What is it that connects our mind and body and brings us peace of mind?

Delicious food, healthy living, time with loved ones ...

Everyone has their own way of achieving that balance. We will share how various women think about "dealing with their mind and body" through their lives and careers. In the second episode, we will talk about a young talent who has been focusing on mind and health from an early age, earning her JSA Certified Top Superfood Meister qualification at the age of 17 .

Oikawa Rinko's Instagram is here

- At the time, you were the youngest person in Japan to obtain the JSA Certified Top Superfood Meister certification. What was your path to becoming one?

I was always in the kitchen with my parents from a young age, so cooking was something I was familiar with. When I was in the first year of junior high school, I made some homemade sweets for Valentine's Day, and everyone loved them, which made me so happy that I started making sweets from then on. However, being in my teens, I was concerned about my figure, and a strict diet led to rough skin and other physical problems.

The first turning point for me was studying abroad in my third year of junior high school and first year of high school. I went to New Zealand and Australia, where I was shocked by the concepts of local production and consumption, organic food, and veganism.

As I naturally incorporated these foods into my lifestyle, I was able to achieve a balance in both body and mind, and soon after returning to Japan, I obtained the qualification of " JSA Certified Top Superfood Meister."

After entering university, I developed recipes for sugar-free, no-guilt food and organized catering, working with the desire to help young people in Japan truly enjoy healthy meals.

- So you took action out of a desire to share your personal experiences. Then, you had another turning point. What was that?

In my third year of university, I went to Italy to study abroad. Until then, I had been living a healthy lifestyle, including being sugar-free and gluten-free, but that wasn't possible in Italy... (laughs). At first, I was scared of the change, but it didn't actually have much of an effect on my body. If anything, letting go of restrictions freed my mind.
We returned to the origins of local production and consumption, believing that the most natural dietary lifestyle might be to "eat what the people living in that area eat."

So I took a break from my work as a food master and, in order to broaden my horizons, I started working as a company employee after graduating from university. I also work freelance, taking on individual work in the fields of design and branding, which I've always loved.

- So your exposure to different cultures has made you more flexible in your thinking. You have had a lot of experience, but what does it mean for you to have a balanced mind and body?

It's a bit abstract, but I think it's when what I feel in my heart matches my actions. For example, there are times when I feel like working hard, and times when I don't want to do anything. There are times when I want to be alone, and times when I want to have fun with friends. When I feel that way in my heart, I try to follow through.

- Are there any points you should pay attention to on a daily basis in order to maintain a balance?

Simply, do what your heart desires! But it's not easy, so when you have to do something you don't want to do or you can't follow your heart, you have to make yourself happy.

For me, it's running. Running makes me feel so refreshed! When I have a lot on my mind and I feel overwhelmed, I journal. Writing things down helps me organize my thoughts. When I want to jump into a surreal world, I escape by reading a novel. For me, all of these are meditation. Whether I'm running or reading, I can't think of anything other than what's in front of me, so my mind is instantly centered.

- Listening to you talk, I felt that your strength is your ability to always face the challenges ahead. It seems like you've thought more than most about the balance between mind and body. Have you ever had any difficulties during your period, when your mind and body tend to be out of balance?

Actually, I was using low-dose birth control pills, but they didn't suit my body so I stopped. About two years ago, I was suffering from irregular periods, and someone recommended the pill to me, so I started taking it.

Although my irregular hormone levels were certainly improved, I began to feel heavy even when I wasn't on my period, and I started to feel like I wasn't in top physical condition. So I decided to stop taking the pill, and the feeling of heaviness disappeared. I realized that forcing my hormone balance to go in the right direction wasn't for me.

- It's definitely a path that was opened up by listening to your body! You often travel abroad and have a busy career as a company employee, but have you ever encountered any difficult situations in those situations?

At work, I often have long meetings in a row, so I'm always nervous about leaking during my period. I can't concentrate on the meeting because I worry about getting menstrual blood on my clothes or the chair. Angelite can give me peace of mind at times like these.

- You have had a wide range of experiences and are currently juggling two roles as both a company employee and a creator, but what kind of activities do you want to do in the future?

If I ever find something I want to share again, I plan to take action as before. Right now, I'm in a period of preparation to find out what I want to do. I want to learn more about society, and eventually I want to become a bridge between Japan and the rest of the world, and do something to spread Japan's wonderful culture overseas.

Item Introduction

Items to use during menstruation and other physical changes - Aromatherapy

"To calm my mind during my period, I wear an aroma made by an aromatherapist friend on my wrist. Right now, I'm using the osmanthus scent. I also avoid cold drinks and drink plenty of water."

"The most important thing is that it's comfortable and easy to wear. I usually wear black and white, but if I wear Angelite , I can enjoy my usual style even during my period.

I usually wear black and white. I've been into glasses lately, and I'm wearing the Gentle Monster and Maison Margiela collaboration eyewear that I fell in love with at first sight.

It's a simple outfit, but adding glasses makes it even more stylish, so I love it."