Chapter 3 — The Encounter with Konotegashiwa
A Simple Question
It happened one day during a distillation workshop.
Without any particular intention, I casually asked Dr. Kojima:
“Sensei, which herb is good for the hair?”
There was no business motive behind the question —
only pure curiosity.
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The Finger of Destiny
Mr. Kojima immediately pointed, without a moment’s hesitation.
“That one.”
At the tip of his finger stood a plant — Konotegashiwa (Thuja orientalis).
Clad in deep green, standing quietly yet dignified,
it captured my heart in an instant — for reasons I could not explain.
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The Wisdom of Kampo
In Japan, Konotegashiwa is often regarded simply as an ornamental plant. However, in China, it has long been used as a traditional herbal medicine (Kampo), valued for its therapeutic properties over many centuries. In other words, it is a plant underappreciated in Japan, yet recognized in Eastern medicine for its genuine efficacy.
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A Fateful Encounter
That single moment — a casual question and a decisive gesture — would later become the turning point in the story of “Kusaki to Mirai: The Botanical Hair Tonic of True Natural Power.” It was the moment when coincidence transformed into inevitability — the moment destiny revealed its hand. Moreover, Konotegashiwa is not merely a plant. It represents a rediscovery of hidden value within Japan’s own natural heritage — a rare, independently revitalized resource that forms the core of differentiation no other company can easily replicate.