Beauty
March 9, 2015
Episode 18: Saburoh Watanabe's Youth!
Saburoh Watanabe x Hiromi Kobayashi
“A Visit to Saburoh’s World” (2)
Back when the profession of hair and makeup artist itself was not yet recognized by the industry,
how did Saburoh Watanabe learn his craft and achieve such great success?
This time, we delve into the secrets behind his journey.
Text and composition by Harumi SomeyaPhotos by Keiko Ideguchi
Simply Following the Path Laid Out
Hiromi Kobayashi“May I ask about the beginnings of your career, Saburoh-san?”
Saburoh“From age 20 to 25, for five years, I worked at a salon called ‘Shibayama Beauty Salon.’ My beauty school teacher recommended I join Shibayama. He said, ‘It’s better to become a beautician with a skill beyond just hair. There’s a technique called the “Shibayama Facial Art,” so you should learn that.’ He essentially laid out the path for me, even contacting Miyoka Shibayama himself. So, I obediently followed that path and came up to Tokyo for the interview.”
Kobayashi“Did you adjust to Tokyo right away?”
Saburoh“I was born and raised in Fukuoka, but most of my relatives live in Tokyo. So, as a child, I used to come to Tokyo every long summer and winter break.”
“But back then, hardly anyone among my classmates had ever been to Tokyo. So, they didn’t believe me. They threw stones at me, calling me a liar (laughs). I guess I really was a liar.”
Kobayashi“You weren’t a liar.”
Saburoh“And my work became a lie too (laughs). Makeup is a lie, isn’t it? It creates the illusion of beauty.”
Kobayashi“I see, an optical illusion.”
Saburoh“Or perhaps an illusion of the mind. Makeup is very abstract, something that doesn’t exist in this world. It’s another dimension.”
Kobayashi“The theme is how to sustain that illusion.”
Saburoh“But the magic doesn’t fade as long as you don’t look in the mirror (laughs). The mirror is both the entrance and exit to the magic. Think of Alice in Wonderland.”
Your 20s: A Time for Absorption
Kobayashi“My mother (beauty expert Teruko Kobayashi) is also close with you, Saburoh-san. She always says, ‘Your hair and makeup work is so thoughtful, and your hands are incredibly skillful. When I saw him, I felt, ‘A genius has arrived.’’”
Saburoh“She has a good eye (laughs). But I’m not great, nor am I a genius. I just work diligently. It’s all about accumulation.
And now, at this age, I’ve realized that ‘life happens only once.’ I used to think I could do this and that, but now I wonder, ‘Wait, is there a limit after all?’”
Kobayashi“Yes, there are limits in life.”
Saburoh“This is troubling. How should I live my life? Time is running short.”
Kobayashi“Have you found an answer?”
Saburoh“No, it’s not settled yet (laughs). Should I prioritize myself, or should I prioritize others? My parents are important, and the people in my company are important too. What should I prioritize?”
Kobayashi“You still value the people around you very much, Saburoh-san. Perhaps too much.”
Saburoh“I don’t do enough at all. There are things I didn’t realize at the time, like how much I was helped or how much trouble I caused, but I understand them now as an adult. I’m still causing trouble.”
“In my 20s, I was wandering, an outsider. I entered people’s lives, essentially as a freeloader. But I absorbed so much there. Especially in France, where I had many friends, just observing their lives was stimulating. I feel they all taught me things I hadn’t learned conventionally.
Kobayashi“How long did that period last?”
Saburoh“From 25 to 27, I went for about seven months every year. The five months I was in Japan, I handled two or three jobs a day. While wandering, I also worked on jobs coming from Tokyo and stayed at friends’ houses. I’m grateful to my friends. Friends are more important to me than siblings.”
“As an adult, you realize you can’t impose on people like that, right? But when you’re young, you can get by on sheer momentum. I think your 20s are that kind of period. Then, exactly at age 30, I established my salon, ‘SASHU.’”
Profile
Saburoh Watanabe
Began his career in 1971, primarily in commercials and magazines. As a pioneer of hair and makeup artistry in Japan, he established his position in the industry. Currently, he is active in a wide range of fields, including the development and production of his original brand, ‘wAtOSA,’ as well as magazines and advertisements. He is widely recognized as a leading figure in hair and makeup, both in name and reputation. His exceptional skills and sensibility have earned him deep trust from models and actresses. He presides over the hair salon “SASHU” and the makeup school “W・326 STUDIO.”