Finding My Path... From University to Fashion

I actually decided to pursue fashion after graduating from university.

In Japan, it’s not so common for students to study a subject and then go straight into that field.
Many students explore different interests without deciding their career path in advance.
That “time to discover yourself” can be an important part of university life—just like it was for me.

I went to the high school attached to Tokyo University of Agriculture—my father was a professor there—
and continued into the university through a recommendation.

The high school itself only had a general academic course,
and it was located in a quiet residential area in Setagaya, Tokyo,
surrounded by greenery, parks, and easy access to the city center.
It was a very comfortable environment to grow up in.

The university campus was right next to it.

I graduated from the Department of International Agricultural Development in the Faculty of Agriculture
(the department has since been renamed).

(At my family home in Japan, wearing a graduation kimono.)

The university is well known in Japan and offers a wide range of life sciences beyond “agriculture,”
from food development and molecular biology to environmental studies and bio-business.

Although agriculture and fashion might seem very different, they are closely connected through materials.
My background in agriculture taught me to respect the origin of materials.

After graduation, I didn’t rush into a job.
My parents, who had seen many students go through university, gave me a simple but important piece of advice:
“Just because you graduate from a good university and join a good company doesn’t mean you’ll be happy. Find what you really want to do.”

So I took my time.
I explored, experimented, and allowed myself to enjoy that freedom.

And eventually, I realized that everything I was drawn to
somehow led back to fashion.

From that “self-discovery” period,
I slowly found my way into the fashion industry… (to be continued, haha)