{"id":2462,"date":"2020-09-04T13:00:35","date_gmt":"2020-09-04T04:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/?p=2462"},"modified":"2020-09-04T14:58:45","modified_gmt":"2020-09-04T05:58:45","slug":"%e5%a4%9a%e6%a7%98%e6%80%a7%e3%81%ae%e3%81%aa%e3%81%8b%e3%81%a7","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/en\/archives\/2462","title":{"rendered":"Mother, Model, and Marketing Extraordinaire: The World Is Maki Muroi\u2019s Oyster"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><strong>Stay True To You<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Yasuo Yasuo<\/strong>\u3000Do you have any experience living abroad or working with foreigners?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Maki Muroi<\/strong>\u3000Although I grew up in Japan, I studied abroad for three months in Canada right at the end of middle school, and returned there for another study abroad semester in college. I also attended a bilingual university in Japan.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Yasuo\u3000<\/strong>What was your first impression of going abroad?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Maki\u3000<\/strong>I was so excited to communicate with the limited English that I\u2019d learned in middle school. It was so much fun!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Yasuo\u3000<\/strong>I thought I could speak English, but when I got to New York, I realized that I really couldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Maki\u3000<\/strong>Have you improved?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Yasuo\u3000<\/strong>My English is still not great, but now I\u2019m not as embarrassed. I know I\u2019ll never fully master it, but as long as I\u2019m able to convey what I want to say, then I\u2019m fine. When you can\u2019t speak a certain language, the real meaning of communication and conversation changes for you.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Maki\u3000<\/strong>Communication is not always about language. Obsessing over incorrect grammar can kill your confidence. Yasuo, you\u2019re particularly great because you\u2019re so clear about what you want to say.<\/p>\n<p>My child is growing up in a Japanese environment, which is rather homogenous and promotes self-sufficiency. However, I really want him to develop his own opinions, and find positive ways to express his feelings and beliefs.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Yasuo\u3000<\/strong>What I\u2019ve found is that overseas, people are much more curious about what you have to say. The homogeneity of Japan creates a lot of like-minded thinking, which can work against your cultivation of self. There\u2019s a commonly held belief that nothing needs to be said in order to be understood, but in other countries, such passiveness can be interpreted negatively, and even considered disrespectful.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Maki\u3000<\/strong>The Japanese style of environment is referred to as high context culture. On the other hand, Western societies have a low context culture with a strong emphasis on verbal cues. You can\u2019t really expect someone to correctly guess or interpret meaning in such spaces.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Yasuo\u3000<\/strong>If a culture is composed of people from a variety of backgrounds, such as in Western countries, then assimilation and like-minded thinking are not as expected. However, Japanese people tend to judge things based on their intrinsic value, and when you differentiate from those standards, you\u2019re treated as an outsider. I\u2019m often treated as a \u201cgaijin,\u201d rather, the Japanese word for foreigner.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Maki\u3000<\/strong>My oldest child is in kindergarten, and his personality is so open and free. I\u2019m nervous for him to enter elementary school next year because the expectations are so different. I never want him to change or reject his individuality, but society will push him to be non-disruptive and well behaved.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Yasuo\u3000<\/strong>While developing good manners and habits is important, children need encouragement towards creative and individualist thinking. Playing and creating in any environment is the key to a healthy and happy lifestyle.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Maki\u3000<\/strong>I agree. It\u2019s so important to always be yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"540\" height=\"350\" src=\"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0730_02.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2334\" srcset=\"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0730_02.jpg 540w, https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0730_02-300x194.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3><strong>Striking A Balance<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Maki\u3000<\/strong>I\u2019m a people pleaser\u2014it\u2019s a quality that I was born with, and it never really caused me any problems until I joined <a href=\"https:\/\/www2.hm.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">H&amp;M<\/a>. When I started working with people from overseas, I realized that my tendency to constantly smile and reassure others worked against my best interests. While there\u2019s nothing wrong with being upbeat and considerate towards others, it pays to be assertive and direct in professional settings. It also means you have to learn how and when to say no.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Yasuo\u3000<\/strong>The term \u201cpeople pleaser\u201d is often used in a derogatory manner, but personally, I don\u2019t see any problem with being conscious of others&#8217; needs. If you\u2019re able to be tactful and make requests without seeming too demanding, then that\u2019s a great skill. As a result, whomever you&#8217;re working with feels much more open to your suggestions. It\u2019s a win\/win in my book.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Maki\u3000<\/strong>That\u2019s so true. People do not like being bossed around.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Yasuo\u3000<\/strong>Demanding and communicating are two totally different things. I\u2019ve become more careful with my word choices these days, and always consider how the other person might feel when given my requests. Framing tasks from an inspirational perspective always motivates my colleagues, and they often seem much more satisfied with their output.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Maki\u3000<\/strong>That\u2019s great advice. Supporting and encouraging those that you work with always pays off.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Yasuo\u3000<\/strong>Agreed. You\u2019re such a mindful person. Have you always been this way? What were you like as a teenager?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Maki\u3000<\/strong>I was very involved in school\u2014I was an honor student, got great grades, and loved serving as a class chair. It was only after I became a parent that I realized that my young adult life was pretty boring. I wish I\u2019d been more rebellious.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Yasuo\u3000<\/strong>Have you ever really let loose?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Maki\u3000<\/strong>Yes, when I was in university. I lived in Hong Kong for a little bit afterwards, too.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Yasuo\u3000<\/strong>So, you consider yourself to be a more relaxed person now.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Maki\u3000<\/strong>Oh, not necessarily. Since I\u2019m on childcare leave, I do all the housework. I\u2019m not very good at it. My husband and I used to share tasks when I was working, but because I have more time on my hands, they fall on me.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Yasuo\u3000<\/strong>Even honor students have their weaknesses.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Maki\u3000<\/strong>I used to run a diagnostic test called &#8220;Strengthsfinder&#8221; on company leaders in order to assess their skillsets. I remember one of the qualifications was something like, &#8220;A wonderful leader understands their strengths and weaknesses, and acknowledges that they cannot do everything on their own.\u201d I feel like I\u2019m good at delegating tasks to others in my professional life. Now, I just need someone to take over the housework!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Yasuo\u3000<\/strong>There are some tasks we just aren\u2019t good at. As a human being, that\u2019s totally natural.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Maki\u3000<\/strong>I know, but lately I\u2019ve realized it\u2019s alright so long as I can encourage others to do good work.<\/p>\n<p>Although this maternity leave is my second, I often find myself working a lot in the kitchen, pondering how I don\u2019t fit into the Japanese ideal of a good mother. I let my Roomba vacuum do a lot of the cleaning, and when it comes to the rest, I just tell my child that I\u2019m not so good at doing \u201cmommy work.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>\u00a0<\/h3>\n<h3>It\u2019s The Inside That Counts<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"540\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0730_03.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2335\" srcset=\"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0730_03.jpg 540w, https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0730_03-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Maki\u3000<\/strong>Recently, while I was shopping for a school bag for my eldest son, a salesperson made a negative comment about his color selection. He wanted a red backpack for school, and when we went to take a closer look, the attendant said that no boys choose [the color] red, and that he might be bullied over it. Even though I wanted to let him make his own choice, the comment worried my husband. Raising a child free of traditional gender standards is actually quite a challenge in Japan. What would you have done if you were in my position?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Yasuo\u3000<\/strong>Well, I raised my child in the United States. If I were there, then I would buy it for him no question, but in Japan I might reconsider.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Maki\u3000<\/strong>These are the elements of Japanese lifestyles that feel so limiting to me\u2014I want to be able to live life and parent however I want, and not worry about all of these silly things.<\/p>\n<p>This might seem like a topic shift, but my eldest son\u2019s kindergarten accepts children of all backgrounds, including those diagnosed with developmental disorders such as autism. Yet when I look at these children, I don\u2019t see any differences between them, rather that they are the same and accept one another. Some may not be able to sit still, some have a strong temper, and some may be more aggressive, but the children themselves do not discriminate or make distinctions, and therefore their interactions seem so normal. I wish our greater society was that way.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Yasuo\u3000<\/strong>Autism is such a stigmatized label\u2014it\u2019s the same with depression. In the United States, it\u2019s pretty common to give derogatory names to mental disabilities no matter how subtle the symptoms, but there\u2019s been a recent cultural shift that encourages individuals to legitimize these struggles and accept them. We\u2019ve also created new kinds of coping mechanisms in certain public spaces to help make these people\u2019s lives a little easier. Diagnosing these problems makes them seem like an illness, which is considered strange and taboo.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Maki\u3000<\/strong>I also question Japan\u2019s emphasis on marriage prior to having children. For instance, my H&amp;M colleagues from Sweden and Holland that are stationed in Japan had an easier time getting a work visa if they were married. But on the other hand, gay married couples might not be able to get their partner a visa, since gay marriage isn\u2019t considered legitimate in Japan. That simply does not make sense to me.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Yasuo\u3000<\/strong>True. From a legal perspective there are some advantages to being formally married with children, but I agree that there should be no difference. Society needs to be accepting of different styles and perspectives, so long as they do not cause any harm to others.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"540\" height=\"319\" src=\"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0730_04.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2336\" srcset=\"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0730_04.jpg 540w, https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0730_04-300x177.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3><strong>Child\u2019s Play<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Maki\u3000<\/strong>When I gave birth to my eldest son, I saw all of the other babies lined up in the hospital nursery room and was so confident that I could love any one of them. I think I might like being a foster parent someday.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Yasuo\u3000<\/strong>How interesting! I don&#8217;t think there are that many foster parents here in Japan. What makes you feel this way?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Maki\u3000<\/strong>It may be because of the way I was brought up. My mother was such an empathetic and unique person\u2014she would invite homeless people into our house to take baths, things like that. When I talked with my husband about fostering a child, he thought it was a really nice idea, but also wants me to focus on caring for our current household. I have the time right now to be a good housewife, but it\u2019s just not happening.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Yasuo\u3000<\/strong>It sounds like you really hate domestic work!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Maki\u3000<\/strong>I do. Despite all of that, I actually went and interviewed for a \u201cweekend foster parent\u201d role that welcomes children for weekends and summer vacations, but I found out that there\u2019s a two year waiting list because it\u2019s a popular program in my area.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Yasuo\u3000<\/strong>Wow, really?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Maki\u3000<\/strong>That&#8217;s right. I still couldn\u2019t give up my desire to do something for these children, so last year, I began a project on SNS that enlists people to dress up as Santa and visit orphanages. I\u2019d heard that many foster children don\u2019t receive the particular gifts they want, so I got a list from a fostering facility and recruited thirty-six different Santas on Instagram. Initially, I was worried about how many people might participate, but it only took half a day to fill all thirty six spots. The plan was for the facility staff to sneakily place a present at the child\u2019s bedside on Christmas Eve at midnight. No one complained, no one said anything negative, and all of the Santas were incredibly supportive. I\u2019m definitely thinking of continuing it this upcoming year.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Yasuo\u3000<\/strong>That\u2019s such a phenomenal idea. I\u2019m sure you\u2019ll develop more as you push forward.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Art Holds Fast When All Else Is Lost<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Yasuo\u3000<\/strong>What are some of your favorite cosmetics?<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"360\" height=\"251\" src=\"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0730_05.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2337\" srcset=\"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0730_05.jpg 360w, https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0730_05-300x209.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Maki\u3000<\/strong>My absolute favorite is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chanel.com\/us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Chanel<\/a>\u2019s Joues Contraste Powder Blush in a coral shade.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Yasuo\u3000<\/strong>That color definitely seems to give you a healthy glow.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Maki\u3000<\/strong>Yes, it brightens up my face immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"720\" height=\"256\" src=\"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0730_06.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2329\" srcset=\"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0730_06.jpg 720w, https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0730_06-300x107.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Maki\u3000<\/strong>These two products are from H&amp;M&#8217;s family brand, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stories.com\/en_usd\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">&amp; Other Stories<\/a>, which is not yet available in Japan. The Moroccan Tea body mist is a perfect balance of freshness and sweetness, while the body oil contains the incredibly calming scent of figs.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"360\" height=\"249\" src=\"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0730_07.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0730_07.jpg 360w, https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0730_07-300x208.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Maki\u3000<\/strong>I also love <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aveda.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Aveda<\/a>&#8216;s products\u2014 their Chakra Balancing Mist and Rosemary Mint Body Lotion raise my spirits before big meetings. The cool thing about the chakra balancing mists is that they come in a range of numbers from one to seven, so you can choose your scent based on how you\u2019re feeling that day. My personal favorite is #7.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0730_08.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2330\" srcset=\"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0730_08.jpg 720w, https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0730_08-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Maki\u3000<\/strong>Although lockdown has been incredibly challenging, one of the most rewarding parts is my newfound connection and appreciation for art. I&#8217;m not naturally gifted at creating my own work, but the presence of artwork in a space really energizes me. I love decorating my home with pieces made by family and friends.This unicorn was created by a friend who makes stuffed animals, while this bowl is from a lacquer craftsman who lives in Aomori.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0730_09.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2339\" srcset=\"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0730_09.jpg 720w, https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/0730_09-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Maki\u3000<\/strong>I also really admire this painting, which was drawn by my father who lives in Nasu, Tochigi. Even though it\u2019s hard to have in-person connections right now, these treasures remind me of the people that I love and admire and give me hope for our post-pandemic world.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">Photos \/ Interview :\u00a0 Yasuo Yoshikawa<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">Text : Mikako Koyama<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Stay True To You Yasuo Yasuo\u3000Do you have any experience living abroad or working with foreigners? Maki Muroi\u3000Although I grew up in Japan, I studied abroad for three months in Canada right at the end of middle school, and returned there for another study abroad semester in college. I also attended a bilingual university in Japan. Yasuo\u3000What was your first impression of going abroad? Maki\u3000I was so excited to communicate with the limited English that I\u2019d learned in middle school. It was so much fun! Yasuo\u3000I thought I could speak English, but when I got to New York, I realized that I really couldn\u2019t. Maki\u3000Have you improved? Yasuo\u3000My English is still not great, but now I\u2019m not as embarrassed. I know I\u2019ll never fully master it, but as long as I\u2019m able to convey what I want to say, then I\u2019m fine. When you can\u2019t speak a certain language, the real meaning of communication and conversation changes for you. Maki\u3000Communication is not always about language. Obsessing over incorrect grammar can kill your confidence. Yasuo, you\u2019re particularly great because you\u2019re so clear about what you want to say. My child is growing up in a Japanese environment, which is rather homogenous and promotes self-sufficiency. However, I really want him to develop his own opinions, and find positive ways to express his feelings and beliefs. Yasuo\u3000What I\u2019ve found is that overseas, people are much more curious about what you have to say. The homogeneity of Japan creates a lot of like-minded thinking, which can work against your cultivation of self. There\u2019s a commonly held belief that nothing needs to be said in order to be understood, but in other countries, such passiveness can be interpreted negatively, and even considered disrespectful. Maki\u3000The Japanese style of environment is referred to as high context culture. On the other hand, Western societies have a low context culture with a strong emphasis on verbal cues. You can\u2019t really expect someone to correctly guess or interpret meaning in such spaces. Yasuo\u3000If a culture is composed of people from a variety of backgrounds, such as in Western countries, then assimilation and like-minded thinking are not as expected. However, Japanese people tend to judge things based on their intrinsic value, and when you differentiate from those standards, you\u2019re treated as an outsider. I\u2019m often treated as a \u201cgaijin,\u201d rather, the Japanese word for foreigner. Maki\u3000My oldest child is in kindergarten, and his personality is so open and free. I\u2019m nervous for him to enter elementary school next year because the expectations are so different. I never want him to change or reject his individuality, but society will push him to be non-disruptive and well behaved. Yasuo\u3000While developing good manners and habits is important, children need encouragement towards creative and individualist thinking. Playing and creating in any environment is the key to a healthy and happy lifestyle. Maki\u3000I agree. It\u2019s so important to always be yourself. Striking A Balance Maki\u3000I\u2019m a people pleaser\u2014it\u2019s a quality that I was born with, and it never really caused me any problems until I joined H&amp;M. When I started working with people from overseas, I realized that my tendency to constantly smile and reassure others worked against my best interests. While there\u2019s nothing wrong with being upbeat and considerate towards others, it pays to be assertive and direct in professional settings. It also means you have to learn how and when to say no. Yasuo\u3000The term \u201cpeople pleaser\u201d is often used in a derogatory manner, but personally, I don\u2019t see any problem with being conscious of others&#8217; needs. If you\u2019re able to be tactful and make requests without seeming too demanding, then that\u2019s a great skill. As a result, whomever you&#8217;re working with feels much more open to your suggestions. It\u2019s a win\/win in my book. Maki\u3000That\u2019s so true. People do not like being bossed around. Yasuo\u3000Demanding and communicating are two totally different things. I\u2019ve become more careful with my word choices these days, and always consider how the other person might feel when given my requests. Framing tasks from an inspirational perspective always motivates my colleagues, and they often seem much more satisfied with their output. Maki\u3000That\u2019s great advice. Supporting and encouraging those that you work with always pays off. Yasuo\u3000Agreed. You\u2019re such a mindful person. Have you always been this way? What were you like as a teenager? Maki\u3000I was very involved in school\u2014I was an honor student, got great grades, and loved serving as a class chair. It was only after I became a parent that I realized that my young adult life was pretty boring. I wish I\u2019d been more rebellious. Yasuo\u3000Have you ever really let loose? Maki\u3000Yes, when I was in university. I lived in Hong Kong for a little bit afterwards, too. Yasuo\u3000So, you consider yourself to be a more relaxed person now. Maki\u3000Oh, not necessarily. Since I\u2019m on childcare leave, I do all the housework. I\u2019m not very good at it. My husband and I used to share tasks when I was working, but because I have more time on my hands, they fall on me. Yasuo\u3000Even honor students have their weaknesses. Maki\u3000I used to run a diagnostic test called &#8220;Strengthsfinder&#8221; on company leaders in order to assess their skillsets. I remember one of the qualifications was something like, &#8220;A wonderful leader understands their strengths and weaknesses, and acknowledges that they cannot do everything on their own.\u201d I feel like I\u2019m good at delegating tasks to others in my professional life. Now, I just need someone to take over the housework! Yasuo\u3000There are some tasks we just aren\u2019t good at. As a human being, that\u2019s totally natural. Maki\u3000I know, but lately I\u2019ve realized it\u2019s alright so long as I can encourage others to do good work. Although this maternity leave is my second, I often find myself working a lot in the kitchen, pondering how I don\u2019t fit into the Japanese ideal of a good mother. I let my Roomba vacuum do a lot of the cleaning, and when it comes to the rest, I just tell my child that I\u2019m not so good at doing \u201cmommy work.\u201d \u00a0 It\u2019s The Inside That Counts Maki\u3000Recently, while I was shopping for a school bag for my eldest son, a salesperson made a negative comment about his color selection. He wanted a red backpack for school, and when we went to take a closer look, the attendant said that no boys choose [the color] red, and that he might be bullied over it. Even though I wanted to let him make his own choice, the comment worried my husband. Raising a child free of traditional gender standards is actually quite a challenge in Japan. What would you have done if you were in my position? Yasuo\u3000Well, I raised my child in the United States. If I were there, then I would buy it for him no question, but in Japan I might reconsider. Maki\u3000These are the elements of Japanese lifestyles that feel so limiting to me\u2014I want to be able to live life and parent however I want, and not worry about all of these silly things. This might seem like a topic shift, but my eldest son\u2019s kindergarten accepts children of all backgrounds, including those diagnosed with developmental disorders such as autism. Yet when I look at these children, I don\u2019t see any differences between them, rather that they are the same and accept one another. Some may not be able to sit still, some have a strong temper, and some may be more aggressive, but the children themselves do not discriminate or make distinctions, and therefore their interactions seem so normal. I wish our greater society was that way. Yasuo\u3000Autism is such a stigmatized label\u2014it\u2019s the same with depression. In the United States, it\u2019s pretty common to give derogatory names to mental disabilities no matter how subtle the symptoms, but there\u2019s been a recent cultural shift that encourages individuals to legitimize these struggles and accept them. We\u2019ve also created new kinds of coping mechanisms in certain public spaces to help make these people\u2019s lives a little easier. Diagnosing these problems makes them seem like an illness, which is considered strange and taboo. Maki\u3000I also question Japan\u2019s emphasis on marriage prior to having children. For instance, my H&amp;M colleagues from Sweden and Holland that are stationed in Japan had an easier time getting a work visa if they were married. But on the other hand, gay married couples might not be able to get their partner a visa, since gay marriage isn\u2019t considered legitimate in Japan. That simply does not make sense to me. Yasuo\u3000True. From a legal perspective there are some advantages to being formally married with children, but I agree that there should be no difference. Society needs to be accepting of different styles and perspectives, so long as they do not cause any harm to others. Child\u2019s Play Maki\u3000When I gave birth to my eldest son, I saw all of the other babies lined up in the hospital nursery room and was so confident that I could love any one of them. I think I might like being a foster parent someday. Yasuo\u3000How interesting! I don&#8217;t think there are that many foster parents here in Japan. What makes you feel this way? Maki\u3000It may be because of the way I was brought up. My mother was such an empathetic and unique person\u2014she would invite homeless people into our house to take baths, things like that. When I talked with my husband about fostering a child, he thought it was a really nice idea, but also wants me to focus on caring for our current household. I have the time right now to be a good housewife, but it\u2019s just not happening. Yasuo\u3000It sounds like you really hate domestic work! Maki\u3000I do. Despite all of that, I actually went and interviewed for a \u201cweekend foster parent\u201d role that welcomes children for weekends and summer vacations, but I found out that there\u2019s a two year waiting list because it\u2019s a popular program in my area. Yasuo\u3000Wow, really? Maki\u3000That&#8217;s right. I still couldn\u2019t give up my desire to do something for these children, so last year, I began a project on SNS that enlists people to dress up as Santa and visit orphanages. I\u2019d heard that many foster children don\u2019t receive the particular gifts they want, so I got a list from a fostering facility and recruited thirty-six different Santas on Instagram. Initially, I was worried about how many people might participate, but it only took half a day to fill all thirty six spots. The plan was for the facility staff to sneakily place a present at the child\u2019s bedside on Christmas Eve at midnight. No one complained, no one said anything negative, and all of the Santas were incredibly supportive. I\u2019m definitely thinking of continuing it this upcoming year. Yasuo\u3000That\u2019s such a phenomenal idea. I\u2019m sure you\u2019ll develop more as you push forward. Art Holds Fast When All Else Is Lost Yasuo\u3000What are some of your favorite cosmetics? Maki\u3000My absolute favorite is Chanel\u2019s Joues Contraste Powder Blush in a coral shade. Yasuo\u3000That color definitely seems to give you a healthy glow. Maki\u3000Yes, it brightens up my face immediately. Maki\u3000These two products are from H&amp;M&#8217;s family brand, &amp; Other Stories, which is not yet available in Japan. The Moroccan Tea body mist is a perfect balance of freshness and sweetness, while the body oil contains the incredibly calming scent of figs. Maki\u3000I also love Aveda&#8216;s products\u2014 their Chakra Balancing Mist and Rosemary Mint Body Lotion raise my spirits before big meetings. The cool thing about the chakra balancing mists is that they come in a range of numbers from one to seven, so you can choose your scent based on how you\u2019re feeling that day. My personal favorite is #7. Maki\u3000Although lockdown has been incredibly challenging, one of the most rewarding parts is my newfound connection and appreciation for art. I&#8217;m not naturally gifted at creating my own&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2331,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"yes","_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"2325"},"categories":[5,8],"tags":[55,77,76,54],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2462"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2462"}],"version-history":[{"count":33,"href":"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2462\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2499,"href":"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2462\/revisions\/2499"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2331"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2462"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2462"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unmixlove.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2462"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}