A Long Drive to Shimoda Villa with Michiko Fujiwara | Volkswagen

Series | Final Installment (3 Parts Total)

A Long Drive to Shimoda Villa with Michiko Fujiwara

Fashion, watches, cars, etc. In my younger days, 'possessions' were a status symbol, recalls makeup artist Michiko Fujiwara. 'Having truly good things can elevate you. That's why owning what you desire is important. However, my values regarding good things have recently changed. I used to own decorative items, some I had to stretch to acquire, but now I want to be surrounded by simple, quality things and live a life more true to myself.' What is the state of mind that led Fujiwara to choose 'The Beetle Cabriolet'?—.

Photographs by ABE MasayaText by SHIBATA Maki

Fujiwara's Dream, Life by the Sea

In her 40s, Michiko Fujiwara was once asked a question from the audience during a lecture. 'What is your dream for the future?'

'I want to live by the sea, wake with the sunrise, and sleep with the sunset. I want to be someone who eats food they've prepared themselves and enjoys a very simple life. So, to avoid regretting not doing things I wanted to do when the time came, I try to do as much as I can now.' That was her answer.

'I had completely forgotten about it, but when I built my house, it suddenly came back to me. What I said then has become a reality,' Fujiwara says with a smile, looking out at the sea in Shimoda.

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Six years ago, Fujiwara built a villa in Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture. It's a large house filled with light and wind, just a stone's throw from the sea. On weekends, she drives 'The Beetle Cabriolet' to Shimoda and spends time there with her husband.

'When I come here, I bring everything from my home refrigerator and live my usual life. I wake up at 5:30 AM and go to bed at 10 PM. I meditate as I wait for the sunrise, and it fills me with a blissful, energetic feeling. Sometimes, I pack a large basket with sandwiches in the Beetle's trunk and go for picnics or barbecues with the neighborhood children.'

Fujiwara strolls along the white sandy beach in espadrilles. The gingham check dress she's wearing was made by a friend from the neighborhood. Birdsong and the sound of waves echo like music, and the area is lush with plants and trees. The people are gentle, the atmosphere relaxed. 'I don't wear makeup when I'm here,' Fujiwara says. Her expression softens, making her look almost like a young girl.

Series | Final Installment (3 Parts Total)

A Long Drive to Shimoda Villa with Michiko Fujiwara (2)

Discoveries Made During a Weekend Life Immersed in Nature

Life in Shimoda has also brought about significant changes within Fujiwara.

'In the world of hair and makeup, what I envision comes to fruition in about 40 minutes. So, I'm basically impatient (laughs). That has subsided. The plants I plant and tend in the villa's garden don't always bloom as I expect. And then, weeds I pick in the morning grow back by the afternoon. I've learned to adapt myself to nature.'

The beauty of the irises blooming in the garden, the taste of vegetables from her small organic farm, the changing hues of the blue sea, the starlight that seems to fall from the sky—this natural environment, so different from Tokyo, further sharpens Fujiwara's senses.

'It's not just about adornment. It's about balance. Coming here, my interest has shifted beyond external hair and makeup to holistic beauty in general. Diet, exercise, mindset—both the inside and outside are important.'

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The Beetle's Timeless Form Complements a Simple Life

Inside the villa, with its scent of wood, there's a terrace and a sunroom. Apart from a few large, carefully selected pieces of furniture, there is nothing superfluous. It expresses Fujiwara's state of 'simplicity,' reached after experiencing everything.

'When children draw a house, they draw a simple shape with a triangular roof, right? I wanted this villa to be a house like that. I asked the architect for something linear and symmetrical. I love timeless, eternal forms.'

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A child's first drawing of a car is never complex. They draw a rounded shape, much like the Beetle's form. The Beetle, a bestseller in automotive history, possesses an eternal line that cannot be added to or subtracted from. Within this, Volkswagen's unique technological innovations are evident, such as the firm seats designed for comfort on long drives, and the TSI engine that achieves both high output and low fuel consumption, along with environmental performance.

'The moment I saw the Beetle, I knew it was the one. I think I've found my forever car at just the right moment in my life.' Parked amidst lush greenery, 'The Beetle Cabriolet' accompanies Fujiwara's simple life.

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Michiko Fujiwara
Hair & Makeup Artist. Representative of La Donn. Handles hair and makeup for magazines and advertisements. Appears on TV and radio, in commercials, and gives lectures. Active in a wide range of fields as an advisor for cosmetics and fashion. Author of numerous books, including 'Perfect Make & Hair Bible' (Kodansha), 'New Book of Life Wisdom 5: Happy Women Look Different in Makeup!' (Shogakukan), 'Otona Ran' (Kodansha), aランBOOK for adults and beginners, and 'Change Your Life with a Beautiful Morning' (Gentosha). LA DONNA OFFICIAL SITE http://www.ladonna-inc.jp