From Junior High Graduation to Becoming a Hairdresser: My Roots and Journey from Osaka to Tokyo

From Junior High Graduation to Becoming a Hairdresser: My Roots and Journey from Osaka to Tokyo

As soon as I graduated from junior high and decided to pursue a career as a hairdresser, I started living on my own for the first time.

I spent my days attending beauty school and working part-time at a hair salon.
During this period, when I handled all the household chores like cooking and laundry myself, I recall my specialty dish was "mapo tofu" (laughs).

Every day was simply busy, and I was just trying my best to manage what was in front of me.
Amidst all that, I realized I had missed the "job hunting" period for deciding my career path, so I ended up getting a job at the hair salon where I was working part-time.

The experience at the hair salon in Osaka, where they taught me important life lessons when I knew nothing as a working adult, remains an irreplaceable time for me.

"Most Desirable Places to Live" List Gave Me a Push

One day, I saw Jiyugaoka ranked No. 1 on a "Most Desirable Places to Live" list in a magazine, and something clicked inside me.

"If I go to Tokyo, there will surely be stylish shops and celebrities, and if I work hard, I'm sure I can become a charismatic hairdresser and live a fun life!"
—Harboring such typical country bumpkin thoughts, I decided to move to Tokyo.

Incidentally, the fact that the band I was obsessed with at the time, "Drug Store Cowboy," was based in Tokyo might have been another reason that encouraged my move.

That Time When I Rushed Forward Recklessly Is Also My Important Foundation

Looking back now, I was simply pushing forward recklessly during that period.
There were many failures and worries, but I feel that all of it was an important foundation that shaped who I am today.

And now, my new life in Tokyo's Jiyugaoka begins.

Next time, I'd like to write about my life and work in Tokyo.