researcher
I had a connection with Sato Yumiko and asked her to try out Elni.
She is actually a researcher who has built a career at a well-known company, and when you meet her, you will be surprised at how cheerful, bright, and friendly she is.
Our interest grew so much that we decided to hear more about it.
- Please start by introducing yourself.
I am 71 years old, soon to be 72. I worked for Suntory from the time I graduated from school until I retired.
I started as a secretary, but in 1989 I became a founding member of the Suntory Institute for Timeless Fashion, which was established as part of Suntory's 90th anniversary project, and was involved in research and studies for almost 20 years as a section manager and then department manager before moving to the Suntory Foundation. After retiring from Suntory, I taught students at Otemon Gakuin University, where I currently serve as a director.
At the "Futeki Ryuko Research Institute," we researched lifestyles, culture, and cities from the perspective of "pleasures in daily life." All members are Suntory employees, and it is a small institute with no specialized researchers. With the "Yatte Minahare" spirit that is said to be Suntory's DNA, we were able to freely conduct research from the perspective of consumers. We also had to produce output, so there were challenges, but it was a very fulfilling experience.
Since I'm not in a position to discuss the state of the nation, I decided to research things that interested me. For example, I wanted to know what I could do for my family despite being busy with both parents working, so I researched annual family events. Next, I became interested in the gap between generations, so I compiled my research results in "The Mood of the Times, the Mood of the Generations" (NHK Books). Rather than being planned, I approached my research with a sense of facing the issues in front of me.
I felt that the nature of the Japanese family was changing, so I researched Western and Asian families. I studied things that had been bothering me, such as how couples differ, how children are encouraged to grow up, and what the systems are like, and it also served as a reference for my own way of life.
Since there were few women who could speak freely, I was able to do a variety of work for local governments and the national government, which was a great learning experience in many ways. Make the most of the opportunities you are given. (laughs)
*This interview was conducted at the now-closed former Sichuan restaurant "Haochi."
I got married at 25 and had two children at 32 and 35. It was an era when people would retire after getting married, but as soon as I joined the company I decided to stay at the company until retirement. It wasn't because I was trying to get promoted or work hard, but just naturally. Men get married, have families and stay until retirement, right? So I thought it was natural that women could do the same, and that it was okay.
My mother was a full-time housewife, and her mindset was that I just needed to find a good husband (laughs). But I felt that this was different. I couldn't live my life by relying on or expecting anything from others, so I wanted to carve out my own path in life.
In 2008, the institute was closed and I moved to the Suntory Foundation. I was fortunate to be able to continue my career, but it was a valuable experience that allowed me to come into close contact with intellectuals and scholars and learn a lot.
Now that I'm no longer working as an administrator, I have more time, so I decided to compile what I've been doing into a book, and the results of a research group exploring the state of the community are titled "A Community of Connections: How People and Communities 'Live'." I wanted to know the future of a mature society, so I interviewed people from the older generation and compiled the results into a book titled "Maturity, People Getting Younger," borrowing a phrase from Hermann Hesse. I think I've not only done what I want to do, but I've also been quite committed to producing results. In fact, I'm a conscientious person, so I felt that if I just kept researching, it would be an apology to the people I researched and to my company. (laughs)
I thought I was suited to working in an organization. I could do things I couldn't do on my own and hear the opinions of many different people, which I thought was really interesting. At the same time, I was aware that the foundation had a set mission and that they didn't expect me to do much.
At that time, I was invited to teach at Otemon Gakuin University, so I moved there. I also started a research institute there (laughs). The name of the institute was "Research Institute for Mature Society." There, I had a lot of fun with the members, published the Iwanami Junior Shinsho "Think Alone, Talk Together, Think Together" which was like a supplementary teaching material for active learning for students, and enjoyed making new friends. I retired from that position last spring and am now a director. I guess that's my work history.
- Sato-san is impressive for her cheerfulness and gentle nature. You wouldn't know she has had such a successful career and been active within the organization.
In a way, working in an organization is easy! I've never sold a single bottle of alcohol, but I'm allowed to do what I like within the organization (laughs). It's not about making money or working overtime! I just want to be able to produce output by doing what I want to do.
The criteria for my work are whether there is a social need and whether it is useful to society. I have followed that and done what I wanted to do. I am very interested in family life, and I even went overseas to research it.
At the time, it was rare for women to work in a company on an equal footing with men. I wondered what the more advanced countries were doing, so I went to seven countries to research the social systems, marital relationships, and relationships with children.
I think my way of life was a little ahead of the rest of the world, so I arrogantly thought that my worries would become everyone else's worries.
- Your work has become a reference point for your own way of life. But I sense that at the core of your heart is your desire to help everyone.
Now that we know what kind of person Sato is, let's talk about Elni underwear.
We were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to try out the No. 5 cardigan . Could you tell us your impressions when you received it?
First of all, I thought the material and stitching were good. This is something that I was interested in because I have been sewing my own clothes and buying clothes from Soen since I was in middle and high school, influenced by my mother.
It can be easily crumpled up to make it smaller. It's not too tight. It has some room, but not too much. It's not black. Black would be too obvious and difficult to wear. I thought it was a nice color.
It was so good that I decided to buy other items. I thought that if I bought the No.1 tank top , it would make a great ensemble. I also bought the No.3 slip dress at the same time. Later, on another occasion, I bought the No.18 night dress .
*We have brought the Elni items worn by Sato-san.
- What about items that you purchased yourself?
No.3 The skirt of the slip dress is great. It's made of linen. It's light!
I like plus-size nightwear, and I wear large pajamas (size L ), so I was wondering what a negligee would be like. I wanted to try it out. It was great. I don't need pants at the moment. The bottoms don't ride up while I sleep. I might want some when it gets cold.
-What do you think about black nightwear ?
I changed the sheets to a dark grey and it turned out surprisingly well, so I thought a black nightgown would be nice, but it would be even better if there was a variety of colours.
I also love the linen material. It's completely different from cotton. Once you wear it, you'll never go back to cotton. The fabric of the tote bag is also great! I'd love a negligee in that color.
The No.1 tank top has just the right amount of opening. It fits well but is also loose. It's hard to find anything like that, so this is great. I wonder if it would be good to make this one in a natural white color? There are times when you want to wear white undershirts, right?
Good things should come in a variety of colors. I prefer rusty or dull colors rather than beautiful colors like iron or green.
I want my standards for choosing things to be different from other people. I feel like I have to be different from other people.
I'm not the type to buy things because I need them. My husband complains that I've got more stuff than I used to. (laughs)
*No.5 She was wearing a cardigan.
- There's something I wanted to ask you about that conversation.
There was something that impressed me when I met you before...
Ms. Sato said, "My husband keeps telling me to declutter, but I don't think that's right. From now on, I'll be having the most fun buying things!" and it made me want to grow old in the same way.
"Once your children are grown up, you tend to try to keep things as minimal as possible, but now is the time to choose the things you really love and the best things!" she said so enthusiastically, which was wonderful.
What does it mean to choose something? And how do you feel about choosing underwear in particular?
As I get older, I can no longer wear the things that were cool in the past. My body loses its elasticity. But I don't want to give up.
- So it's important to try to be nice.
You never know what's going to happen (laughs). Well, it's fine if nothing happens, but you just need the determination to live.
- Did you have those feelings while raising your children? Now that I'm in the middle of raising my children, I feel like I'm losing those feelings...
I understand how you feel. There's no time every day, and it's the last thing you want to do. But in a few years, you'll graduate from being a mother. At that time, you'll focus on what you think is important, and move on to the next stage, shedding your old skin.
You've finally shed your skin and become free, so why are you thinking about end-of-life planning and decluttering?
I want to buy tableware and other things, and I like small, stylish things with a certain nuance. I don't want to buy expensive things, but I want to buy things that suit my tastes at a reasonable price. I've declared that I'll still buy things for my home.
I think each generation matures and moves towards maturity, but I realized that a generation that has become freer is not really needing to declutter or think negatively in order to avoid causing trouble for their children.
In that sense, I am a person with ambition...
My husband was in the yacht club when he was a student, and after we got married he took us on a small yacht called a dinghy, where he saw a cruiser and thought, "Okay, someday I'll get a cruiser with a cabin, even if it's small." He asked some friends from work and we got a small cruiser, and we're still enjoying our fourth generation small cruiser with the same members. I believe that if you have a strong desire and take action, your dream will come true.
But when I say I want to get it, I don't mean that I want to own it, but rather that I wonder what it would be like for everyone if they had it, and that it would be fun.
- That's what you're all about, isn't it? Everyone wants to have fun.
I'm still not able to steer the yacht, but I'm enjoying being the cook.
I just want to have fun with everyone. I just want everyone to enjoy the food. I forget my age, chat, eat, drink and reminisce about old times. It's a peaceful time at the yacht harbor.
- Sato-san is very forward-thinking in both her career and lifestyle, and although she is quite active, she is not harsh or desperate and just seems to be having fun. What does she envision for the future?
I hope to be able to support everyone from now on. I'm not a volunteer. I don't like the word volunteer. I'm a supporter. It's like a self-organized group.
I believe there is a lot we can do with what we have done so far and the relationships we have built. I hope that interesting things will spread.
I hope that a new wind will blow here and that people will come to appreciate the good things about this place.
The location for this interview was a building that previously housed Japanese, Italian, and Sichuan restaurants.
It is now closed, but even though it is closed it is a very beautifully maintained place.
The owner of this restaurant is Jiro Azumaya. He has a great sense of humor and is truly a gentleman. Even though he was the one who provided the space, I was completely taken care of by his hospitality.
As we headed home, Sato and I thought it would be a shame to let such a wonderful place remain as it was, and that it would be nice to do something new and fun for everyone.
