2024.04.23

Makeup Researcher Ryuen Hiramatsu Discusses the Past & Future of Makeup

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What does it mean to wear makeup? Recently, not only women but also men have become more conscious of beauty, with magazines even featuring special sections on men's cosmetics. However, a generation ago, the idea of men wearing makeup was not widely accepted. Yet, if we delve further into history, it turns out that men used to wear makeup just as women did.

It's difficult to define makeup in a single sentence. Therefore, we interviewed Ryuen Hiramatsu, a makeup researcher with a Ph.D. in makeup studies, on the theme of 'Past and Future of Makeup.' After reading this article, you may reconsider the significance of wearing makeup.

PROFILE

Ryuen Hiramatsu

Cosmetic Psychologist / Professional Institute of International Fashion lecturer

Born in 1980 in Shiga Prefecture. In 2008, he earned a PhD (in Educational Sciences) with his unique research in makeup. He has served as a researcher at the International Research Center for Japanese Studies, a core research fellow at Kyoto University, a full-time lecturer at Thailand's National Chulalongkorn University and its graduate school, and an assistant professor at Toyo University and its graduate school. He has also served as a part-time lecturer at Kyoto University of Education and consulted for major electronics and cosmetics manufacturers. His specialties include cosmetic psychology and the cultural theory of makeup. His media appearances include "所さんの目がテン！" (NTV), "ホンマでっか！？TV" (Fuji TV), and "Japanology Plus" (NHK WORLD). Major works include "化粧にみる日本文化だれのためによそおうのか" (Suiyosha) and "黒髪と美の歴史" (KADOKAWA).

Encounter with Makeup Research

How did you come to start researching makeup?

Growing up in the fashion-forward Kansai region, I had an interest in clothing from a young age. When I entered junior high, I began reading "MEN'S NON-NO," and by high school, I was attending fashion shows like Hiroko Koshino's 'Osaka Collection'.