Deep within the Japanese tradition lies the vision of a path. A path more beautiful and more important than the destination. The ways of the warrior, Zen, tea, and the art of gentleness (judo) are all individual quests. Learning is achieved through the body more than through words. Gestures repeated endlessly, mastering form to access substance and a certain peace of mind.
Beauty rituals are part of this philosophy and are intertwined with the art of living. Japanese women follow codified daily routines, deeply rooted in the country's culture since time immemorial. Facial cleansing, for example. First, oil for deep cleansing, then water and foam for freshness and purification. Each step has its own sensory experience and a distinct presence. With gentle strokes, we massage lightly, perhaps, we apply the product. We close our eyes to better feel our cheeks. So that there is no other world, nothing but the softness of life at the touch of the skin.
The weapon of judo is suppleness, the weapon of beauty is gentleness; beauty imposes its own measure, delicacy. More than any other virtue, it is tactile. One of its privileged areas of contact is the hand, the fingertips. A mindful body scan. Daily attention. Self-care as a way of life.
With this routine and discipline, Japanese women naturally focus on prevention and sustainability, adopting a different approach to the passage of time (a concept difficult for us Westerners to accept, as we often seek immediate results). This daily preventative approach also brings a certain inner peace, allowing them to anticipate unforeseen events with confidence and serenity—a phenomenon whose importance we can understand when we know how much stress can affect our health and beauty.