Fragrance Talks vol.2 KAI

"I want to be involved for the sake of people."

What am I good at?
I'm not special like someone else,
This is an interview that I would like to share with anyone who has ever experienced such worries.

The person we spoke to this time was Kai, who is cultivating connections through selling jewelry.
From firefighters to apparel, and on to where we are today,
He talked about the form of happiness that comes from being.

We asked Kai to create a fragrance that he would like to give to himself now, and we would like to dig deeper into Kai through the thoughts he puts into the fragrance. The process of selecting essential oils and blending them naturally reflects the path he has walked and his values.

JODAN. (hereinafter J): First, please introduce yourself.

Kai: Yes, my name is Kai.
Now I sell jewelry.

.
J: Are there any links between your work and your everyday life?

Kai: That's right. I like people, so I always want to be involved with them. I also have a strong desire to "be of help to others."

.

J: What do you mean by "for the sake of others"?

Kai: This is true for the jewelry work I'm doing now, but I would be happy if customers could wear the jewelry and feel even a little bit of happiness in their daily lives. I'm very grateful to be able to be involved with them through conversation.

Recently, I have been involved in many situations where friends connect with each other, and I feel happy that I am naturally involved in these relationships.

I don't think I'm the type of person who can be the main character. I think I'm more likely to shine in a position like a right-hand man or a supporting character. That's why I want to play a role that connects people.

I think it's a miracle that people can connect with each other.

.
J: Where do you think those values ​​come from?

Kai: My parents. My parents are exactly like that. They are very kind and have the mindset that it's okay to take a loss for the sake of others. They also have a strong sense of humility.

.
J: So both of your parents are like that.

Kai: Yes, both of us. So I think those values ​​are ingrained in me. I didn't think about it at all until two years before I moved to Tokyo... I was in my rebellious phase (laughs).

"Jack of all trades, master of none" may be a talent that only you have."

.
J: I was a little surprised to hear that you were a firefighter before coming to Tokyo.

Kai: Yes. After graduating from high school, I went to a medical vocational school at my parents' suggestion. When I thought about a career where I could use my medical qualifications and also become a civil servant, I thought that being a firefighter might be a good fit. So I became a firefighter and worked there for five years.

But along the way, I started to want to work in the clothing industry, which I've always loved. I've always loved fashion, but I never thought of it as a career. I grew up in the countryside, so I was surrounded by the value system that said, "Being a civil servant = the right answer."

.
J: Were your parents against it?

Kai: There was a lot of opposition. When I was about 25, I told my father that I wanted to quit, and he said, "If that's the case, we'll cut ties," and my mother also said sternly, "It's naive to think that you can turn what you love into a job." I valued my family, so that was really hard for me.

Still, I couldn't contain my feelings. After thinking about it for about two years, I finally made up my mind to go to Tokyo. I submitted my resignation to my workplace, found a new job and a place to live, and after getting everything ready, I finally told my parents three days before I was going to leave home.

.
J: Three days before leaving home?! That's the ultimate rebellious phase...!

Kai: That was true (laughs). I took an overnight bus to Tokyo, but before that I went to visit my mother's family. I only stayed there for about a day.

.
"What I like doesn't necessarily mean what I want to do"

.
J: What was it like moving to Tokyo and starting to work in the apparel industry?

Kai: It was fun, but I gradually realized that I liked talking to people more than I liked clothes.

The reason I work in jewelry sales now is because it allows me to have more leisurely conversations with customers compared to working in the apparel industry.

Jewelry is a part of fashion, but it is also involved in many important moments in life, which is what makes it so fascinating.

For example, we have couples looking for wedding rings, and people who come in saying, "I want to buy something for myself after my mother passed away."

I love the moments when I get to witness these "human stories." I find the emotions and conversations behind the products more rewarding than the products themselves.

"Scent is like a switch that reminds you of your hometown."

.
J: You've had a lot of job changes, but is there a scent in your life that you can't forget?

Kai: It's definitely the scent of local nature. My parents were flower farmers. They grew dahlias, lisianthus, stock, and so on. Of course there's the scent of flowers, but more than that, there's the "green" scent... the smell of the soil, the greenness of the stems, those "real scents" that have stayed with me.

It's different from a florist, there's a unique atmosphere in the storehouse and workshop, which was normal for me as a child, but after coming to Tokyo I began to think that "that atmosphere was my origin."

.
J: Coming to Tokyo allowed you to rediscover your childhood. If you were to gift yourself a fragrance, what scent would you choose?

Kai: It's definitely the scent of local nature. It's calming and reassuring. It makes me feel like I'm returning to my roots. It reminds me of feelings like "I want to live for others" and "I want to be humble."

[The scent that Kai created after his perfumery experience is...]

⚫️ Top note <br>The rising note seems to reflect "oneself trying to become someone."
The sharp scent of black spruce is layered with the sweetness of mandarin.
Mandarin, which is particularly sweet among citrus fruits, blends softly into its new environment, while the black spruce gives off a fragrance that seems to seek out strength at its core.

⚫️ Middle note : Eventually, the sense of speed and hustle and bustle of the city comes over you.
At the same time, there is also a warmth that reminds one of the nostalgic flower farm of one's hometown.
Tulips, lilies, hyacinths, ylang-ylang - the scent of a gorgeous bouquet of flowers evokes the glittering cityscape that is unique to Kai, who works in apparel and jewelry sales.

⚫️ Last note <br>The last note is one of relief and awareness.
The deep scent of patchouli and myrrh blends quietly together.
It makes you realize not the importance of "becoming someone" but "just being."
The lingering impression is of unwavering determination even in the midst of a hectic daily life, and a sense of security that fills your feet.

.
"How you are is more important than what you want to do"

.
J: I feel like Kai-san now values ​​how he is more than what he wants to do.

Kai: That's exactly right. Since moving to Tokyo, I may not have had many "things I want to do." But my desire to "connect people" has only gotten stronger.

In the future, I would like to create a space where people can naturally converse and connect with each other.

The moment when you realize, "Because of me, this person and that person met," makes you feel truly alive. I feel like the process of creating connections is more natural to me.

.
J: Even on your social media accounts , your posts seem very "straightforward" and "life-sized." I think a lot of people find that reassuring.

Kai: I'm really happy to hear you say that. Recently, I've been feeling anew the importance of "expressing my feelings honestly."

For example, when I go back to my hometown and experience nature or talk with my parents or sister, I sometimes realize, "Oh, this is something I've felt all this time." By coming into contact with "soft places" like this, I remember my "way of being." So now, I strongly feel that I want to live my life centered on "how I want to be."

.
"Happiness is not so much about doing as about being"
.
J: It really gets across that you've chosen the path you've walked, even though you were unsure. I'd like to ask again: what does "happiness" mean to you now?

Kai: Hmm, I think I'm happiest when I feel comfortable spending my time valuing how I am rather than what I'm doing.

For example, when I'm naturally standing between someone and playing a role in connecting them. It's a moment when I think, "I'm glad I'm there." At times like that, I feel like I'm really alive.