and affection to them daily, in a tangible and delicate way. The choice of words guarantees the respect we have for others.”
Passion and vitality
What are the things that make your heart beat faster?
“Going out dressed in the colors I like, chosen according to my mood of the day. I'm usually in a good mood when I wear red, purple, and pink.”
What are the things that give you confidence?
“People. On days when I talk with people and laugh a lot, I feel like my heart tightens, strong, like a freshly washed shirt.”
#IntimateJapan #Portraits #SayaSugimori #JapaneseBeauty #BeautyRituals #WisdomAndInspiration #Harmony #Serenity #MemoriesAndTransmission #PassionAndVitality #BizenCosmetics
Photographs by Saya: Satoshi Shimada @simashimada Thank you for the sublime images. Thank you to Saya Sugimori @sugimorisaya