What you can learn at Shiseido Creative 3

～The belief in what is genuine will surely transcend time.

After completing my first solo exhibition, I spent a period feeling a sense of accomplishment and a quiet desire to move on to the next thing.

This feeling suddenly occurred to me. It was something I had once felt after completing many projects at Shiseido Creative.

It's very similar to the excitement you feel when you think, "Now, what should I create next?"

So now I want to write again.

The third installment of "What we learn at Shiseido Creative."

・Ginza at dusk

Creative days nurtured by Ginza

During the 35 years I spent at Shiseido, I always worked in Ginza (except in Shiodome during the renovation of the head office).

Ginza was a special place, where aesthetic sense and sensibility intersected and there was an air of always being ahead of the times.

It was the height of the bubble economy, and although I wasn't particularly aware of the benefits it offered, I just couldn't help but enjoy every day.

I naturally ended up going to work on Saturdays and Sundays.

I was immersed in the work I loved, and even the occasional drive to Ginza felt like a little adventure.

As I was sitting at my desk, getting stuck in my work, my boss suddenly called out to me.

"Go for a stroll in Ginza" or "Go to the movies or the art museum" - that was also part of their respectable "job."

In an era without social media, people could experience cutting-edge images at movie theaters, hone their sensibilities at art museums,

At bookstores and foreign book stores, I pick up magazines from all over the world and broaden my horizons. The club's archives are filled with materials and books, and just turning the pages makes my heart dance.

Under the pretext of inspecting the market, we also visited many places in Aoyama and Roppongi.

Breathe in the air of the city, sense something new, and pick it up.

Then in the evening, I would return to the office and immerse myself in my work again. I was so absorbed in my work that I didn't even feel tired.

This was like a hobby turned into a job.

Tree-lined street

A quiet pride passed down

At night, we went out to the Ginza area.

There were nights when we ate and talked with colleagues both inside and outside the company, and sometimes we even had passionate discussions about the future.

At that time, drinking parties were like an extension of work.

As young employees, we were led around by our superiors and seniors, and naturally learned the manners and modesty required of working adults.

I remember one night when I was drinking with my friends and my boss suddenly showed up.

After a brief exchange of words, my boss quietly left his seat.

Eventually, we left the restaurant and as we were about to pay the bill, a staff member quietly told us:

"Mr./Ms. ◯◯ has already paid the bill."

──The back that spread across his chest at that moment, casually, without any pressure, just quietly, was more stylish and cool than anything else.

That's why I still find myself asking myself, "Am I as cool as my boss back then?" as I go about my daily life.

──Before we knew it, we were treating our juniors in the same way.

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