Japaralia October 2026 vol. 37

English translation below by perplexity

Vol. 37 - 3rd Anniversary “It’s all thanks to you, Yuriko.”

I’m sometimes told this by my clients. Every time I hear it, I feel strongly that it was never just my effort alone. It was only possible because my clients worked hard together with me. Even things that others might think are “not a big deal” can become an unbearable burden when you’re the one living with skin concerns. It may not be life‑threatening, but that constant worry can weigh on your everyday life—I know this from my own experience.

That said, whether it’s skin concerns or anything else, if the person doesn’t truly want to change, and if they don’t give me the opportunity to help, I can’t do anything. I always say that treatment is a three‑legged race: it has to be done together, step by step. In the past, I sometimes bent what I believed was the best approach just to meet a client’s specific requests—whether about time or cost. But in the end, that didn’t lead to good results and only risked wasting the money and effort the client had already invested. These days, while I do consider each person’s wishes, I’m careful not to cross the line where results would be compromised. From there, I ask clients to choose their own compromise.

When I started this business, I took on significant debt. When I left my previous workplace, I actually planned to leave the industry altogether. But many clients strongly asked me to continue, and I felt so grateful for their trust that I decided to do everything I could before stepping away. That’s what pushed me to take the leap.

Of course, I had zero knowledge about becoming a business owner. I didn’t even know where to apply for the approvals and permits needed to use Class 4 lasers, or how many were required. No one was willing to lend money to someone with no business experience. Still, I didn’t want to compromise on having enough high‑quality machines, so I was rejected by around 20 lenders. I was basically a complete beginner (laughs). There was so much to do that making lists felt meaningless—tasks popped up every second. Every day, I was emailing more than 10 different organisations back‑to‑back, while still searching for a shop, meeting suppliers, and setting up all the systems and documents needed for the office—all without knowing whether funding would ever come through.

Then one bank officer, after reading my business proposal, said, “I’ve never seen a proposal this detailed,” and saw potential. After countless rapid exchanges every day, the day my loan was approved was beyond words—pure excitement and disbelief. It felt like jumping off Kiyomizu’s stage and just barely surviving. A true miracle. But that was only the starting line. There was no time to catch my breath. Of course I was anxious, but I decided to let go of my attachment to money and focus first on providing high‑quality service with sincerity. I believed that if I did that, clients would follow.

Trying to run a business honestly and with integrity often means facing even more obstacles in this world. Still, without bending my beliefs, and with the mindset that “if it doesn’t work, I’ll just close the business,” I’ve spent the last three years. I still don’t have enough breathing room to take proper holidays, but thanks to everyone who supported me from the very beginning and to my long‑term clients, I’ve been able to reach this three‑year milestone. I’d like to take this opportunity to express my deepest, heartfelt gratitude to all of you. Thank you so much.

These three years have been a period of huge growth—not just as a business owner, but as a person.I’ve come to understand the saying “Those who believe shall be saved” in a deeper way. It’s not simply that “if you believe in God, God will save you.” To believe in something is to open the door of your heart. When you do that, you don’t shut down your thinking; instead, your world expands, and you start to see many things you couldn’t see before. I think the “salvation” lies in what becomes visible once you see more clearly. On the other hand, “not believing” is like closing that door and shutting everything out—nothing can enter, and you stop seeing or thinking.

When you look at the world without being trapped by your own preconceptions or so‑called common sense, you gradually get better at distinguishing what is truly worth believing from what isn’t. In this era, where we’re overwhelmed with information and many “manufactured lies” are presented as truth, we live in a time where we can’t just believe everything blindly. Precisely because of that, I think we need to develop the ability to first accept things as they are, process them within ourselves, and then decide. This doesn’t mean believing without thinking, nor does it mean doubting everything from the start. It means receiving things with an open, unbiased mind, looking at them from many angles, and then making your own decision. I believe that doing this helps you choose what you truly need and what’s good for you, in the shortest possible time.

My approach to treatment hasn’t changed, but through this business and Japaralia, I’ve seen how many people get distracted, confused, or remain stuck as “cosmetic refugees,” unable to move forward and at the mercy of today’s trends. If I can help even a few of those people, I’ll be happy. ☺️

As a token of my gratitude to all of you, we’ll be holding our annual Lucky Draw again this year. There will be one main winner, but as usual, everyone who comes in for treatment will receive a small gift from me, so please look forward to it. (Please note that free appointments, such as consultations, are not eligible.)