While Japan has long been a major source of inspiration for the beauty industry, there’s another reason why I’m dedicating this week’s column to the Land of the Rising Sun. Japan and Israel have always shared a special bond, made evident by last year’s viral video in the aftermath of October 7. It showed elderly Japanese citizens singing “Japan loves Israel, and Israel loves Japan” in Hebrew, waving flags. A similar demonstration in Tokyo drew 1,200 people — a considerable amount given Japan’s Jewish population is estimated to be about 1,000, according to the World Jewish Congress. Japanese university campuses are not festering with antisemitic hatred, and while pro-Palestine demonstrations do take place, they are said to be small-scale and peaceful, focusing on the actions of Israel’s government, not its right to exist.
Japan itself has remained a place of personal intrigue, a country that I’m desperate to visit — particularly during cherry blossom season. My fixation started during my student days when I discovered legendary Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki and his Studio Ghibli films, as well as cult 1990s films Hana-i and Ring — not to mention spending my early twenties living vicariously through Scarlett Johansson’s adventures with Bill Murray in Sofia Coppola’s seminal indie flick Lost in Translation.
Over the years I’ve also reported extensively on the impact Japan is having on the beauty industry. From their focus on scalpcare as skincare (including “scalp facials”) before it became a major global trend; to their advances in hairstyling technology, such as the Tescom “moisturising hairdryer”. Similar to Korean K-Beauty trend, “J-Beauty” has taken the skincare world by storm, for a number of years. Cult brand Hada Labo was created in Japan back in 2004, with the aim of making skincare simple, getting rid of “filler” ingredients and focusing on potent actives instead. Causing a storm on the Asian beauty scene when it launched, it was one of the first niche Japanese skincare lines to land on Superdrug’s shelves a few years ago. Its bestselling Anti Ageing Super Hydrator serum (£12.65) is worth a test-drive if you’re dealing with fine lines and dullness. While being purse-friendly, it serves up a powerhouse of skin-plumping ingredients, including hyaluronic acid, retinyl palmitate (a mild form of retinol) and tetra-peptides.
Elsewhere, British perfumes are echoing my love of Japan. Scents such as Linda Pilkington of Ormonde Jayne, whose Sakura Eau de Parfum (£195) evokes cherry blossom season with almonds, violet and sweet vanilla, and sprightly top notes of mandarin and lime. Meanwhile, Nancy Meiland has launched Kabosu (£95), a fragrance inspired by the Japanese tree renowned for its “lemony ephemeral blossom”, which has addictive accords of plum and suede.
Lastly, I must mention a Japanese cleanser that I’ve been using faithfully for the best part of a decade. I cannot fault DHC’s Cleansing Oil (£26.99), which sweeps away foundation, gunk and mascara without leaving skin parched and it doesn’t sting the eyes either. Exquisite yet simple.
