Serendipity Lab. x fibona "Brainstorming Salon #1" to rethink the role of beauty from the perspective of the “wholeness” of human beings.
2021.11.12Serendipity Lab. of the Art & Heritage Department (A&H Dpt.) of the Social Value Creation Division, whose mission is to inherit Shiseido's history and corporate culture and apply them to future growth, and the open innovation program fibona collaborated to hold the "Brainstorming Salon," where outside experts and Shiseido researchers freely exchanged opinions.
The first session was held in online with Dr. Toshiro Inaba, a physician and M.D., as the guest speaker on the topic "What is Human Wholeness?" How is "wholeness" related to health, beauty, and medicine? What is important for each researcher to incorporate "personal beauty wellness company," which is Shiseido's vision for 2030, into their own personal lives?
About 20 members from the A&H Dpt. and research center participated. They all discussed the relationship between beauty and health as well as medicine and art with Dr. Inaba.
Rethinking medicine and health from outside the hospital
In the first part, Dr. Inaba spoke on the theme of "What is Human Wholeness?”
After working as a cardiologist at the University of Tokyo Hospital, Dr. Inaba will serve as chief of the Department of General Medicine at Karuizawa Hospital from 2020 and as vice president from 2021. "Thinking about health has made me think about the wholeness of humanity," he said.
“We don't live only in hospitals. First of all, we have a life, and when we feel sick, we go to the hospital. Sometimes physical problems become mental problems, and vice versa. The mind, body, and health are all part of the act of living. I moved to Karuizawa because I realized that medical care is not something that can be completed only in a hospital, and I wanted to see it in a broader perspective.” He explains the roots of his current activities.
Medicine, art, and education have always been deeply connected. Citing the Epidaurus site in ancient Greece as an example, Dr. Inaba explains the origins of medicine.
“The ruins of Epidaurus are spread out among theaters, temples, bathhouses, and music halls." It is believed that the ancient Greeks were discovering their own health in a holistic place where healing, art, and creation were combined. I want to explore a place where we can not only treat illnesses, but also understand what life is and learn how to live from each other. In that sense, I always value wholeness.”
The human body is composed of approximately 60-100 trillion cells. Our lives are established by the wholeness of the micro life world. On the other hand, from a macro perspective, Dr. Inaba believes that life and death are part of a circle.
“I believe that researchers want to know how being healthy, beauty and happiness are connected. To do this, we don't just look at one part of the person, but look at and capture them in the context of their overall life. I think it is important to see things from that perspective," he concluded his talk with his own thoughts.
The view that can be seen by reconsidering both Eastern and Western medicine
Toward the end of the first session, Dr. Inaba was asked questions related to each researcher's area of expertise.
Researcher Kajiya commented, "Since dermatology tends to lean toward a Western medical approach and talk about objective data accumulation, I find it difficult to integrate it with "health," which has many subjective aspects. What do you pay attention to in order to capture and express wholeness? " Dr. Inaba replied, "This is a central question that I have had since I was a medical student. I, too, have been trained to observe the subject through reductive decomposition based on Western medicine. But that is clearly not enough."
He continued, “I believe that by combining both Western medicine, which is in the vein of science, and Eastern medicine, such as Ayurveda, in my own way, I can create something original. New medicine emerges in the space between objectivity and subjectivity. My private interest in tea ceremonies and flower arrangement, as well as my commitment to Noh theater practice, are also a practice of this kind." He mentioned the importance of having one's own interpretation.
Researcher Tsujita also said, "Every day I realize how difficult it is to integrate Western and Eastern ways of thinking." She then spoke of her concerns.
In response, Dr. Inaba said, "The West places importance on a separate and objective viewpoint of nature, while the East places importance on a viewpoint in which you and nature are mixed together. However, each person's individuality is demonstrated and diversity is born in how they accept and integrate the two perspectives internally. The essence of the West and the East are mixed in an allocation that is most comfortable for that person. The boldness to endure the instability of the indivisibility of the whole mix is what makes a person attractive and expressive, and it also leads to society's challenge of how it should accept diversity.”
“I believe that when I cannot move forward, I have to dig beneath me, at the bottom. When you dig deep into what supports you, you connect to history and culture beyond the individual. A firm connection to what you are truly drawn to is the foundation that sustains the person." He stated his own experience.
Researcher Saheki also asked a question, "Various elements cooperate within one person, leading to wholeness. In the development of cosmetics, we study the connection with society and its effects on others, but what are your thoughts on wholeness, including the human network?"
Dr. Inaba replied, "There are animals that act in groups called families, but humans are the only creatures that have complex, layered communities like workplaces, towns, and nations. This is because the interests of the individual and the interests of the community always clash and cannot be reconciled. We humans are the only species that is challenged with the difficult task of how to balance and reconcile such individual and communal interests. First of all, we need to be proud of that.”
“So, what is it that is coordinated by the power of "dialogue"? Sharing rules and creatively assembling a place. Dialogue is a wonderful ability that human beings possess, and I believe it is the most important theme to be explored in depth in the future. This Breast Salon also incorporates a lot of time for dialogue, doesn't it? My talk was the seed for a discourse with everyone. I think it's wonderful to have such an interactive place," he said.
Beauty, art, and medicine are all connected to dialogue
The theme of the second part that followed was "What is Beauty? The Connection between Art and Medicine."
“The world inside us that we feel with our minds and five senses, and the world outside, surrounded by interpersonal relationships, society, and the law. We move back and forth between these two poles,” Dr. Inaba said, and regain wholeness on a daily basis.
“Our inner and outer worlds are so different. It takes energy to go back and forth between the two. I believe that art plays a role in connecting these two worlds. Making time to experience beautiful things and the natural world is a way to heal ourselves. I believe that the history of art is that which has the power to heal many people and yet remains refined.”
Dialogue is woven into the fabric of such art venues. Dr. Inaba has been practicing this in the "Yamagata Biennale 2020," for which he served as artistic director.
On the other hand, there is a caveat when conducting dialogue. “The goal of dialogue is not agreement. Some people refuse to engage in dialogue because they mistakenly believe that it is about aiming for the same opinion, but this is a misunderstanding. The purpose of dialogue is to understand the other person. Even if you don't agree with the other person's ideas, you can still understand the other person. That is what dialogue is, and that is what is critically lacking in this day and age," he said.
The importance of dialogue to understand the other person is also connected to Shiseido's vision of "PERSONAL BEAUTY WELLNESS" for the year 2030. This is because personal beauty is also "not something that can only be completed within the individual.
Dr. Inaba concluded his talk by saying, "When we think about what beauty is and how beautiful we are in our community, it also has to do with how to live nobly and proudly. Dialogue is still important in putting this into practice. We need to create a safe space to understand each other and to facilitate dialogue. Art and beauty can be a catalyst for this. If you take a fresh look at your own work from this perspective, you may come up with some new ideas."
A different layer from the everyday lightens the worries.
In the second part of the Q&A session, the researchers asked a variety of questions about matters related to beauty and dialogue.
Researcher Saito asked, "Do you think the power of beauty is similar to that of culture and art?" Dr. Inaba replied, "Most of the time, the cause of people's depression is interpersonal problems. When I listen to people who are suffering, I don't hear anything about nature at all. When interpersonal worries occupy 99% of reality, head fills up with worries and there is no room left over. If the ratio of the natural world to the human world = 6:4, you would not be so caught up in your worries. In our artificial society, interpersonal relationships have become everything in the world, and everyone is exhausted in the midst of them.”
He continued, “However, I believe that even amid an artificial society, there is a space for the mind to find balance through exposure to the beauty of nature and art that depicts the world in a dimension different from the everyday. By bringing into our minds a layer that is different from the everyday, a space is created in which our hearts can move freely and dynamically. That is why I believe that consciously increasing our exposure to flowers, birds, wind, and art is so important in terms of self-therapy." He also expressed his own thoughts on the importance of incorporating nature and art into one's life.
Researcher Matsubara asked about the "difference in feeling when comparing online and in-person interactions" in relation to the recently increasing number of communication formats.。
Dr. Inaba responded, "The beauty of online dialogue is that it provides fairness. You can make time to talk with each person. I think it is important to maintain this fair atmosphere offline as well. When safety and fairness are maintained, healthy dialogue is promoted. Online can be a place to practice learning that process, and I think it's a step toward applying what's good online to real, face-to-face dialogue." He suggested that experiencing a new form of dialogue can lead to learning something new.
How do we support our consumers’ “own beauty"?
The discussion between Dr. Inaba and the researchers also expanded to include Shiseido's goal of personal beauty and the nature of dialogue that does not depend on words.
Researcher Tagai said, "How can each person express his or her own beauty? I believe it is our role as beauty professionals to help people do so. I wonder if you could give us some suggestions on how we can express our individuality.” Dr. Inaba replied, "Why don't you take a look at it from the opposite perspective and ask yourself why you can't express your true self? There must be many people who cannot be themselves because they are worried about what others will think, or because they feel they will be ridiculed. If this is the case, we should create a safe place where the rule is to never make fun of others. One way to do this is to start by questioning the social unconsciousness behind it.”
He continued, “I will then use "likes" as a start point. There is no inherent reason for what we "like." Because it is beyond reason, it expresses the essence of a person. Everyone has something that excites them, and we can better understand them by respecting even the smallest things without making fun of them, and using the bottom as a gateway to explore their personality." He gave tips for exploring this idea.
Researcher Fukazawa added, "I feel it’s difficult to convey wholeness to others. When I explain things in words, it is frustrating to have the impression that I am separating things and moving away from their true nature.” Dr. Inaba also feels the same way.
Dr. Inaba said, “Words have an aspect of isolating things, so the more we explain things in words, the more partial they become. In such cases, images, videos, landscapes, and experiences are sometimes more effective in conveying the message.
For example, the difference between a Japanese garden and gardening can be quickly understood by looking at a picture. It is also important to have a dialogue with the image itself, rather than just explaining it in words. It is also interesting to have a dialogue that includes images, paintings, sculptures, architecture, and spaces themselves that are close to the image you want to convey. What lies between images and language is the world of poetry and haiku.” He suggested specific communication methods.
Although held online, this Brainstorming Salon made exciting dialogue about the "wholeness" of human beings through health, beauty, and medicine. The future of beauty, art, and medical care was also felt to be further connected through dialogue.
Finally, Dr. Inaba gave a message of encouragement to the Shiseido employees.
“The expression of a high sense of beauty, such as the magazine "Hanatsubaki" published by Shiseido, must have brought about all kinds of inspiration in the deepest places of diverse people. I am one of them. There are always things that influence people over a long period of time, even if they are invisible to the naked eye. Even in an age when short-term results are demanded, it is important to share the image of moving step by step toward the future we want to face, looking ten years into the future, sometimes imagining the landscape of the world after our own death through the eyes of our ancestors. I sincerely support all of you in your future endeavors."
Toshiro Inaba was born in Kumamoto, Japan in 1979.
- Doctor, Doctor of Medicine.
- B.S., Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 2004
- M.D., Internal Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 2014
- Ph.D., Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 2014 - March 2020
- Assistant Professor, Department of Cardiology, The University of Tokyo Hospital, 2020
- April 2020: Medical Director, Department of General Medicine, Karuizawa Hospital
- Specially Appointed Associate Professor, Research Institute for Social Infrastructure, Shinshu University
- Visiting Researcher, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Tokyo
- Visiting Professor, Tohoku University of Art & Design (Artistic Director, Yamagata Biennale 2020)
- January 2021: Appointed Vice President, Karuizawa, appointed as Deputy Director of Hospital.
In order to create the culture for diversity and harmony in medicine, he is trained not only in Western medicine, but also in traditional medicine, complementary and alternative medicine, and folk medicine. In order to create the future of medicine and society, he actively engages in dialogue with people in traditional performing arts, art, folklore, agriculture, and other fields to explore the connection between medicine and all other fields and is seeking ways for medicine to be a part of a new society that restores the wholeness of humanity.
https://www.toshiroinaba.com/
（text:Hanae Abe edit:Kaori Sasagawa）
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