On October 3rd, 2023, founder of VegeProject Japan Haruko Kawano, spoke as a panelist at the “AJESTHE BEAUTY FESTIVAL 2023 in YOKOHAMA“, held at Pacifico Yokohama.
This event, organized by the Association of Japanese Estheticians and Beauty Therapists (AJESTHE), is an annual gathering of estheticians-in-training from all over Japan.
Commemorative photo with Takigawa Mutsuko, Vice Chairman of the AJESTHE
In the panel discussion titled “Esthetics of the Future,” panelists discussed new directions in cosmetology, with a focus on accommodating diversity, an ever important task for the beauty industry.
Alongside our founder, Eriko Imai of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Tomohiro Sakuma of the Halal Japan Association, and Chieko Kobayashi, a holistic therapist-esthetician, also spoke as panelists.
Kawano spoke on why vegan options are drawing global attention, and the benefits of these options for animals, the environment, food security, and human health. To future estheticians, Kawano emphasized that beauty is not just about the way we look; that beauty also radiates from within us when we demonstrate compassion and kindness towards the others. Supporting vegan lifestyles is one way to nourish this kindness.
A glimpse of the venue
Eriko Imai, a former member of the music group SPEED, is currently working in disability affairs as a member of the Diet. She spoke about current issues for people with disabilities, and the LDP’s activities in the areas of disability and cosmetology. Tomohiro Sakuma, an expert on Islam and halal, discussed business opportunities in catering to Muslim customers. Ms. Chieko Kobayashi, an esthetician with customers from all over the world, shared some of her personal experiences. She also revealed what celebrities around the world are looking for, among other interesting trends.
This event was an incredible opportunity to look at cosmetology from different perspectives – disability, halal, and vegan – and create a vision for the future. It seems as though “vegan” is becoming a key word in more spaces.
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who organized the event, to our fellow panelists, and to all the attendees who came to to our panel.