Spring is in the air, how are you all doing?


Salon de Shimaji is usually a lively place, but on this day it opened quietly, which was unusual.

The first customer was just one regular customer.
The person gazed towards the door and muttered, "There aren't many people here today."

"Days like this are nice, aren't they? We can have a good, in-depth conversation."
Mr. Shimaji seems to be enjoying this quiet time while sipping his drink.
Conversely, the customers are used to the salon being always bustling, and they seemed a little uncomfortable when it was just Mr. Shimaji and the owner.

"It's okay. It'll get crowded eventually. It's better to wait than to keep people waiting. So let's be patient and wait for other customers to come."

In response to those words, the customer turned to Mr. Shimaji and said, "Yes, in fact, I'm lucky to have had the chance to talk with Mr. Shimaji at length."
"Haha, I'm glad to hear you say that," they said, laughing together.


The customer happened to look at the clock and noticed that it was running in reverse.

"This is done in reverse, with the hope that our customers will feel younger when they visit our store."

"Well, then you might end up becoming a minor while you're attending."

"I'll serve you coffee or tea then."

They were having a slow, leisurely conversation like this.

Before we knew it, it was evening. Customers kept coming in one after another, and as usual, the place was packed.

"I'm so glad I waited."


This week's proverb: It's better to wait than to keep someone waiting.



This week's featured drink is Laphroaig 10 Year Old. It's a representative single malt from Islay, bearing the Royal Warrant, a mark of its status as a purveyor to the British Royal Family.

Profile - Katsuhiko Shimaji


Producer of Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building . Born in 1941. After graduating from Aoyama Gakuin University, he joined Shueisha. He was assigned to "Weekly Playboy" and became its editor-in-chief in 1983, where he created a sensation with the "Life Advice" column featuring Renzo Shibata, Toko Kon, and Ken Kaiko as respondents, growing the magazine into a million-copy publication. He later served as editor-in-chief of "PLAYBOY Japan" and "BART." After serving as representative director of Shueisha International, he retired in 2008. He is currently working as a writer and essayist.

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