{"title":"Article","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"collaboration-with-hauu-暮らしのなかの-ゆるもちレシピ-ep-02","title":"Everyday Recipes for a Soft and Relaxed Life, EP.02｜collaboration with hauu (nishikawa)","description":"\u003ch2\u003eQ. What kind of spaces or places help you relax?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce a month, I gather with a close-knit group of families to hang out. We often rent a cottage and spend time in nature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are three families of friends I’ve known since I was 20, and as it happens, our children are all the same age. Before we knew it, we all got into camping and going to the beach for surfing. My husband loves fishing, so we sometimes head out to rivers or mountains as well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/HAUU-2.jpg?v=1775969666\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen someone posts in our group LINE, \"This cottage looks nice,\" someone else will say, \"Shall we go there this month then?\" and the destination is decided quite naturally.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEven when we’re all together, we don’t spend every moment in the same spot; everyone does their own thing. Some people go for a walk, others go fishing, and some just take it easy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe only naturally drift together when it’s time to eat. That kind of distance is really comfortable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpending time fulfilling everyone’s little \"I want to try this\" wishes is, perhaps, the most relaxing moment for me.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/HAUU-3.jpg?v=1775969692\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eQ. What are your principles when creating a room?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFriends often come over, and I love standing in the kitchen feeling the bustle of everyone around me. Since I can see the entire living room from the kitchen, I feel like I'm part of the space even while cooking. That kind of distance is comfortable, and this has naturally become my favorite place.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/HAUU-7.jpg?v=1775969723\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBefore I knew it, my interior decor had become quite colorful (laughs). I often bring back things I like from my travels little by little, and it feels like the current look is a result of those layers. Even my slippers are from Sri Lanka; every item has a memory behind it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI’m also fond of the vase I made with Taira, and the drawings he’s done. I feel like just having something handmade by someone adds depth to a space. Perhaps the way I create a room is by slowly layering those kinds of things.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/HAUU-11-683x1024.jpg?v=1775969787\" alt=\"\" width=\"230\" height=\"345\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/HAUU-10.jpg?v=1775969803\" alt=\"\" width=\"230\" height=\"345\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaira thinks the hauu blanket is his own (laughs). Sometimes a duvet is just too hot, but that light warmth seems to be just right for him. It’s light and easy to use, so I feel it’s perfect for kids too.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eQ. How do you reset your mind when you’re tired?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor the past year or so, I’ve made it a firm rule not to schedule any work on days when daycare is closed. Since I can manage my own schedule, I could keep working if I wanted to, but that eventually leads to burnout. I’ve decided that my days off are for my children.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/HAUU-5-768x1152.jpg?v=1775969866\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlso, I make sure to take at least an hour of \"me time\" after my kids and husband have gone to sleep. I might watch a video or read a book. Just having that time to be alone feels like a great way to refresh.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost importantly, I try not to strive for perfection. A friend once told me, \"Nobody dies if the house is messy,\" and I thought, \"That's so true!\" (laughs). Some days I feel like cleaning, and other days I just want to slack off, so I try to spend my time in a way that matches how I’m feeling at the moment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/HAUU-9-768x512_e4b51f4a-0036-493b-a998-f05a5b6a6006.jpg?v=1775969893\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnother thing is that I try not to jump to conclusions. Whether it’s work-related or something at home, I try not to force a decision immediately and instead set the issue aside for a moment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThings naturally settle down as time passes. I feel like by doing that, I’ve been able to live a little more easily.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/hauu-0291-6.jpg?v=1775969925\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"koko-no-me","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53068902728043,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/hauu-0291-6.jpg?v=1775969925"},{"product_id":"コミュニティ作りは-聞く-ことからはじまる-nicで学ぶ若者たちがいま思うこと","title":"\"Community Building Starts with Listening\" | What Young People Learning at NIC Are Thinking Now.","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn the summer of 2024, Creative Studio koko worked with the students of NIC International College, an educational institution dedicated to preparing students for entry into overseas universities, to create a set of creative guidelines for the production of their content.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNIC International College offers a special one-year educational program that helps students graduate from top-tier universities around the world, supporting them in their pursuit of an international education. Since its founding in 1988 as the Nevada State University Japan Campus, it has acted not merely as an agency for study abroad, but as an international college that prioritizes the \"individual.\" Through intensive, small-group classes characterized by a \"dialogue-based and participatory\" approach, it promotes the acquisition of Western-style critical thinking and expressive skills.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe college provides an environment that connects individuals through shared values, serving as a gathering place for everyone from recent middle school graduates to working professionals who have the drive to \"truly learn,\" \"change their environment,\" or \"make their dreams come true,\" as well as a place to learn English that will be useful in their future university life abroad.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe project began when NIC instructors approached us, sharing that they felt a need to reach out to people who are considering studying abroad or who are struggling because their current environment doesn't feel right, by using various media. However, they were unsure about the best approach for designing their content and establishing a policy for communication.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/241206_nic_guideline_01.jpg?v=1775528926\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/241206_nic_guideline_02.jpg?v=1775528926\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/241206_nic_guideline_03.jpg?v=1775528927\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/241206_nic_guideline_04-768x468.jpg?v=1775528926\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSupport provided by the koko team\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eDesigning three workshops to form a project team consisting of students and instructors.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eDiscussing the \"NIC of the past\" and the \"NIC we want to be\" to share an understanding of the images and words that define \"what makes NIC unique.\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eDefining the purpose, categories, and strategy for content production.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003eCreating creative guidelines to clarify the brand identity and future direction.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInspired by NIC’s educational philosophy and the passion of the students who were already independently running an Instagram account, koko proposed a collaborative process. Rather than simply offering a one-way proposal, we worked as one with the students and instructors. Through dialogue-based workshops, we defined the value of the NIC brand, established content production policies, and created creative guidelines. We also worked together to plan the operation and dissemination of content, keeping feasibility in mind.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/241206_kokonome_nic_1_01-768x512.jpg?v=1775529384\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the first workshop, we began the first step of guideline creation by working on their Instagram profile. We conducted sessions that included an explanation of the basics of branding strategy and exercises to identify the appeal of NIC.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring the brainstorming session, we used sticky notes to gather ideas in response to questions like: Why do you think NIC is a necessary place for Japanese students? What kind of people gather here? How do you learn at NIC? And what is the atmosphere like?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe discovered the various appeals of NIC—finding dreams, friends, and skills—with phrases like \"being your true self,\" \"emotional support,\" \"getting serious,\" and \"gaining life skills.\" Taking cues from these keywords, we ultimately derived the key phrase, \"Being 'different' becomes the power of your dreams.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/241206_kokonome_nic_1_04-768x512.jpg?v=1775529385\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/241206_kokonome_nic_1_03-768x512-1.jpg?v=1775529433\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring our discussions to create the guidelines, we were constantly struck by how the NIC students respected each other while speaking their minds freely, and how they utilized their unique perspectives to verbalize their organization's strengths. We often found ourselves asking: \"How are you able to share a vision so smoothly?\" The discussion was so interesting to the koko members, and we felt that there were many perspectives relevant to organizational development, so we decided to interview them in the final workshop.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this first part, we share the authentic voices of NIC students regarding what it means to have an environment where you can be your true self, and how they found their own sense of self-identity in the first place.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/241206_kokonome_nic_1_05-768x512.jpg?v=1775529384\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e“Everyone moves according to their own axis. That is comfortable.”\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOtani\u003c\/strong\u003e: Throughout our three workshops, I really felt the students' ability to express themselves, their power to verbalize the significance of NIC's existence, and the sense of security within the community. During the discussions, we reached a definition of NIC as a \"place where you can do your best as yourself.\" How do you all think about expressing your \"true self\"? Isn't it difficult to be who you want to be and embody that directly?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"I was a kid who always did what I wanted, kind of like Gian (from Doraemon). But because I was good at school, as I moved through elementary and middle school, people started viewing me as the 'honor student' character. Before I knew it, the gap between how people saw me and my natural, mischievous self became extremely painful, and eventually, I became someone who wouldn't speak up at all.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eBut when I came to NIC, there were only 'weird' people. Everyone has their own individuality, and for the first time in that environment, I felt relieved that I didn't have to worry about how others judged me, realizing, 'I can just be myself.' Now, I’m fully myself from the start! I talk to people I’ve never met, asking, 'Nice to meet you, what’s your name?'\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eI was able to recall that innocence inside me that I had almost forgotten. It feels like I can just do it naturally now that I’m at NIC.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/241206_kokonome_nic_1_02-768x512.jpg?v=1775529384\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOtani\u003c\/strong\u003e: Did you feel anxious about having your true self denied or the pressure to meet expectations before coming to NIC?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"There were very high expectations from those around me, like 'That’s just who you are.' So I always felt I had to live up to those expectations no matter what.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eBut at NIC, everyone is their own axis. Because everyone is their own axis, maybe they don’t expect that much from others, for better or worse. Everyone around me is also moving according to their own axis, and I find that very comfortable.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/241206_kokonome_nic_1_06-768x512.jpg?v=1775529384\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Maybe you need breathing room to be yourself. Honestly, I think everyone has their own axis in their own way. It’s not that NIC students are special.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eIt’s just that in regular school life, there’s really no breathing room. NIC students don't have much room when it comes to studying either, but we have more free time than you'd expect, with classes in either the morning or afternoon.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eBack in middle school, I’d wake up, rush to school, go to morning club practice, attend classes all day, and go to club practice again. There were so many other things I had to do, like assignments, and I really had no emotional capacity. I think I was so caught up in getting good grades that I stopped seeing what was around me.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"At NIC, everyone values the individual, which is exactly why we don't hold expectations for each other. Since we have a mission to study abroad in one year, everyone can study how they want, and we keep a good balance with one another. Since everyone has their own way of doing things, maybe that’s why there’s no one here to deny you.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/241206_kokonome_NIC_1_07-768x512.jpg?v=1775529384\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e“Building a community begins with 'listening'”\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"At NIC, I can stimulate those around me, and I can be stimulated by them. The high school I was at before took it for granted that everyone would go to university, and there were no other options.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eSince not many people had the goal of finding their own path, I felt a bit uncomfortable with the gap. At NIC, while we all share the desire to work hard, everyone has different things they want to do and goals they are aiming for, so we can grow together. That’s why I was able to realize what being myself really means.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOtani\u003c\/strong\u003e: It’s not just about being stimulated; it’s about feeling like you are contributing to others as well. That is such an important thing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChii\u003c\/strong\u003e: Perhaps it’s important not just to have a place to speak, but an environment where others listen to you. It makes you feel like you are contributing, and maybe that leads to confidence. Through talking, you can verbalize what might be your individuality or what your strengths are. That kind of relationship is also really important in our professional lives, isn't it?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"After I speak, there’s always a response. Someone tells me what they think. Because I'm never ignored, I feel that people are truly listening to me and trying to understand me.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/241206_kokonome_nic_1_08-768x512.jpg?v=1775529384\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Of course, it’s important to speak. But first, you have to be the one listening. Instead of saying, 'Isn't it like this?', you empathize and accept what they have to say first. If you can communicate to people that there is someone who will accept them, they will open up and talk.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eAnd if you listen to others, they will start to listen to you. Actually, I’m going to a university in the UK soon, and I sometimes worried about what I would do when I left NIC. But recently, I’ve been calling my classmates when I feel anxious, and I’ve come to feel that building a community like this is something you can start on your own and continue even when you leave NIC.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOtani\u003c\/strong\u003e: That’s amazing. It’s very natural to think that if your environment changes, you won’t be able to do what you used to do. But realizing that you can create that environment yourself becomes a huge source of self-confidence and creates an unshakable axis. I feel like it’s not that easy to gain that kind of confidence, but hearing you speak, I feel that the sense of repeatedly internalizing this through communication with others in your current environment is what has created this reality for you—this realization that you 'can do it.'\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/241206_kokonome_nic_1_09-768x512.jpg?v=1775529384\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"koko-no-me","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53069850870123,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/241206_kokonome_nic_1_05-768x512.jpg?v=1775529384"},{"product_id":"自分らしくいられる関係性を持ち続けることの大切さ-nicで学ぶ若者たちがいま思うこと","title":"\"The Importance of Maintaining Relationships Where You Can Be Yourself\" | What Young People Learning at NIC Are Thinking Now.","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn the summer of 2024, Creative Studio koko collaborated with students from NIC International College to create a set of creative guidelines for the school's content production—an educational institution focused on preparing students for enrollment in overseas universities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNIC International College offers a special one-year educational program that supports students in advancing to overseas universities, with the goal of helping them graduate from world-class institutions. Since its establishment in 1988 as the Japan campus of the University of Nevada, it has functioned not merely as a study-abroad agency, but as an international college that emphasizes the \"individual.\" Through thorough small-group, interactive, and participatory classes, the school promotes the acquisition of Western-style critical thinking and expression skills.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeyond learning English that will be useful in university life abroad, the school serves as a place where people of all ages—from fresh junior high school graduates to working professionals—gather, driven by a desire to \"truly learn,\" \"change their environment,\" or \"make their dreams come true.\" It is a community connected by shared values.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis project began when teachers at NIC consulted us, stating: \"We feel the need to disseminate information through various media to reach people who are considering studying abroad or who are struggling because their current environment doesn't fit them, but we are unsure of how to approach our design and content strategy.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/241206_nic_guideline_01.jpg?v=1775528926\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/241206_nic_guideline_02.jpg?v=1775528926\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e▼ What the koko members supported:\u003cbr\u003e———————————-\u003cbr\u003e・Designing three workshops to form a project team consisting of students, teachers, and others.\u003cbr\u003e・Discussing the \"NIC of the past\" and the \"NIC we want to be,\" and sharing a common vision of imagery and language regarding \"NIC’s unique value.\"\u003cbr\u003e・Designing the objectives, categories, and strategy for the content to be produced.\u003cbr\u003e・Developing creative guidelines to clarify the brand identity and future direction.\u003cbr\u003e———————————-\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eAt koko\u003c\/span\u003e, we were inspired by NIC's educational philosophy and the enthusiasm of the students who were already running their own Instagram accounts. Rather than unilaterally proposing a policy to the teachers, we proposed a process that involved working as one with the students and teachers. Through interactive workshops, we helped define the value of the NIC brand, establish content production policies, and create creative guidelines. We also worked together to design a policy for communication and operation that considered feasibility.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/241213_kokonome_NIC-2_01-1200x800.jpg?v=1775719840\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/241213_kokonome_NIC-2_02_1.jpg?v=1778588963\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eIn the second workshop, we brainstormed design policies together with the students and teachers. To begin, a Koko designer held a design workshop to explain how we use fonts, colors, photography, and graphics in our branding strategies to express brand messages and worldviews.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eFollowing this, during the working session, we turned our \"mood\" into keywords based on the question, \"What kind of impression do we want to convey to people encountering NIC for the first time?\" We built key images such as \"an open place\" and \"a stoic atmosphere where everyone is working hard, combined with kindness and warmth,\" derived from words like \"speed, all-out effort, family, friends, curiosity, and challenge.\" We then materialized these images by discussing color samples and over 20 different Japanese and English fonts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/241213_kokonome_NIC-2_03-1536x1023.jpg?v=1778588907\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eDuring the discussions to create the guidelines, we were often struck by the sight of the NIC students—who expressed their opinions freely while respecting each other and utilized their individual perspectives to articulate the organization's strengths—and we frequently asked ourselves: \"Why are they able to share a vision so smoothly?\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eIn the second part of this report, we will share authentic voices from NIC students on what they cherish as they spread their wings to the world, and what they do to stay true to themselves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/241213_kokonome_NIC-2_04jpg.png?v=1778588908\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Taking a step forward and engaging with others as your true self\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"For example, when I meet friends from junior high or high school after a long time, I feel a difference compared to NIC students, who have such clear ideas about what they want to do. I get comments like, 'It's great that you're doing what you want to do, that's amazing.' But when I listen carefully to them—asking, 'Why do you think that? Why do you feel that way?'—the atmosphere of the conversation gradually changes. They start to show their true thoughts without putting on a front. Whenever they tell me, 'I've never been able to talk about this kind of trouble with anyone,' or 'Even my best friend doesn't know, why can I talk about it here?', I realize the power of listening and the importance of truly facing what the other person is thinking.\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOtani:\u003c\/b\u003e I think \"being yourself\" is something that you can't express entirely on your own. I'm in my 30s now, and it's only recently that I've been able to express my thoughts and feelings exactly as they are. For example, back when I was a student, even if I tried to talk about my ideas or how I felt, I was often met with comments like, \"You're overthinking it,\" \"You're too serious,\" or \"Why do you think about so much stuff?\" Even if you want to express your true self, if you don't have a place that accepts you, you have no choice but to suppress it. Having a relationship where you can say what you want to say and have it be accepted is so important.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"I also feel that it might be difficult to have serious conversations with people who aren't NIC students. Even if I talk about what I'm thinking to friends back home, I often get a lukewarm reaction, like 'Aren't you overthinking it?' But when I talk with other NIC students, even serious topics feel like normal conversation. I really love the atmosphere where people listen to me carefully first and where my feelings are accepted as they are. Feeling that 'it's okay to talk' is so important.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/241213_kokonome_NIC-2_05.png?v=1778588908\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOtani:\u003c\/b\u003e Building a relationship where you can bare your true self is incredibly difficult. Personally, I couldn't find such a place until I started working. I feel that is a huge hurdle. It seems that for everyone here, that place was NIC, but how do you think one can find a place where they feel accepted?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"I think it's important to take a step forward, even if it's scary. In my case, I had close friends before, and I was even the student council president at my previous school, so honestly, I thought I would probably end up going to a decent university if I just stayed on that path. But when I properly faced the inner voice saying I wanted to go to a place where I could challenge myself and work harder, I felt like I gained the courage to step out of that comfortable environment.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"I couldn't do it at first either, but now I think, 'Being my true self is the strongest thing I can be!' When you try to conform to the expectations of those around you, a sense of discomfort inevitably remains. But if you are your true self, there is no discomfort at all, because that's who you are. By taking a step forward and showing your true self, you engage with the other person with everything you've got. Then, the important parts—like, 'Oh, this is who this person is'—get across, and the relationship changes. I understand the hesitation, but I think a great deal changes when you take that step forward and interact with others with total honesty.\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/241213_kokonome_NIC-2_06.png?v=1778588908\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Maintaining relationships where you can be yourself”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eChii\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e (NIC Graduate)\u003c\/b\u003e: During this project, I reunited with my NIC peers for the first time in a while, and we were able to talk just like we used to. Some are married and about to have children, but even if their life stages have changed, I don't feel like they've fundamentally changed at all. That's amazing. I think the reason we can maintain a relationship that doesn't change over time is precisely because we’ve had honest conversations and there’s a sense of security in truly understanding one another.\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eOtani:\u003c\/b\u003e Being in a state where you share the recognition that this community is psychologically safe, and having relationships where you can always be yourself and be accepted, is really incredible.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/241213_kokonome_NIC-2_07-1536x1023.jpg?v=1778588908\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I think the important thing is to keep maintaining the relationships and connections where you can be your true self. Just before we travel overseas, there is a period where we leave NIC to prepare. Even in that short period, I feel like I almost forget the enthusiasm I found at NIC and the sense of self I regained. If you don't regularly interact with people you can speak honestly with, you end up changing before you know it. Even if your surroundings change, I think the most important thing is to hold on to relationships and connections that allow you to be yourself and stay the person you want to be. I still call my peers and talk on video calls from time to time.\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"When you go into a new environment, you end up unconsciously trying to conform to those around you. But if you maintain connections that allow you to be yourself no matter where you are, you can always return to that baseline. As long as you have relationships where you can be your true self, I think you can get by anywhere.\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOtani:\u003c\/b\u003e Through these workshops, I feel that the relationships everyone found at NIC are truly irreplaceable. Being a strong team while each individual maintains their own identity is incredibly difficult, and it's something we are struggling with as we move forward right now. When you want to change society or change something, what one person can do alone is very limited. I want to value how to make an impact while living together with others, without erasing anyone's individuality. This project taught me so much about the nature of community and the power of a space through everyone's experiences and ideas. Thank you all so much.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/241213_kokonome_NIC-2_09-1536x975.jpg?v=1778588907\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"koko-no-me","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53076101890411,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/241213_kokonome_NIC-2_01-1200x800.jpg?v=1775719840"},{"product_id":"ちょっと動くだけで-こんなに違う-bala主催ウェルネスイベント-let-s-バラサイズ","title":"Such a big difference, just from a little movement. Bala's Wellness Event \"Let's Balacise\"","description":"\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eHello everyone. This is \"koko no me,\" a media platform operated by Creative Studio koko.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003ekoko is a creative studio that accompanies brands and works through the process of delivery, centering on the \"passion of the creator,\" while thinking together about and shaping Concepts, Strategy, and Contents.\u003cbr\u003eWe believe that more than anything, human passion and imagination create a world overflowing with joy and beauty.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eFocusing on the unique worldviews and perspectives of the people who intersect at koko, we work together to create stories that paint the \"future to come\" starting from this very moment, right here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eIn this post, we share highlights from the \"Let's Balasize\" event hosted by fitness brand Bala on December 5, 2025!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/kokonome_bala-_10.jpg?v=1791082016\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eWe held a wellness workshop, \"Let’s Balasize!,\" hosted by the LA-based fitness brand Bala. This event was a program designed to gently align both mind and body, with a focus on posture improvement. Welcoming Bala official trainer Ozarena, we focused on exercises that can be done while seated in a chair, resetting rounded shoulders and slouching while comfortably loosening the décolleté, shoulder, and upper arm areas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eMarika Kai and Mona Neuhaus also joined us for the day, sharing a peaceful time to bring \"movement\" back into our daily lives. By layering breathing with small movements, it became a truly \"Bala-esque\" wellness experience that lightened not only our posture but also our spirits.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhat is Bala?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eWith the concept that \"design moves you,\" Bala proposes a new wellness experience through its stylish products designed to be part of your lifestyle, and its authentic, high-efficiency \"Balasize\" muscle-toning program that can be started in just one minute—ensuring women can enjoy taking care of their bodies even on their busiest days.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- 縦画像2列 --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-content__images product-content__images--2 product-content__images--horizontal\"\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"img-wrap\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/kokonome_bala-_9.jpg?v=1791082015\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"img-wrap\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image8_c78c3740-e126-4bb0-8461-de75ea719502.jpg?v=1788835295%0A\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eOn the day of the event, Bala official trainer Ozarena first introduced the brand and its products. Afterwards, the participants each chose their favorite items from a wide variety of colors and practiced \"Balasize\" together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- 縦画像2列 --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-content__images product-content__images--2 product-content__images--horizontal\"\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"img-wrap\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/kokonome_bala-_1-683x1024.jpg?v=1791082015\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"img-wrap\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/kokonome_bala-_3-683x1024.jpg?v=1791082015\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eWe used the \"Bala Bar\" and \"Bala Bangles\" for this session. The \"Bala Bar\" is appealing not just for its cute appearance, but for its material that feels comfortable in the hand. It doesn't strain the hands or leave a metallic odor like traditional dumbbells, allowing you to move your body with ease. The \"Bala Bangles\" are designed to incorporate exercise into everyday life by wearing them on your wrists or ankles; since you don't need to grip them, they also help prevent unnecessary tension in the shoulders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eDuring the Balasize session, the atmosphere was fun and harmonious, with Ozarena providing personalized advice to each participant. Through the roughly 30-minute session, it was a time to comfortably loosen the body and start the day with a positive mindset.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eMoving fitness from \"something special\" to a \"comfortable habit.\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eOzarena, who works as an official Bala trainer, says, \"Rather than special training, I want to value the small movements in our daily lives.\" She views posture improvement and body makeup not just as exercise, but as self-care to align the mind and body.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eIn this interview, we listened in depth to her story, from how she first encountered Bala, to the thoughts behind a program that can be done while sitting in a chair, and tips for facing your body without stress during busy days.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image6_aeba7304-521c-41be-b851-80d8da9b5a5a.jpg?v=1788836080\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"p4\"\u003e\n\n\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e—What kind of activities are you currently involved in?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eCurrently, focusing on women’s body conditioning, I run a personal gym called \"Well-Bing Gym\" in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture, and share information on body conditioning that is truly necessary for women through online diet courses and social media. As a trainer, I felt that much of the world's training is primarily about building muscle, with few spaces dedicated to supporting women's skeletal structures and body changes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eWorking hard at muscle training doesn't always lead to change, or sometimes it can even lead to becoming overly muscular or disrupting your period. Based on these experiences, I built an original method (the Ozarena Method) that combines elements of muscle training, Pilates, and structural bodywork, centered on breathing. The goal is not to push the body too hard, but to align its natural balance to create a supple, beautiful physique.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eMy gym is entering its second year, and my online courses are now in their fourth term. Seeing bodies change leads to a more positive mindset, taking on new challenges, and improving one's life. Witnessing those changes is the driving force behind my work. I hope to continue spreading the option of facing your own body as an extension of daily life, using Bala products, without making fitness something \"special.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image11.png?v=1788835295\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e—What does fitness mean to you, Ozarena?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eTo me, fitness is not so much about \"training\" as it is a time to face and align my body. I used to believe that if I just worked hard at muscle training, I could get closer to my ideal body. But in reality, it didn't always change the way I wanted, and there were times I pushed myself too hard and got sick. Through that, I came to think that fitness shouldn't be about overcoming things with effort and grit, but about listening to what your body is saying.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eWomen’s bodies, in particular, are greatly influenced by hormonal balance and life stages. That is why I believe it is more important to carefully feel your breathing, posture, and how you use your body, rather than the intensity or number of repetitions. Even just a few minutes of focusing on your body allows your mind and body to align naturally. I feel that accumulating those moments eventually changes your physique and how you spend your days.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eFitness is not about sacrifice or obligation; it’s a habit to cherish yourself. Being able to continue without strain and having it be an extension of daily life is what’s most important. That value aligns with how Bala exists—creating opportunities to move your body while having fun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/kokonome_bala-_5-1200x800.jpg?v=1791082016\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e—What points of Bala's products do you resonate with?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eWhen I first encountered Bala products, it was love at first sight (laughs). I felt intuitively that this was absolutely essential for the current fitness market in Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eWhile the strong image of \"muscle training = heavy, black, and rough equipment\" persists, Bala makes you feel good and excited just by looking at it. I strongly resonated with the idea that the existence of these products themselves can be a catalyst for changing your body while having fun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eWhen I actually used them, I realized that beyond their cuteness, they are very well-designed in terms of weight, texture, and how they interact with the body. They don't impose excessive loads, but naturally add resistance to daily movements. You don't have to carve out special time; small gaps in your day become fitness sessions. This sensation overlaps with my core belief of \"aligning the body within daily life.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eAlso, Bala doesn't force people into a mold of \"it has to be this way,\" but is attractive because anyone can use them freely according to their lifestyle and goals. Not everyone has to chase the same \"correct answer,\" but can instead focus on their own body. Because of that, I feel confident in recommending these products even to people who aren't fans of fitness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image7_66a760bf-976b-4177-975b-a8cba27a48c4.png?v=1788835301\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e—How do you hope to spread Bala products in the future?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eMoving forward, I want to deliver Bala products not as \"exercise equipment,\" but as a part of a lifestyle. You don't have to push yourself; you don't have to create special time; you find yourself moving your body before you even realize it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eMuscle training shouldn't be \"painful.\" It should be about changing your body while having fun. I think that sense is the charm of Bala.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eTo achieve this, I value experience. Through events and workshops, by having people actually touch, move, and feel, I want them to realize, \"I can do this!\" or \"I can keep doing this!\" I want to increase the number of places where people—not just those who are good at fitness, but also those who have kept their distance from exercise—can feel comfortable picking up these products.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eAlso, Bala's aesthetic beauty is a major draw. Just by placing them in your room, your mood lifts and you feel excited. Because they are products that naturally catch your attention, I feel they have a high affinity not just with the fitness framework, but also with fields like fashion, interior design, and general wellness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eMoving fitness from \"something special\" to a \"comfortable habit.\" I hope that together with Bala, we can gradually expand that culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eClick here for Bala Instagram\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eBala's Instagram also features interviews with Marika Kai and Mona Neuhaus, who attended the event!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bala.japan\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eIf you're interested, check it out here!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- 縦画像2列 --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-content__images product-content__images--2 product-content__images--horizontal\"\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"img-wrap\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/kokonome_bala-_2-683x1024.jpg?v=1791082015\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"img-wrap\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/kokonome_bala-_4-683x1024.jpg?v=1791082015\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e⚫︎Follow koko no me ♫\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\"koko no me\" is a media platform operated by Creative Studio koko. What we value is creating a place where each person involved in \"making\" and \"delivering\" can deepen their own thoughts and discuss safely. While exchanging different ideas, perspectives, and emotions, we explore the path toward the future we want to create, starting from \"here and now.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eOur theme is \"#What we want to talk about 'now'.\" We create opportunities to talk and think in our own words about what is happening in the field of creativity, the background of planning and production, working environments, and how to define forms of expression in society. Through events with guests and article features, we provide a step toward choosing future forms of expression and work styles from our own perspective.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e▷\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/kokonome_tokyo\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eFollow our Instagram\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e and we'd be happy to have you join us!\u003cbr\u003e▷\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/forms.gle\/T6UGEwHjAMcY3cTG6\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eClick here if you would like to receive email updates about our events\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eText : Akane Takayama\u003cbr\u003eEdit : Ai Tomita \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"koko-no-me","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53076295582059,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/kokonome_bala-_1-683x1024.jpg?v=1791082015"},{"product_id":"暮らしのなかの-ゆるもちレシピ-ep-01","title":"Gentle and Soft Recipes for Daily Life EP.01 | collaboration with hauu (nishikawa)","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/HAUU03-8315.jpg?v=1775734837\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"p1\"\u003eThis town itself is my place of comfort.\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eMy room is, of course, a place where I can settle down, but when I look at the bigger picture, maybe \"this town itself\" is my place of rest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eI like places that are crowded and stimulating, but they also leave me feeling exhausted. When that happens, returning to this town gives me an immediate sense of relief.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eResting in my room is important, but the time I spend going out to local shops or walking through the streets feels like an extension of the time I spend at home.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe atmosphere of the entire town is something that relaxes me just by being here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eI’ve never left the Chuo Line area since I came to Japan, and I’ve been living in Nishi-Ogikubo for about 10 years now. I'm sure I’m not the only one who \"can't seem to leave the Chuo Line\" (laughs).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eOf course, there are plenty of other wonderful places, but this place really is different. I feel a sense of relief the moment I step onto the Chuo Line.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/HAUU03-8387.jpg?v=1778586284\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eLiving alone. But not alone.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eTo begin with, many of my friends are artists, photographers, or involved in some kind of creative activity. The things in my room didn't just come from intentional shopping trips; they are things I bought at friends' exhibitions or gifts that have naturally accumulated over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eEvery week, without fail, someone comes over to hang out. Since many of my friends live nearby, it's a daily occurrence to get a text like, \"Can I come over now?\" It's a casual vibe, like asking, \"What should we have for dinner?\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eSo, I don't really have the feeling of living alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eOne friend works at a coffee shop about a 30-second walk from here, and I use that place like my workspace; then there’s a curry shop a little further away where another friend works...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eIf I walk around town, I’m bound to run into someone I know.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003ePerhaps the \"sense of relief\" I mentioned earlier comes from that. I live alone, but I'm not lonely (laughs).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eChoosing what feels \"just right\" for me today.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eA bed is a strange place, isn't it? (laughs). It's a place to read, a place to work, a place to eat—it would be more functional to separate these things, but for some reason, everything ends up happening in bed. I probably shouldn't admit that out loud (laughs).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eYou know those mornings when you just don't want to move yet? Wrapping myself in a blanket during those quiet moments makes me feel a little at ease.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003ehauu\u003c\/span\u003e's blankets are soft, fluffy, and truly warm. More than that, they give me a sense of calm, and I feel like my breathing naturally deepens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/HAUU03-8399.jpg?v=1778586283\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eOn days when I'm tired, I often watch a movie in bed before sleeping... Even though I have a projector, I end up watching on my phone (laughs).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eBut sometimes, I feel like, \"I need to take a break from digital life.\" When that happens, I switch into reading mode. I suppose it's like searching for the method that suits me best at any given moment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/HAUU03-8515.jpg?v=1778586283\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eA relationship I want to keep, no matter how old I get.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eI often meet up with friends in the evenings, too. I love the time we spend talking late at night in this room. Conversations in a coffee shop or a bar are totally different from those we have in my room, and the intensity changes completely between day and late night.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eI don't have to worry about the last train, so friends nearby come over just to talk. Maybe I'm the type who finds clarity by talking to someone rather than bottling things up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eRecently, I’ve found myself wondering, \"How long will I be able to live like this?\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAs I get older, perhaps some of my friends will find partners, and I’m sure there will be many changes ahead. Even so, I would be happy if I could continue this lifestyle with others being \"added\" to my current relationships as time goes on.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/HAUU03-8339.jpg?v=1778586283\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"koko-no-me","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53076295909739,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/HAUU03-8315.jpg?v=1775734837"},{"product_id":"ゲスト-能條桃子さん-選挙後こそ考えたい政治のこと-わたしたちのアクション会議-コピー","title":"Thinking about Politics After the Election: Our Action Meeting ── Momoko Nojo (Representative Director, NO YOUTH NO JAPAN)","description":"\u003cp\u003eHello everyone.\u003cbr\u003eWe are \"koko no me,\" a media platform operated by Creative Studio koko.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe create spaces where those involved in \"creating\" and \"delivering\" can explore paths toward a better society and workplace—areas where we can engage in expression, project planning, and communication, and empower one another. \u003cbr\u003eOur theme is \"What we want to talk about right now.\" We aim to connect with new perspectives by first bringing up topics that we ourselves, as creative professionals, are curious about regarding the creative production process, ways of working, and how we interact with society, and by engaging with different knowledge and modes of thought.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this article, we share a report on the event \"Politics We Need to Think About After the Election: Our Action Meeting,\" held on August 1, 2025, where we reflected on the results of the July 20th House of Councillors election and explored what we can do moving forward.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cmeta content=\"text\/html;charset=UTF-8\" http-equiv=\"Content-Type\"\u003e\u003cimg sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kokodear.co.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0CE05F4F-1450-4105-A829-E581D85FCF5A-1-scaled-4-1.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/kokodear.co.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0CE05F4F-1450-4105-A829-E581D85FCF5A-1-scaled-4-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kokodear.co.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0CE05F4F-1450-4105-A829-E581D85FCF5A-1-scaled-4-1-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/kokodear.co.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0CE05F4F-1450-4105-A829-E581D85FCF5A-1-scaled-4-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kokodear.co.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0CE05F4F-1450-4105-A829-E581D85FCF5A-1-scaled-4-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/kokodear.co.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0CE05F4F-1450-4105-A829-E581D85FCF5A-1-scaled-4-1-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/kokodear.co.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0CE05F4F-1450-4105-A829-E581D85FCF5A-1-scaled-4-1.jpg\" height=\"333\" width=\"500\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eJuly 20, 2025. After the House of Councillors election, what are we thinking and feeling?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis election was marked by rhetoric that fueled social division.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eIt felt like a campaign where personal dignity and our right to live with peace of mind were increasingly threatened.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAdditionally, the low voter turnout, particularly among the youth, is a topic that surfaces every election. On social media, we frequently see comments like, \"What will one vote change?\" or \"I don't feel like my voice is heard.\"\u003cbr\u003e　\u003cbr\u003eFacing such realities, it may be natural to feel as though your voice or position is insignificant, or that there is nothing you can do. However, politics is not just for a select few; it is shaped by the voices of each and every one of us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor our koko no me event held on August 1, 2025, we welcomed Momoko Nojo, Representative Director of the general incorporated association NO YOUTH NO JAPAN, to discuss with participants how we feel now that the election is over and what actions we can take from here on out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\"Raising your voice is by no means easy.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAcknowledging that premise, we re-examined the meaning of having an opinion, taking action, and expressing one's will.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eFirst, we asked Nojo how she views this recent election, focusing on gender equality and the rise of far-right parties. Following that, we explored two perspectives on what we can do to improve politics, even if just a little.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cimg height=\"333\" width=\"500\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image8_34d0c94d-162f-4417-bbf0-50e549684858.jpg?v=1778601482\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta content=\"text\/html;charset=UTF-8\" http-equiv=\"Content-Type\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e1. Focusing on the function of agenda setting\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eNojo:\u003c\/b\u003e In the Diet, elected lawmakers join committees where they engage in detailed discussions on legislation. You could say that committees are the place where the public will expressed in the election is translated into actual policy. That is precisely why, now that the power balance between political parties has shifted significantly, it is crucial to keep a close watch on what is discussed in each committee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eEven if a party has only a small number of members on a committee, they can still advocate that \"this law should be changed in this way\" through their questions. Such moments are often broadcast on television or covered in the news, drawing public attention. It is important to track how this \"agenda setting*\" function works. Furthermore, if a lawmaker appears who makes claims not based on facts, it is essential for citizens to serve a monitoring role. We are required to continue watching political movements not just during elections, but in the periods between them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e*Agenda setting: The process by which the volume and frequency of topics taken up by mass media and politicians shape what society considers to be \"important issues right now.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e2. Creating a social movement of \"YES\" rather than \"NO\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eNojo:\u003c\/b\u003e I feel that rejecting or criticizing people who support a different political party does not change the situation. Of course, it is vital to oppose discrimination and to be able to say in the moment that \"this is wrong.\" However, repeating \"NO\" will not earn sympathy from people who have remained unmoved by it before. Instead, it is important to present the \"YES\" options we hope for and expand our circle of empathy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eEven among those who hold opposing views or vote for different parties, many are likely struggling with their own daily hardships while casting their votes with hope. I would like to start by thinking about our own vision of an \"easy-to-live-in society\" and sharing what we want to communicate in various spaces, so that these people might eventually see our path as a better one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cimg height=\"499\" width=\"399\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image10_2e8a7c86-fc38-44c3-abb5-3867a0ffaf07.jpg?v=1778601482\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta http-equiv=\"Content-Type\" content=\"text\/html;charset=UTF-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhat is the path to weaving connections? Thinking about actions we can start tomorrow\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eFrom the middle of the event, participants split into groups for discussions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe first theme was \"What excited me or bothered me about this election.\" Looking back on the campaign, participants shared what they felt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eThings that were exciting\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e・More people discussing the election and sharing information than before.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e・Being encouraged by seeing protest activities by people saying NO to discrimination.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e・Feeling a sense of increased interest as many people gathered in the streets during the campaign.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eThings that were bothersome\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e・Catchy slogans receiving more attention than the substance of policies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e・Focus being placed solely on \"foreign issues\" despite the many topics that needed discussion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e・Extreme comments on social media and unreliable reporting standing out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cimg height=\"354\" width=\"500\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image9.png?v=1778601483\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta http-equiv=\"Content-Type\" content=\"text\/html;charset=UTF-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eBased on what was shared, the participants then brainstormed ideas under the theme of \u003cb\u003e\"What I can do now,\"\u003c\/b\u003e classifying them into things one can do individually, things one can do in cooperation with others, things doable at work, school, or in the community, and other miscellaneous ideas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eHere are some of those suggestions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eParticipant A:\u003c\/b\u003e When opinions differ, I get a bit intimidated. Even though I have things I want to convey, I can't say them in the moment and just end up mumbling. So, I think it would be good if I could organize what I want to say in advance and have it ready as a \"package.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eParticipant B:\u003c\/b\u003e I'm going back to my parents' house soon, so I want to try asking them, \"Which party did you vote for?\" I was too scared to do it before, but someone in my group said they were able to talk properly with their family during this election, so I hope I can also discuss with them calmly why they made that choice and what they empathized with.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAlso, I thought that through art like movies, one can understand that there are people with different ways of thinking, which can be a bridge to deeper empathy, so our group introduced various movies to each other.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eParticipant C:\u003c\/b\u003e A common opinion among us was \"Let's just keep talking about it.\" I think there are things we can do, like supporting candidates on social media, sharing fact-checks, and in our immediate circles. When someone makes a surprising remark, instead of immediately countering them, I want to ask why they thought that way. By finding points of agreement, I think that's important to prevent division. Ultimately, there isn't an immediate answer to what we should do, but I want to continue without despairing, and keep doing what I can without giving up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eParticipant D:\u003c\/b\u003e I sometimes give up on talking because I don't want to ruin my relationship with the other person. That's why I think it's important for me to change myself as well, by learning techniques for dialogue—like the ground rules of this event—and by absorbing information on how to communicate effectively.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cimg height=\"601\" width=\"400\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image3_534554b3-0793-43a6-b8d6-50ab702c3516.jpg?v=1778601482\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cimg height=\"601\" width=\"400\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image6_5ebfe40c-f34d-40e3-b167-7a3d91f66173.jpg?v=1778601482\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta http-equiv=\"Content-Type\" content=\"text\/html;charset=UTF-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eWhile the approaches varied—from social media communication, dialogue with family, to understanding through culture like movies—a common theme was the ingenuity to convey one's thoughts bit by bit while maintaining relationships, rather than creating division through differences in opinion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eFinally, incorporating the ideas from everyone, Nojo provided some closing comments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eWhat emerged were hints for engaging positively with politics and society in our daily lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAlong with Nojo's comments, we introduce these 5 TIPS.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e#1. Be strategically optimistic\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eNojo:\u003c\/b\u003e Looking at the current state of society, it might be difficult to find reasons for optimism unless you actively seek them out. I think it's natural to feel despair at times, such as when discussions on same-sex marriage or selective separate surnames for married couples don't progress as hoped, or regarding the future course of the Diet.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut I think the thing those with opposing opinions hate the most is for us to continue raising our voices without giving up. That is why I feel it is important to keep speaking out and to remain optimistic while doing so.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e#2. Step out of your comfort zone\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eNojo:\u003c\/b\u003e Staying with people who think like you is important, but at the same time, it can lead to a narrow perspective. That's why I think it's important to occasionally step out of your comfort zone and talk to people with different opinions. In those moments, you might find yourself thinking, \"How can I persuade them?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut there are as many different backgrounds, perspectives, and senses of justice as there are people. Everyone has different standards of values. That's why it's important to have the premise that just because you've spoken, the other person won't necessarily change right away. You can't choose the timing for when someone else's heart will open. However, change can sometimes sprout from the gaps that appear while continuing a dialogue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e#3. Separate a person's character from their opinions\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eNojo:\u003c\/b\u003e If you talk to someone with different opinions by tying their views to the person themselves, you might end up hurting them in ways you didn't expect. Even if you can't change the person entirely, it is enough to just share your own thoughts by saying, \"This is how I feel.\" When you do that, you find parts where you can empathize, like \"We agree on this point,\" and the conversation naturally expands.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e#4. Don't carry society on your shoulders\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eNojo:\u003c\/b\u003e If you think in terms of a \"me versus society\" framework, you might find it painful, wondering, \"Why hasn't society changed even though I'm doing so much?\" But if you look back on why you started your activism, I'm sure it began because you realized through gaining knowledge that \"what happened that time wasn't my fault,\" or you were able to process past experiences, or felt reassured that \"I wasn't the only one.\" Originally, you likely started this to make your own life a little easier.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen you feel, \"Why am I trying so hard?\", it might be a sign that you are pushing yourself too far. That is exactly when it's necessary to engage while valuing your own space.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e#5. \"We\" can make a change\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eNojo:\u003c\/b\u003e There are many things that \"I\" cannot change alone, but that \"we\" can change. It is impossible to change the world by yourself, and if you become convinced that \"I am the only one,\" it can actually become quite painful.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThat's why it's important to place yourself in environments where you can feel that \"I am a part of this,\" such as by participating in events or getting involved in organizational activities. Because such spaces exist, even when you feel lonely or desperate, you can find the positivity to say, \"Let's do this together.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cimg height=\"599\" width=\"399\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image2_c015b97f-826b-4304-a727-445636abe2ad.jpg?v=1778601482\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cimg height=\"596\" width=\"397\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image1_8ad99d1c-35c8-4fea-b9ce-9ee200f6ba92.jpg?v=1778601482\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta http-equiv=\"Content-Type\" content=\"text\/html;charset=UTF-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eLiving together in a society where \"differences\" are the norm\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eIn today's society, individual backgrounds and ways of living have diversified, and \"differences\" have become the norm.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis event was full of hints on how to face those \"differences\" in our daily lives, not just in politics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eWhen you encounter different opinions or positions, you might feel hurt by the other person's words or feel as if you are being denied yourself. It is never easy to face these situations calmly. However, by not denying the other person's character, listening to them, and conveying your own thoughts—the accumulation of such small efforts might just become the power to weave connections rather than using \"differences\" as a reason for division.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBecause society cannot be changed overnight, this work that we progress together over time will surely lead to changes in the next, or future, elections and the way politics is conducted.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe hope this event was a time to think about a more positive future for continuing that journey.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eAt koko no me, we will continue to create spaces to face the themes that everyone gathering at Creative Studio koko wants to \"know,\" \"think about,\" and \"talk about,\" learning together through dialogue and walking alongside you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cimg width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/kokodear.co.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/kokonome_eventreport_1010_15-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kokodear.co.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/kokonome_eventreport_1010_15-1.jpg 1300w, https:\/\/kokodear.co.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/kokonome_eventreport_1010_15-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kokodear.co.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/kokonome_eventreport_1010_15-1-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/kokodear.co.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/kokonome_eventreport_1010_15-1-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1300px) 100vw, 1300px\" style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eClick here for event-related content\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOn our koko no me👀🌱 Instagram, we are releasing interview content from after the event, featuring responses from Nojo and the participants. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DNc7YpLpCZt\/?igsh=MXQzZGRwZ3Bwcnhocg%3D%3D\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eIf you are interested, check it out here!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e⚫︎Follow koko no me♫-\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\"koko no me\" is a media platform operated by Creative Studio koko. What we value is creating a place where each person involved in \"creating\" and \"delivering\" can deepen their own thoughts and discuss things with peace of mind. While exchanging different ideas, perspectives, and emotions, we explore the path to the future we want to create, starting from \"here and now.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eOur theme is \u003cb\u003e\"#What we want to talk about 'right now'.\"\u003c\/b\u003e We create opportunities to talk and think in our own words about what is happening in the creative field, the background of planning and production, working environments, and how we explore forms of expression while interacting with society. Through articles and events with guests, we will deliver steps for choosing the future of expression and work from our own perspectives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e▷\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/kokonome_tokyo\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eFollow us on Instagram\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e—we would be happy for you to join us! \u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e▷\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/forms.gle\/T6UGEwHjAMcY3cTG6\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eClick here if you would like to receive emails regarding our events\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eText : \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lu.an__624\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAkane Takayama\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEdit：\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/_chiaiai\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAi Tomita\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"koko-no-me","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53141886599531,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/kokonome_0801_02-1_1.jpg?v=1778601882"},{"product_id":"event-report-クリエイティブ現場における-同意-とは-インティマシー-コーディネーター浅田智穂さんと考える-安心-安全-のつくり方","title":"What Does \"Consent\" Mean in Creative Work? Thinking About How to Create a \"Safe and Secure\" Environment with Intimacy Coordinator Chiho Asada","description":"\u003cp\u003eHello, everyone.\u003cbr\u003eThis is \"koko no me,\" a media platform managed by Creative Studio koko.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe create spaces for people involved in \"making\" and \"delivering\" to explore paths toward better social and professional environments, and to empower one another through expression, planning, production, and dissemination. Our theme is \"What we want to talk about right now.\" By bringing together topics that we—as those involved in creative production—are personally curious about regarding the creative process, ways of working, and how we engage with society, we aim to connect with new perspectives through exposure to different knowledge and ideas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis time, following the Upper House election held on July 20, we wanted to think together with you all about what we can do moving forward, so we held \"Politics We Need to Think About After the Election: Our Action Meeting\" on August 1, 2025. We are pleased to share a report on the event!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cmeta http-equiv=\"Content-Type\" content=\"text\/html;charset=UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cimg sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kokodear.co.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0CE05F4F-1450-4105-A829-E581D85FCF5A-1-scaled-4-1.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/kokodear.co.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0CE05F4F-1450-4105-A829-E581D85FCF5A-1-scaled-4-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kokodear.co.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0CE05F4F-1450-4105-A829-E581D85FCF5A-1-scaled-4-1-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/kokodear.co.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0CE05F4F-1450-4105-A829-E581D85FCF5A-1-scaled-4-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kokodear.co.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0CE05F4F-1450-4105-A829-E581D85FCF5A-1-scaled-4-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/kokodear.co.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0CE05F4F-1450-4105-A829-E581D85FCF5A-1-scaled-4-1-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/kokodear.co.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0CE05F4F-1450-4105-A829-E581D85FCF5A-1-scaled-4-1.jpg\" height=\"333\" width=\"500\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThinking About \"Consent\" in Creative Workplaces: How Do We Build Safety and Security?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eWith the expansion of the #MeToo movement that began in the United States in 2017, practices that had been considered \"the norm\" on the sets of movies, dramas, and other creative projects were exposed in Japan as well for having harmed the dignity of performers and other individuals involved.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cimg\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image1_05c6151e-59e5-4f26-bf6d-bb19c4009baa.png?v=1778601266\" alt=\"\" width=\"495\" height=\"330\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e©︎Jeanne Menjoulet\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eTo realize a safer and more secure production environment for performers and staff, the process of \"consent\" is essential.\u003cbr\u003eHowever, what exactly does \"obtaining consent\" mean? In what scenes is it necessary? At what stage can we say \"consent has been obtained\"? Providing clear answers to these questions is not easy, and many production sites are still struggling with these challenges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eIn response to this current situation, at our kokonome event held on February 21, 2025, we welcomed Chiho Asada, a leading Intimacy Coordinator (IC), as our guest to discuss the following three main topics:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e　1. The role of an IC \/ What are intimacy scenes?\u003cbr\u003e　2. What is the \"consent\" required in creative workplaces?\u003cbr\u003e　3. Why an IC is essential for creating a safe and secure workplace\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe talk focused on these three key points.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eChiho Asada\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cimg height=\"434\" width=\"320\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image5_4cebf4ae-da02-490f-94dc-9a253b461332.png?v=1778599314\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eProfile: Graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in 1998. Became deeply involved in the film industry after serving as a jury interpreter at the Tokyo International Film Festival in 2003. Since then, she has participated in film sets as an interpreter, from project planning and filming for Japanese-American co-productions to premiere screenings. She has worked as an on-set interpreter for directors and as a stage interpreter, bridging the gap between English-speaking directors, choreographers, and dancers and their Japanese counterparts. In 2020, she completed the intimacy coordinator training program at the Intimacy Professionals Association. She participated in the Netflix film \"Her\" as Japan's first intimacy coordinator and has since worked on numerous films and dramas. Notable works include the Netflix series \"The Drops of God,\" Amazon Prime's \"1122: For a Happy Marriage,\" and the film \"Monster.\" She is also involved in the 2025 NHK Taiga drama \"Berabou.\"\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eTo begin, she gave an overview of the role of an IC and what constitutes an intimacy scene, incorporating examples from the U.S., where the practice of hiring ICs first began.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFacing the Set Without Rules as Japan's First Intimacy Coordinator\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAsada: An IC is a staff member who coordinates scenes so that actors can perform physically and mentally in a safe and secure manner when an intimacy scene* is present in film or other productions, while also maximizing the realization of the director's vision. I am not a supervisor; I always strive to participate in a project as a member of the production staff.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIn the U.S., where the IC role was born, there is a film actors' union called SAG-AFTRA, which has very strict rules regarding the filming of intimacy scenes. However, because Japan has no such rules at all, it is difficult to implement them only for intimacy scenes when the general working environment and conditions for actors and staff remain unprotected. Therefore, I have been working as an IC by utilizing a set of minimum standards that I established myself.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e*Intimacy Scene: Refers to scenes involving nudity, simulated sexual acts, or sexual depictions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e \u003cbr\u003eIn the U.S., it is said that in addition to performance contracts, consent forms are prepared for performers who are involved in works containing intimacy scenes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣\u003cbr\u003e　\u003cb\u003eSummary of Parts of the U.S. Consent Form Regarding Intimacy Scenes\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e　　\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e✔︎\u003c\/span\u003e Detailed description of what the performer is consenting to.\u003cbr\u003e　　\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e✔︎\u003c\/span\u003e Consent can be withdrawn at any time before filming, even after it has been finalized.\u003cbr\u003e　　\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e✔︎\u003c\/span\u003e Within the scope of consent, a body double can be used if the actor chooses to decline a specific act.\u003cbr\u003e　　\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e✔︎\u003c\/span\u003e Once consent is given, it cannot be revoked for \"already filmed\" scenes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eMs. Asada began her career as an IC in 2020. While she sees gradual changes in the industry, the reality is that it cannot be said she is welcomed by all productions and staff. Amidst lingering issues like tight schedules and harsh labor conditions, she often faces individuals who believe \"ICs are unnecessary\" or receives skeptical reactions even when she joins a set. Despite this, she continues to stand on set, fueled by the desire to help protect the dignity and safety of actors, at least during intimacy scenes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cimg height=\"333\" width=\"500\" style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image4.jpg?v=1778599235\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Complex Process of \"Consent\" — Everyone’s Definition of \"Okay\" is Different.\u003cbr\u003eThat’s Why We Carefully Approach Each Person and Each Scene\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e \u003cbr\u003eAfter deepening our understanding of the basic role of an IC, we moved to the main topic of \"consent,\" starting with the process.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAsada: I usually get involved in a production once the script is somewhat finalized and the pre-production stage—such as location scouting and casting*—is underway. I start by reading the script and flagging parts that might be intimacy scenes. Then, I confirm specifically with the director, \"What kind of depiction do you have in mind for this scene?\"\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eFrom there, I meet with each actor individually to begin the process of obtaining consent for the intimacy scene. Here, I don't just look for a clear \"Yes\" or \"No,\" but carefully listen to specific wishes and opinions, such as \"I can do this much, but not that.\" Depending on the content, I might report back to the director that \"everything is OK,\" or I might report that \"this part needs adjustment.\" By the day of the shoot, I ensure that both the director and the actor are on the same page.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eRegarding costumes, I don't usually attend fittings for standard attire, but if it involves underwear or something related to intimacy, I participate. I am always present on the day of filming for intimacy scenes.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e*Pre-production draft: An early version of the script created before the final shooting script, outlining the story structure and character settings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eSo, in what scenes are ICs actually needed? Even if we use the word \"nudity\" or \"sexual depiction,\" individual perceptions and expectations vary. We asked about specific situations where an IC is needed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/2026-05-13_0.52.17.png?v=1778601146\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"315\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAsada: For me, I make sure to confirm everything in advance, even for scenes involving holding hands, putting an arm around someone, or hugging. However, such confirmation isn't always sought on every set, and there are times when an IC cannot be involved due to budget constraints. Still, I believe the process of confirming consent in some form is important. Past experience has shown me that there are a certain number of actors who, even in scenes without kissing or sexual depictions, think, \"I'll do it if I'm not asked, but I really don't want to hold hands.\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIf asked where the confirmation of consent should begin, I think it starts at the point where one might feel even the slightest hesitation internally, thinking, \"Is this okay?\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eIt became clear that carefully building the process of consent is directly linked to creating an environment where actors can perform with peace of mind, especially given that actors meeting for the first time often have to perform intimacy scenes.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eToward the end of the talk, we discussed what changes these practices are bringing to the industry and why ICs are needed now.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eProtecting Actors' Dignity and the Work Through \"Choice\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAsada: Halting production costs a massive amount of money, but in the nearly 60 various projects I've been involved in, not once has an actor revoked their consent on the day of the shoot.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFor example, in the case of a streaming drama series, filming might last more than half a year. Even if we have a consent meeting before the start of filming, the intimacy scene might be five months later. Because of that, I sometimes receive concerns from actors, such as, \"Is this intimacy scene really necessary for the story?\" or because of their changing relationship with their co-star or director, they might reach out to say, \"I consented before, but I want to rethink it.\" However, as long as such concerns are raised in advance, I believe they can be resolved before the shooting day, so the filming itself never actually has to stop.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cimg height=\"334\" width=\"501\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image8.jpg?v=1778599235\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAsada: I believe that until now, Japanese sets haven't provided actors with the opportunity to choose how they engage with intimacy scenes. Through my dialogues with many actors, I've realized that when they are given choices and choose for themselves, they become able to face intimacy scenes with a strong sense of responsibility for those choices.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e \u003cbr\u003eThe power imbalance between production (directors\/producers) and actors is significant in the current industry. In this context, having an IC on set provides an opportunity for actors to verify or rethink their feelings. I was struck by the importance of having an IC present as a professional who \"supports the process of verifying one's own feelings.\" I also learned that carefully confirming consent through IC intervention not only supports the actors' peace of mind but also protects the work as a whole for the production side by reducing litigation risks and ensuring smoother filming.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"p2\"\u003e🗣️\u003cb\u003eWhat Can We Do to Create Safe and Secure Workplaces? The Circle of Solidarity Born from Dialogue\u003c\/b\u003e\n\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e \u003cbr\u003eIn the second half of the event, the 24 participants split into groups to discuss questions assigned to each group based on three themes:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eA. How to secure the budget\u003cbr\u003eB. How to negotiate for introduction\u003cbr\u003eC. What can be done to increase allies\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cimg height=\"375\" width=\"500\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image2.jpg?v=1778599237\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cimg height=\"375\" width=\"500\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image3.jpg?v=1778599235\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA. How to secure a budget?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eTo get a budget, we need to explain the physical and practical benefits of bringing in an IC. Through today's talk, I felt that an IC helps not just with human rights, but also with risk hedging and improving the quality of expression. I think we can explain to budget decision-makers that it helps improve the work's quality, ensures everyone is on board, and prevents potential controversies after release. The Japanese film industry has limited budgets, so it's hard to find money midway. It's safest to include it in the initial quote. When the director, screenwriter, and producer are working together, we should decide on the plan and budget under the premise that \"an IC is necessary.\" Consent isn't something confirmed on the day; it's born from being there for an actor's anxieties and feelings, so the production side should be sincere about including an IC. The industry is full of \"data on failures,\" which is why it's crucial that we demonstrate the right attitude.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eB. How to negotiate for introduction?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThere's an atmosphere where, as a young person, it's hard to ask for an IC out of fear of being blacklisted or labeled as a difficult actor or staff member. That's why we need opportunities for the whole industry to learn. If staff members like makeup artists, costume designers, and technical crew—rather than just producers and directors—understand the significance of an IC, they can support the push for introduction. Building solidarity is the key to negotiating with those in power.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eC. What can we do to make allies?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eEvents like today provide insights. By setting up opportunities for meetings involving ICs for every project, we can involve not only the upper management but also staff closer to the actors, like assistants, to grow our circle. Also, as a goal for our discussion team this year, we decided that for any project with intimacy scenes, each of us will raise our hand at least once and speak up in front of the staff, saying, \"Let's treat the filming of this scene with care.\" I believe if someone speaks up, the set can change.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eWe were joined by film directors, producers, and professionals working in television and advertising. Very practical ideas emerged through our discussion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eAt the end of the event, Ms. Asada also shared comments based on everyone's input.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAs a Presence for Everyone Involved on Set\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAsada: Throughout today's talk, I think the words I used most were \"director,\" \"producer,\" and \"actor,\" but I feel that an IC is also a presence for the staff.\u003cbr\u003eMany staff members have likely stood on set feeling anxious that a scene was proceeding without the actor's full consent. In fact, while working as an IC, I have received many consultations about regrets like \"I couldn't stop it at that time\" or \"What should I have done?\"\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eFilm and video works are created by everyone, including the staff, not just the actors. I believe that an IC is not just for actors, but for everyone involved on set. Sometimes, assistant directors or hair and makeup artists who have experienced a good set invite me to their next project, and I feel that as more people experience production sites with an IC, solidarity is born.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image6.jpg?v=1778599235\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image10.jpg?v=1778599235\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBecause there is \"Consent,\" there is expression that can be made.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p6\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eThe role of an IC is not to limit expression.\u003c\/span\u003e Rather, by building a foundation where all parties feel safe, it becomes possible to carefully engage with expressions that were previously avoided due to anxiety or ambiguity.\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eInstead of \"increasing what we can't do,\" it's about \u003cb\u003e\"realizing expression in a way that everyone can agree upon, while respecting the passion for each work and the dignity of every individual involved.\"\u003c\/b\u003e Through this event, I felt that this is the value an IC brings to the set, and it leads to broadening the scope of creative production.\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eThis event was filled with hints and perspectives on how we can create an environment where everyone involved in production feels safe and secure.\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eStart by talking about it. From there, a set where people can participate with peace of mind should begin to emerge, little by little. I believe that the insights gained from the dialogue today will be a firm step toward moving the next production.\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eAt kokonome\u003c\/span\u003e, we will continue to face the themes you all at \u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003eCreative Studio koko\u003c\/span\u003e \"want to know about,\" \"want to think about,\" and \"want to talk about,\" and create a space for us to walk together while learning through dialogue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image9.jpg?v=1778599235\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"407\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eClick here for event-related content\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOn our koko no me Instagram, we have published post-event interview content with Ms. Nojo and other participants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DNc7YpLpCZt\/?igsh=MXQzZGRwZ3Bwcnhocg%3D%3D\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eCheck it out here\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e if you're interested!\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e-Follow koko no me ♫-\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\"koko no me\" is a media platform managed by Creative Studio koko. What we value is creating a space where every individual involved in \"making\" and \"delivering\" can deepen their thoughts and discuss with peace of mind. While exchanging different ideas, perspectives, and emotions, we explore the path toward the future we want to create, starting from \"here and now.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eOur theme is \u003cb\u003e\"#What we want to talk about right now.\"\u003c\/b\u003e We create opportunities to talk and think in our own words about what is happening on creative sets, the background of planning and production, working environments, and forms of expression that we explore while engaging with society. Through events with guests and articles, we will deliver a step toward choosing our own future forms of expression and work styles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/kokonome_tokyo\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eFollow us on Instagram\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e and we would be happy to have you as part of our community!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/forms.gle\/T6UGEwHjAMcY3cTG6\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eClick here if you would like to receive event-related emails\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eText : \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lu.an__624\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAkane Takayama\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEdit：\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lu.an__624\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAkane Takayama\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/_chiaiai\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAi Tomita\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"koko-no-me","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53216837042539,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/R0003689_VSCO.jpg?v=1778600915"},{"product_id":"セキララカード-the-new-chapter-避妊デーだからこそ考えたい-バウンダリー-の話","title":"Sekilara Card × THE NEW CHAPTER | A talk on \"boundaries\" we should consider precisely because it's Contraception Day","description":"\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eHello everyone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis is \"koko no me,\" a media outlet operated by Creative Studio koko.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eWe create spaces where people involved in \"creating\" and \"delivering\" can explore paths toward a better society and workplace in the realms of expression, planning, and communication, and empower one another.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eOur theme is, \u003cb\u003e\"What we want to talk about right now.\"\u003c\/b\u003e We aim to connect with new perspectives by gathering topics that we—those involved in creative production—are curious about, such as the creative process, ways of working, and our relationship with society, and by engaging with diverse knowledge and thoughts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAhead of World Contraception Day on September 26th, we hosted an event on September 22, 2025, titled \u003cb\u003e\"Why World Contraception Day is the Perfect Time to Talk About 'Boundaries'.\"\u003c\/b\u003e The goal was to make contraception and sex education more accessible and to foster a space where these topics can be discussed with peace of mind. Here is our report on the event!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image4_f6780f15-dd51-4626-bb03-d043a53beb39.jpg?v=1788782291\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"p4\"\u003e\n\n\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFacing Boundaries on September 26th, World Contraception Day\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\"World Contraception Day\" is a day for awareness-raising activities held around the world to convey the importance of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and to support informed knowledge and choices.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eContraception is not just about controlling pregnancy; it is a foundation of sexual and reproductive health and a crucial theme connected to everyone's dignity and way of life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eHowever, in Japan, comprehensive sex education is not yet widespread, and due to the historical taboo surrounding \"sex,\" there is a lack of accurate knowledge and safe spaces for discussion. As a result, many people currently face confusion and anxiety, wondering \"How can I ask them to use contraception?\" \"How do I confirm consent?\" or \"Am I even allowed to enjoy sex?\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis is where the concept of \u003cb\u003e\"boundaries\"\u003c\/b\u003e becomes essential.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eA boundary is the \u003cb\u003e\"comfortable line\" you draw between yourself and others.\u003c\/b\u003e For instance, it includes physical boundaries, such as \"I'm okay with this, but no further,\" and emotional boundaries, like \"I don't want to talk about that today.\" Understanding and respecting each other's boundaries serves as the foundation for confirming consent and having safe, open conversations about sex.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAt the event held on September 22, 2025, co-hosted with the sexual wellness brand \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thenewchapter.net\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eTHE NEW CHAPTER\u003c\/a\u003e, we invited Miki Kojima from \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sekiraracard.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSekirara Card\u003c\/a\u003e. Together with people working in sex-related products and education, as well as interested participants, we created a space for open, frank discussion and shared learning.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eBecause it is Contraception Day, we started by talking about \"boundaries.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eWhile co-creating a space where sex can be discussed safely, we explored the path toward making contraception more commonplace in Japan.\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- 縦画像2列 --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-content__images product-content__images--2 product-content__images--horizontal\"\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"img-wrap\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image14.jpg?v=1788782291\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"img-wrap\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image12.jpg?v=1788782291\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"p4\"\u003e\n\n\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHow Products Open Up Conversations About Sex and Boundaries\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eEven though we know it’s necessary, it can be difficult to initiate conversations about sex and boundaries in everyday life. We asked our guests how products can help break down those barriers and spark dialogue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eMs. Kojima:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe Sekirara Card was created with the theme of \"talking openly\" (sekirara). However, our second rule is: \"You can 'pass' on any question you don't want to answer.\" Not everyone has to share everything; if you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to. I believe having that premise helps respect the boundaries of others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAlso, facing the questions written on the cards can be a trigger for realizing your own boundaries—like, \"Oh, I’m actually uncomfortable being asked this.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image13.png?v=1788782292\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003ePersonally, I’ve always liked talking, but I wasn't great at listening to others. Since I started using these cards, I’ve learned to listen without interrupting when someone else is speaking. I feel like I’ve naturally acquired that habit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThere were also moments using the Sekirara Card where I realized that speaking openly isn't necessarily comfortable for everyone. It made me realize that choosing not to speak is also a boundary used to protect important relationships.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eMr. Koizumi (\u003cthe new chapter\u003e):\u003c\/the\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eSex is still a topic that tends to be treated as a taboo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eWhile I want to deliver products related to sex, I’ve found that in practice, it’s often easier to get acceptance if it’s framed as \"fem-care.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eSex is inseparable from our bodies and our daily lives. I believe we can stop treating it as something special and begin to see it as a topic that can be discussed as an extension of our daily routines.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThere are many people who say, \"Actually, I wanted to talk about this.\" \u003cb\u003eA space to discuss sex is necessary not only for friends but also between partners. It involves physical intimacy, and to avoid hurting yourself or your partner, it’s something that should be discussed.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBy having a card or product in between, people can naturally start talking about sexual orientation, what they dislike, and what feels good. Furthermore, it serves as a trigger to look at your own values, such as \"How do I feel about this?\" I want to cherish that time, and I hope others will too.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Boundaries Between \"Me\" and \"You\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eEven if you know what a boundary is, actually maintaining it isn't easy.\u003cbr\u003eNext, we asked our guests to talk about the difficulties of setting boundaries and the measures necessary to create safe spaces for dialogue, based on their own experiences.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eMr. Koizumi:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eI once received a consultation from someone who had sex with a person they met on a dating app before they were officially dating. They were in tears telling me that they didn't actually want to, but they couldn't protect their own boundaries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\"Isn't it shameful to be this old and worried about something like this?\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\"If I tell someone this, will they think, 'You're a grown adult'?\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThey hesitated to share their pain because of these kinds of thoughts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eBoundaries aren't just an individual problem. Even if you have a boundary you want to cherish, if the other person doesn't understand that mindset, it's hard to be respected. I think we must not forget that. I also feel that the argument of \"self-responsibility\" extends even to sex, as seen in phrases like \"you're an adult\" or \"at your age.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eI want to convey that SRHR and boundaries have nothing to do with age or gender.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eMs. Kojima:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eBoundaries can't be maintained by individual awareness alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eIt’s about putting your \"NO\" into words. And it’s about accepting the \"NO\" from the other person.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eWe hold regular events using the cards, and we are still exploring what an \u003cb\u003e\"environment where everyone can speak openly\"\u003c\/b\u003e really looks like.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- 縦画像2列 --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-content__images product-content__images--2 product-content__images--horizontal\"\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"img-wrap\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image3_f8ca05d0-b98b-4114-a0d0-f767bcbade35.jpg?v=1788782291\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"img-wrap\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"img-wrap\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBringing Words and Tools to Protect Yourself into Daily Life\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eFinally, we asked our guests about their future actions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eHow can we cultivate our own boundaries in daily life? And through brands and products, what kind of dialogue and choices can we open up? They shared their perspectives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eMr. Koizumi:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eI am in the middle of cultivating my own boundaries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eI make an effort to be aware of what feels \"pleasant\" or \"unpleasant\" to me. For example, if you can consciously make yourself feel comfortable, it becomes easier to notice those sensations when you feel uncomfortable due to external factors. \u003cb\u003eI consciously create time to tune into my mind and body sensations, such as going for a head spa, taking a bath, or journaling.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eIn Japan, sex education still tends to emphasize risks. Even in games or sports, you can participate proactively precisely because you know the rules. Conversely, if you are forced to do something because \"everyone else is doing it\" without knowing the rules, there is no way you can enjoy it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eKnowing the rules, having your \"NO\" respected, and engaging of your own free will—I believe that only with these premises can sex be truly owned by the individual. I want to spread a way of experiencing sex where everyone, regardless of their diverse identities, can participate with agency.\u003c\/b\u003e To that end, I hope to see more media, companies, products, and spaces that support this.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eI also want to spread the word \"boundary\" itself more widely.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eMs. Kojima:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eI would be happy if people used the Sekirara Card as practice for saying \"NO.\" As you face different questions, I think you will gradually start to see where your boundaries lie—like \"I can talk up to this point\" or \"I don't want to talk about anything beyond this.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eSaying \"NO\" is not a bad thing.\u003c\/b\u003e The important thing is \u003cb\u003ehaving the words and tools to protect yourself.\u003c\/b\u003e Once your heart is hurt in a sexual context, it can take time to recover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eUsing words, using tools, and having the choice to protect yourself. I hope that through the word \"boundary,\" people will understand the importance of these things, even if just a little.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: start;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image6_f6e599ee-cf17-494d-a13b-c9be6d33579a.jpg?v=1788782291\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePutting My Sensations into Words: My Boundaries\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eFrom the middle of the event, participants split into groups for a workshop and discussion on facing their own boundaries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe workshop used cards featuring various scenarios under three themes: [Workplace], [Interpersonal Relationships], and [Sex \u0026amp; Physical Contact]. Participants drew cards, thought about whether the situation was \"pleasant\" or \"unpleasant\" for them, and shared their reasons with the group.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image7_a78d1377-84be-4d96-b7e5-ee0b28161622.jpg?v=1788782292\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: start;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eIn the following workshop, participants chose a few scenarios from the cards they had drawn and thought about how they could actually communicate a \"NO.\" While experimenting with \"what phrasing is smooth\" or \"what kind of words make it feel safe to say,\" they discussed the background behind the difficulty of saying no, and what mechanisms and support are needed to make it easier.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- スライド --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-content__slider\"\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-content__slide\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image9_696bbed1-6841-4b10-b1d8-3edac747ef89.jpg?v=1788782291\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-content__slide\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image1_f40f8c10-704c-4a44-ade9-e8a5024a1cd4.jpg?v=1788782291\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-content__slide\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image10_f1b56b38-bf52-4849-9f8e-891f89c2dab4.jpg?v=1788784354\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"p4\"\u003e\n\n\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eKnowing Your Own Boundaries is the First Step to Contraception\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eBoundaries are not for pushing people away.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eNoticing what you feel as pleasant or unpleasant and putting those feelings into words. Understanding that others have boundaries different from your own. We believe that this accumulation of effort becomes a foundation for interacting with others safely.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eSaying \"NO\" is also a form of communication that protects the comfort of both yourself and the other person. On the other hand, it takes practice to say \"NO\" and to accept a \"NO.\" That is why this workshop became a time for us to consider how to cultivate boundaries in our relationships with others while returning to our own sensations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThinking about contraception is not just about knowing methods or information. It’s about how you discuss and make choices with others while valuing your own body and intentions. The premise for that is, I believe, respecting the boundary between yourself and the other person.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eWe hope that this event serves as a catalyst for you to respect yourself and others, and to build safe, comfortable relationships when thinking about sex and contraception.⁡\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAt koko no me, we will continue to face the themes you all at Creative Studio koko are curious about, want to think about, and want to discuss, creating spaces where we can walk together through dialogue and shared learning.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image8_0bbf203a-e752-464c-a59a-ebb98d5bf2dd.jpg?v=1788782291\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e⚫︎ Click here for event-related content\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eOn the kokonome Instagram, we have published interview content with Ms. Nojo and other participants following the event👀\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DO3DQAZkuks\/\"\u003eIf you are interested, check it out here!\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e⚫︎ Follow koko no me 👀🌱\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\"koko no me\" is a media outlet operated by Creative Studio koko. We value creating a space where every individual involved in \"creating\" and \"delivering\" can deepen their thinking and discuss with peace of mind. By exchanging different ideas, perspectives, and emotions, we explore the path toward the future we want to create, starting from \"here and now.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eOur theme is \"#What we want to talk about 'right now'.\" We create opportunities for us to speak and think in our own words about what is happening in creative fields, the background of planning and production, working environments, and ways of expressing ourselves while navigating our relationship with society. Through events with guests and articles, we will deliver the first steps toward choosing our own future ways of expression and working.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e▷\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/kokonome_tokyo\"\u003eWe would be happy if you followed our Instagram and joined us!\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e▷\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/forms.gle\/T6UGEwHjAMcY3cTG6\"\u003eClick here if you would like to receive email updates about our events\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eText : Akane Takayama\u003cbr\u003eEdit\u003cspan class=\"s5\"\u003e：\u003c\/span\u003eAi Tomita \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"koko-no-me","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53821146595691,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image10_f1b56b38-bf52-4849-9f8e-891f89c2dab4.jpg?v=1788784354"},{"product_id":"暮らしのなかの-ゆるもちレシピ-ep-03","title":"Gentle and Soft Recipes for Daily Life EP.03 | collaboration with hauu (nishikawa)","description":"\u003ch2 class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eQ: What kind of space or place allows you to relax?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eI love places where people naturally gather around music.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eEveryone there shares that same love for music; titles and status don't matter, and each person just surrenders themselves to the sound in their own way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- 縦画像2列 --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-content__images product-content__images--2 product-content__images--horizontal\"\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"img-wrap\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image1_397809bc-373e-4eac-bad2-c85484367af2.png?v=1788828112\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"img-wrap\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image3_26a3eb5c-7212-4399-86a5-fc7a2c90a1dc.png?v=1788828112\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eIn that sense, I think music bars and clubs are very egalitarian spaces. You are freed from labels like race, gender, or religion, and there's a feeling that you can just be yourself without having to conform to anyone else.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThat’s exactly why I feel I can spend time there without putting on a front. It might be the place where I can be most natural.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe fact that everyone is enjoying the music with the same intensity—that sense of shared experience is something that always saves me.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eQ: What rules do you value when creating a room?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eI’d say it’s about \"only placing things that I truly love.\" For instance, the poster on my wall is something I found at an art book shop in Berlin. It’s a somewhat famous store, and I went there feeling like it was a pilgrimage, but this just happened to catch my eye.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eI hesitated a lot over whether to buy it, but since it was a piece with a very limited print run, I decided I didn’t want to miss out on such an encounter and brought it home.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image9_57af55fa-275b-46f7-9a61-301080fff1c4.png?v=1788828112\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eI’ve always liked vintage items. This lamp and this rack are both vintage. Perhaps I’m drawn to things from the past, whether it’s interior design or music.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eBecause I spend so much time at home, I want to carefully curate this place where my work and life overlap with the things I love.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eI often have the radio on while I work. I’m not very good with spaces that are too quiet; I like to have a bit of presence. One thing I’ve really been into lately is the podcast \"Yoshiharu Doi and Tomoko Chris Philosophize About Cooking.\" Mr. Doi’s talk is truly fascinating, and I can listen to it for hours.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- 横画像2列 --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-content__images product-content__images--2\"\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"img-wrap\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image2_e3341cb3-a8f6-4614-a852-2f6614f59b4d.png?v=1788828112\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"img-wrap\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image4.png?v=1788828112\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eQ: How do you reset your mind when you are tired?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eI make a conscious effort to get outside. I’ll show my face at an exhibition or a party, or work at a café. If I stay at home for too long, I inevitably feel stifled, so changing my environment helps me clear my head.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eWhen I was just starting my brand, I feel like I was in a state of being \"on\" all the time. I didn't know what kind of wave was coming next, so I was just frantically tackling whatever was right in front of me.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eI’ve always been the type to pack my schedule and work hard. It was honestly a difficult time, but I also believe that experience is what taught me how to set my own priorities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image5_928e1e99-12a2-4e36-bf44-611ae46954a0.png?v=1788828112\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eRecently, I feel like I’ve finally started to get a grip on my own rhythm. I’ve reached a point where I understand the sense of \"if I put in this much effort, I’ll get this much back,\" and I've gained a bit of breathing room... Having that breathing room has allowed me to think about how I can act to improve my performance even further.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image7.png?v=1788828112\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eFollowing those changes, I now make a conscious effort to exercise, like going to Pilates or dancing. Since I’ve been dancing since I was in elementary school, I feel like my mind naturally resets when I move my body.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eIt makes it easier to understand my physical and mental state, and my thoughts become clearer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eI’ve also started making sure I get enough sleep. I used to push myself too hard, but now I feel that getting enough sleep is actually more important. If I’m sleep-deprived, my judgment becomes impaired, and in the end, it takes longer to recover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eI believe that in order to continue creating better things, it’s essential to keep myself in balance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- 縦画像2列 --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-content__images product-content__images--2 product-content__images--horizontal\"\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"img-wrap\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image6.png?v=1788828111\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"img-wrap\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image8.png?v=1788828111\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"koko-no-me","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53823004803435,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/image5_10ed9959-ad58-44d3-82eb-0a567039d3fa.png?v=1788829006"},{"product_id":"エッセイ-佐久間裕美子さん-2026-国際女性デーに寄せて","title":"For International Women's Day 2026. | Yumiko Sakuma","description":"\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\n\u003cspan\u003eLet's Tell Our Stories\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI have come to have complicated feelings about the concept of \"women's solidarity.\" Growing up in an all-girls school, I was a child who knew nothing else. I then went through a period of thinking I was bad with the creature known as \"woman,\" but after entering society and forming individual relationships, I was able to melt the walls I had built around myself. After encountering civic movements and activism, I began to dream that by bundling our individual strengths, we could transform them into a great force. I tried to believe that if we were looking in the same direction from a grand perspective, we could stand in solidarity. But now, I am living through a phase where I realize that it wasn't actually that simple.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor example, the victim-blaming that runs rampant on social media. Comments attacking people who have been victims of sexual crimes, saying things like, \"It's because you take those kinds of selfies\" or \"It's because you show too much skin.\" For example, the casual, well-meaning meddling that comes out of nowhere: \"Since you were born a woman, you're not a real woman unless you have children.\" For example, the act of mocking, criticizing, or judging other people's appearances or clothing. For example, regarding unknown women as enemies or rivals. For example, the collective action that suddenly arises to attack someone. The concept of \"protecting women's spaces\" devised to exclude someone. The perfect role model, lookism, body shaming, microaggressions...\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThings like this happen countless times every day, everywhere in the world. How many people must these things be hurting or leaving feeling unsettled? How should we deal with such things?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen looking at it from a bird's-eye view, I think that women hurting, judging, condemning, and excluding other women in this way is all a byproduct of the patriarchal system. We live in a society that looks free at a glance, but in reality, we are not that free. Create a family, have children; women are servants, and children are property and labor. If you live without resisting these frameworks, your roof and food are guaranteed. Those who do not want to enter that framework are excluded from the social mainstream, and who is a woman and who is not is strictly scrutinized.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMany people struggle to survive within this system. Those who are working hard might try to protect that system. In doing so, they express their sense of superiority. And while they're at it, they hurt someone else. People who just want to exist in peace.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe fight for a society where everyone is granted the same rights is more difficult than I had imagined, and it strikes us down. The goal is not getting closer; rather, the hurdles standing in our way seem to be increasing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBut it's okay. What makes me think so now are the stories woven by people who have found their own voices for one reason or another. Women who have realized the various absurdities imposed upon them by their companies, their families, and society have begun to speak of their own pain. And those stories are flowing out from beyond the regions and places where they live, finding each other, and connections where wounds and trauma bind people together are being born every day. Someone's story reaches someone far away and saves their soul. Once you are released from the shackles of the spirit, you can never go back to how you were.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSo, let us live our own lives. Let us live our lives while fully feeling our sadness and our frustrations. Let us cherish each other. Let us lean on one another. Let us live together while respecting each other's rights to self-determination and boundaries. And while rejoicing in each other's existence, let us find joy in our lives and in our endeavors. We will be okay.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"koko-no-me","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53823056380267,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/829b47dd325319def52ef239b565f14c.jpg?v=1788831161"},{"product_id":"エッセイ-富永-京子さん-2026-国際女性デーに寄せて","title":"On International Women's Day 2026. | Kyoko Tominaga","description":"\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUntil I can make beauty my own.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI have been working with fashion magazines for a few years now. After I appeared on a TV show, an editor-in-chief saw my outfit and asked me to contribute, and I have since appeared in them quite often. Since these are mediums that introduce \"beautiful\" things, the people and items that appear there are all beautiful. Confronted with this, I am stunned by how difficult it is to convince oneself that one is \"beautiful.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe same holds true for my appearances on television and web programs; to this day, I feel bewildered when my own face, made up to be reasonably beautiful, is shown in a close-up on screen. It is only natural to be made up beautifully when you are going to be seen by so many people, but my self-consciousness is fragile—or perhaps twisted, or at any rate, not straightforward—to the extent that I feel inhibited about being in a beautiful state or thinking of myself as beautiful.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOn the other hand, what surprised me was the sharpness and precision of the aesthetic sense of the people who appear in the media. Stylists and makeup artists finish our looks by asking a series of questions, from how to curl our hair to the exact angle of our eyelashes. Everyone in the makeup room knows their own best features well, and they can all give extremely detailed instructions on the face or hairstyle they want to achieve. It is surely too late to realize this at 39, but having run away from concepts like beauty and cuteness, I learned for the first time that \"cute\" and \"beautiful\" are so incredibly detailed, and that self-consciousness is broken down into such fine segments. My own vocabulary for discussing beauty—thin, big eyes, etc.—is no different from that of a grade-schooler; or perhaps even worse than a grade-schooler.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI realized something else as well. I had assumed that people who appear in the media were purely objects to be looked at—or, to put it harshly, beings whose appearance is merely consumed. I was surprised to hear an actor sitting next to me laugh and say, \"Ultimately, I want to look perfect, with a flawless E-line, even if no one is watching.\" I had foolishly assumed that beauty was only for the sake of being seen and evaluated by others. Contrary to my mediocre assumptions, they are dedicated to perfecting the version of themselves that they find beautiful.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI don't think this aesthetic sense and self-consciousness are unique to those who appear in public. Even without a TV insert, opportunities to check one's own appearance have likely increased dramatically through moments on Instagram Stories or BeReal. As that happens, what becomes important is no longer how one is seen by others, but rather how one sees oneself, and one's dedication to beauty will likely become much more granular than a lowest common denominator like simply being thin or having big eyes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI also think these things can easily be dismissed by the clichés I have heard repeatedly and used myself: \"dancing to the tune of a consumer society,\" \"lookism,\" \"the internalization of the external gaze.\" In reality, the \"perfect E-line\" may be a standard set by plastic surgery clinics, and the version of oneself that one loves might not be much different from the representations considered beautiful by the lowest common denominator of Japanese society.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHowever, the fresh surprise I felt from the various things I experienced in the makeup room—the difference in impressions created by the subtle nuance between \"burgundy\" and \"Bordeaux,\" the way the stylist's hands create \"wave curls\"—is far too rich to be dismissed by such old clichés. For someone like me, who has spent nearly 40 years avoiding self-comparison, distancing myself from descriptors like \"cute\" or \"beautiful,\" and intentionally refusing to engage with those standards, the sight of them striving to be beautiful even if they were the only person left on earth with a camera is dazzling and noble. Their new self-consciousness and approach to beauty had long ago leaped over the conflicts of my own outdated self.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"koko-no-me","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53823076204907,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/db76f297a8926011437511110dc0f340_065befc5-f95b-48bc-8eca-03cb2a48e85d.jpg?v=1788832082"},{"product_id":"エッセイ-みたらし加奈さん-2026-国際女性デーに寄せて","title":"On International Women's Day 2026. | Kana Mitarashi","description":"\u003ch3\u003eWhat Can We Do Now?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs International Women's Day approaches, we see the terms \"women's empowerment\" and \"women's active participation\" more frequently. However, working in the field, I find it impossible to ignore the gap between these words and reality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeople who come for counseling rarely say, \"I was discriminated against.\" Instead, they are more likely to say, \"It's because I'm weak\" or \"It's my fault for not being good enough.\" Yet, when we carefully trace the background of their stories, something becomes clear: the excessive consideration demanded of them, the responsibilities they are forced to shoulder, and the feelings of discomfort that are difficult to articulate. These are not just individual personality traits; they are also the effects of gender roles that have been quietly imprinted upon us by society.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFeminism is, by nature, a perspective for re-examining these \"seemingly personal\" hardships as social issues. Rather than overcoming the suffering we feel through individual effort or endurance, we place our focus on society to ask, \"Why did it have to be this way?\" Just by having this viewpoint, the meaning of the same event can be reinterpreted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor instance, consider trying too hard, being unable to rely on others, or prioritizing the needs of those around you over your own feelings. If we dismiss these as \"personality,\" that's the end of it, but we can choose to pause and wonder if that's truly the case. What has been repeated in this person's life? What expectations have they been forced to carry? When we look there, a new perspective emerges: \"Perhaps this is not just an individual problem.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInternationally, this perspective is shared within trauma-informed care. The question, \"What happened to you?\" is an attitude that seeks to understand the background rather than blame the person. This approach should spread further in Japan as well. This is because, while much of our suffering is locked away inside ourselves, the cause does not necessarily lie within us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo, what can we do?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne thing is not to ignore the sense of discomfort within ourselves. Do not let those \"something feels off\" moments simply drift away. You don't need to make grand declarations; just pause for a moment and ask, \"Is this truly 'normal'?\" That small question becomes the starting point for thought.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnother is to \"question how we work hard.\" Today's society has a tendency to demand excessive effort and adaptation. But does continuing to meet those demands really protect us? When you realize you are pushing yourself too hard, create the space to think, \"Perhaps there is another way.\" When that choice becomes possible, it creates an opportunity to let go of structural roles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd, do not treat care lightly. Care is often put on the back burner, but it is fundamentally a foundation for living. More people are talking about the need for counseling, but in reality, few have actually received it. Even if it is not through a professional, speaking to someone, being understood, and becoming aware of one's own state—these are not extraordinary things; they are necessary processes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI believe feminism is the very practice of \"re-questioning what has been imposed upon us as normal.\" That question can be quiet, and it can be small. Yet, continuing to hold onto it will, in the end, change the shape of society. Even if it doesn't translate into immediate action, the transformation of people's consciousness alone can bring about social change. As mental health professionals, we believe in what is called the \"collective unconscious,\" and that is precisely why we are convinced this can be applied to structural inequality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDo not let International Women's Day end with just polished words. Keep the discomfort or hesitation you felt on that day within yourself. Even that alone might be a meaningful step forward.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"koko-no-me","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53823086788971,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/3469\/7067\/files\/261003_essay_kana-sama.png?v=1791005344"}],"url":"https:\/\/kokonome.com\/en\/collections\/article.oembed","provider":"koko-no-me","version":"1.0","type":"link"}