A series of interviews conducted by Future Design Shibuya interns. This time, we would like to introduce LaboMe, a representative company that held seminars, workshops, and exhibition booths at the social innovation festival "SOCIAL INNOVATION WEEK" (hereinafter referred to as SIW), which was held for one week from November 6th to 13th. We spoke to Mr. Hashi...
Hanada:First of all, could you briefly tell us about LaboMe?
Hashi LaboMe is a service born out of Ajinomoto's in-house entrepreneurship development program, which focuses on women's self-care and provides a self-care subscription service based on my own experience of suffering from PMS.
When you become a LaboMe member for 2,980 yen per month, you will receive a subscription box containing self-care products based on monthly themes. LaboMe has six themes: food, rest, beauty, exercise, warming, and connecting. We deliver different products for each theme every month. For example, in September, under the theme of ``Beauty'' and the sub-theme ``Let's start by talking,'' we delivered delicate zone soap to everyone. Using this soap as an opportunity, we also held an event where women could talk with experts and friends who have the same concerns about femme care, which is usually difficult to talk about.
Hanada: Certainly, self-care such as femme care requires open dialogue. What kind of experience can users have with the products and events provided by LaboMe?
At Hashi LaboMe, we not only value our products, but also our community. The product acts as a catalyst, with events featuring developers and experts, as well as information exchange within the online community.
In addition, Ajinomoto researchers with extensive research and knowledge on lifestyle habits and self-care participate in the community to answer users' questions and provide support to resolve their concerns.
Hanada: In addition to providing products, users can help each other and promote self-care through communities and events.
Bridge That's right. In fact, at this year's SIW, we asked attendees to write down ``What is self-care?'' and ``What problems do you have with self-care?'' on sticky notes and share them within the booth.
Hashi: Looking at this, it is clear that there is a wide range of concerns and hopes regarding self-care. LaboMe will continue to value dialogue with our users, and in order to build a better future of self-care together, we would like to do more than just provide products, we want to help you find the optimal self-care.
I would also like to know how you came to participate in Hanada SIW.
I really sympathized with the purpose of Hashi SIW and participated as a place to share ideas on social issues. Rather than dismissing women's PMS and worries, which tend to be viewed as personal responsibility, we want to send a message to society: ``Let's create a society where it is easy to live in the midst of such fluctuations.'' That's why I thought SIW was the perfect fit.
At the seminar and workshop, we discussed women's concerns and mental care under the theme of "What is self-care?" It was also impressive that people from a wide range of generations, from junior high school students to university students, participated.
Hanada: Were there any male participants like me?
Hashi: Yes, you were there at the workshop and at the exhibition booth. Although LaboMe is a service for women, we were able to talk to male customers and ask about their concerns about self-care from a male perspective, and we learned a lot from this experience. It was a story that I was able to hear because SIW allows for an open exchange of ideas, including men, and it was very impressive for me personally.
We also had students and customers of various generations come. For example, I once again realized that many middle school students are suffering from mental instability due to the busy schedule of classes and feel the need for self-care.
Also, when I look at the boards where everyone has written about self-care on sticky notes and pasted them up, I notice the diversity. I also thought it was very important to know when everyone feels comfortable.
Hanada: That's certainly true. I realized that it is necessary to think about it while facing yourself and also facing the people around you. Lastly, based on what you learned at SIW, please tell us about your future prospects.
Hashi: This time, I felt strongly the importance of dialogue with everyone. Through SIW, I realized once again that researching yourself is not just about facing yourself, but about learning about yourself through dialogue with various people. Based on this, I would like to create more interactive events and programs within LaboMe, and I would like to continue exchanging ideas with a diverse range of people, including men and students. I think so.
Hanada: By interacting with a variety of people and outputting things about myself, I wonder if this kind of self-awareness, such as being able to put things together, will lead to self-care. I felt that. Thank you for your time today.
Thank you for the bridge.
LaboMe
https://labo-me.jp/
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/labome_official/
