Next to the Yata Post Office in Mabi, Kurashiki City, is Tamura Beauty Salon, which has been operating for half a century in Mabi.
Upon entering the shop, a bright voice of Tamura Akemi resonates, saying "Welcome."
It seems that Tamura took over the "Tamura Beauty Salon" where she worked as an employee at that time.
She moved the shop to the adjacent land where the original Tamura Beauty Salon was located and has been running it alone for 27 years.
The age range of customers is from their teens to their nineties, and there are customers who have been using the salon since the previous generation.
Mainly, people from Mabi use the salon, and most come through connections with other users.
It should be noted that Tamura Beauty Salon was affected by the heavy rain disaster in July 2018.
Thinking "I have to do my best" for the elderly with nowhere to go and the customers in Mabi, she reopened the shop two months later.
We spoke with Tamura Akemi about the charm of Tamura Beauty Salon, where the community gathers, and her thoughts, and we would like to introduce it.
Overview of Tamura Beauty Salon
Tamura Beauty Salon is a beauty salon located in Mabi, Kurashiki City.
It is located about a 15-minute drive from Kurashiki Ohashi, crossing the Aeon Mall Kurashiki, in a rural landscape.
The menu includes cuts, colors, and perms.
It seems that all the menu items and price lists are stored in Tamura's head.
Customers convey their hair image in the shop, and Tamura checks along the way as she proceeds.
Interior of Tamura Beauty Salon
Since Tamura Beauty Salon is run by Tamura alone, there are only two customer seats.
There is a waiting area, so if you arrive early, you can wait there.
While sitting in the waiting area, Tamura will call out to you, creating a space where waiting is not boring.
Additionally, conversations between customers often spark.
Sometimes customers come in suddenly saying, "I brought a treat!"
It has the atmosphere of an old-fashioned beauty salon, evoking nostalgic feelings.
We spoke with the owner of Tamura Beauty Salon, Tamura Akemi, who welcomes local people casually.
Interview with Tamura Akemi of "Tamura Beauty Salon," rooted in the community
Did you always want to become a beautician?
Tamura (no honorifics)
Actually, it feels like I have pursued my dream since I was little.
As a child, I often played with the hair of dolls.
I also enjoyed arranging my friends' hair, and I did it often.
My family saw me enjoying touching hair and told me, "You should become a beautician."
In elementary school, there was a section in class where we wrote down our desired professions, and I think I already wrote beautician.
By the time I was in middle school, I was cutting my own hair.
At that time, my desire to become a beautician grew stronger.
Path to becoming a beautician
What was your journey like until you became the beautician you dreamed of?
Tamura
At that time, beauticians could obtain their license after several years of apprenticeship at a beauty salon.
I actually wanted to work as an apprentice without going to high school.
However, with my parents' encouragement, I went on to high school.
After graduating from high school, I started working as an apprentice at a beauty salon and trained for two years.
While gaining experience, I took special courses that were being held at the time and started my path to becoming the beautician I had dreamed of.
Did you work at Tamura Beauty Salon from your apprenticeship?
Tamura
Actually, I was working as an apprentice at another beauty salon.
During my apprenticeship, I met my husband and got married, but the beauty salon run by my mother-in-law was Tamura Beauty Salon.
My mother-in-law was a beautician in Osaka Prefecture, but she returned to her hometown of Mabi and opened a shop.
After obtaining my beautician's license, I started working part-time at Tamura Beauty Salon.
While raising children, I was allowed to work at my own pace.
However, one day, my mother-in-law fell ill.
I thought that if this continued, the customers coming to the beauty salon would have nowhere to go, so I decided to take over Tamura Beauty Salon as the successor.
At the time of the takeover, I moved the shop to the adjacent vacant lot.
I thought about the shop name, but I decided to keep it as Tamura Beauty Salon.
The reason is to make it easier for customers who used to visit my mother-in-law to come.
Features of Tamura Beauty Salon
What kind of customers use your salon?
Tamura
Most of the customers are over 50 years old, and almost all are residents of Mabi.
Sometimes, people in their 80s and 90s come as well.
This is because my mother-in-law's customers have continued to come to Tamura Beauty Salon.
Customers have a desire to be stylish no matter their age, so I feel like I can fulfill their hopes as a beautician.
While talking with customers about "What menu should I choose?" or "I have a recommended shampoo," I perform haircuts and hair sets.
Younger customers also use the salon, but many come through my acquaintances and connections.
Since I run the salon alone, most of the users are women.
Men come occasionally, mainly friends of my son.
I also do hair sets and hair care according to the wishes of regular customers.
Unique events at Tamura Beauty Salon rooted in the local community
You have been running a beauty salon in Mabi for a long time; are there any unique events that are characteristic of the local area?
Tamura
It's when regular customers drop by casually.
Some bring grapes, while others ask, "Do you want to eat the bamboo shoots I cooked?"
There have been times when a customer said, "I'm going to read a book and then leave," and while reading, conversations started between customers.
Since elderly people also use the salon, they sometimes share tips on traditional cooking methods and seasonings.
Additionally, there are local customers who come wearing rubber boots after farming, saying, "I arrived at the reservation time," which is a unique local occurrence.
In fact, after the heavy rain disaster in July 2018, the number of elderly customers at Tamura Beauty Salon increased.
I was in a phase of working hard, listening to the voices of elderly people with nowhere to go.
I may not have been able to do much, but I could listen to the customers' stories.
I set up a space for regular customers to talk about their thoughts and feelings.
It was a period of four years of working hard. Can you share your experiences during that time?
Tamura
It was tough at that time, but looking back, I feel like I accomplished it.
It felt like the strength of a fire scene.
Both Tamura Beauty Salon and my home experienced the disaster.
Fortunately, thanks to my son's friends who volunteered, the shop was ready to open in November 2018.
However, regular customers said, "I can't go anywhere from Mabi," and "When will the beauty salon open?"
The voices of the customers made me realize something.
I hurriedly asked the carpenter, "The house can wait, but when can the shop be completed at the earliest?"
The carpenter replied that the earliest would be September, so I decided to reopen the shop in September 2018.
At that time, I was completely focused, but somehow I managed to reopen in September.
While deciding on the interior of the shop, I wanted to have things that customers needed.
While people might think that beauty salons have music playing, I installed a standing television at Tamura Beauty Salon.
Some of the customers were in a situation where they had no television and did not know how to use smartphones, making it difficult to obtain necessary information.
What is needed now is a means for customers to obtain information, I thought.
When there was nothing, I was doing mobile beauty services at temporary housing.
I thought, "There are elderly people in Mabi with nowhere to go. Customers are waiting. I have to do something."
I may have been thinking and acting on what I could do for the customers.
Although I experienced a disaster, there are people who started using Tamura Beauty Salon after the heavy rain disaster in July 2018.
I feel like there have been new encounters.
Tamura's perseverance in continuing the salon despite adversity
What moments do you find enjoyable as a beautician?
Tamura
I love being a beautician, so I find joy in seeing customers become beautiful and meeting customers.
If a beautician steps away from work even a little, their hands become unskilled.
Moreover, the pace of product changes in the world is fast, so new products are developed quickly.
Because there are customers who want to be beautiful, I can sharpen my skills as a beautician and research products.
Also, when I receive a reservation call from a customer, I feel excited.
I think, "Tomorrow will be busy!" or "A regular customer is coming."
It is enjoyable to see customers becoming beautiful as a beautician.
How do you feel about your life working as a beautician?
Tamura
I have always wanted to be a beautician.
There is a sense of fulfillment in being a beautician, but I also enjoy talking with customers every day.
I am happy that people from Mabi come to Tamura Beauty Salon.
Having run for four years, I want to take a little break and continue to enjoy being a beautician from now on.
The story of Tamura Beauty Salon
Tamura Beauty Salon has been operating for half a century in Mabi, Kurashiki City.
Tamura, who has fulfilled her dream of becoming a beautician since she was little, enjoys her work.
Tamura Beauty Salon fulfills the hopes of customers who want to be beautiful and stylish at any age.
While continuing to enjoy her work, she experienced the heavy rain disaster in July 2018 and has been continuously taking action on what she can do since then.
Tamura's words, "Looking back, it was tough, but I did it," were very impressive during the interview.
No matter the time, Tamura always has the customers who come to Tamura Beauty Salon in her mind.
When you come to Mabi, be sure to look for the sign of Tamura Beauty Salon.
Data of Tamura Beauty Salon
| Name | Tamura Beauty Salon |
|---|---|
| Address | 863-3 Ayata, Mabi-cho, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-698-1984 |
| Parking | Available |
| Business Hours | From 9:00 AM to around 5:00 PM * Business hours may vary depending on the date and season |
| Regular Holidays | Monday, Sunday Closed on the 1st and 3rd Sundays * Business hours may vary depending on the date and season |
| Payment Methods |
|
| Reservation | Required Advance phone reservation is necessary |
| Seats | 2 seats Waiting area available |
| Smoking | Completely non-smoking |
| Toilet | Western-style toilet |
| Barrier-free | Ramp |
