Hair Donation | The Trend of Community Development by Satoko Takeichi, Who Creates the Future from Shigaraki, Shiga, and How a Hairdresser Can Contribute to Society

In this modern era where terms like "regional revitalization" and "sustainable" are thrown around.

There is someone who is not just talking about ideals, but is embodying them one after another with "overwhelming action" while involving the government, companies, and local residents.overwhelming action

That person is
Satoko Takeichi (also known as peko-chan), who is gaining attention both domestically and internationally as a multi-activist based in Shigaraki-cho, Koka City, Shiga Prefecture.Satoko Takeichi (also known as peko-chan)

I wrote this article because I had the privilege of performing the "hair donation cut" for the hair that Satoko had been carefully growing for three years, and I wanted more people to know about her wonderful activities.

Note: Hair donation refers to the act of donating one's own hair to create wigs for children who have lost their hair due to illness or other causes

Thank you for letting me be involved in social contribution as a hairdresser.

As the representative of the NPO Shigaraki Eco-Village Research Association, Satoko advocates for the use of vacant houses and green infrastructure, operates a guesthouse where travelers from home and abroad gather, and is also active as a talented fortune teller named "satoko" (formerly Rokuha Tsubaki), who has a proven track record at major fortune-telling centers.

During the donation cut, Satoko
told me about:

"Updating lost local resources to connect people and create a sustainable future community"—a grand story of community development tied together by a single, strong axis.

In this article, I will explain the possibilities of the new regional revitalization that Satoko is initiating, from the perspective of a
Regional Co-creation Director / Synergy Coordinator who received her thoughts through the hair donation cut.

■ Eco-villages and Environmental/Vacant House Measures (NPO Activities)

—Next-generation regional revitalization challenging through traditional crafts × cutting-edge green infrastructure—

As a flag-bearer for sustainable regional revitalization, Satoko is building a mechanism to transform local issues into value.

"NPO Shigaraki Eco-Village Research Association" As Representative Director, she leads the support for the settlement of migrants, creators, and artists, as well as the use of vacant houses that lead to regional revitalization.

With a clear vision of "making the number of people troubled by the vacant house problem in Shigaraki zero in 10 years," she holds specific matching events and town walking tours.

■ Social implementation of "Amaniwa Dokan" (Rain Garden Pipe) that utilizes the power of traditional crafts

A cutting-edge Japanese green infrastructure (environmental device) that applies traditional Shigaraki ware technology to slowly infiltrate rainwater into the ground to prevent flood damage.

Through workshops and lectures nationwide, she is popularizing environmental regeneration of the Earth in the context of business and art.

■ Practicing a sustainable life and a lifestyle that utilizes the wisdom of Japanese tradition

Embodying a lifestyle that hybrids traditional Japanese wisdom, such as thatch harvesting, with new technology.

Continuing to learn practically about the 'connection between food and life' together with local residents and migrants at a pesticide-free community farm.

■ Guesthouse Management and Tourism, Regional Exchange, and International Exchange

~Grassroots inbound tourism that attracts 'related population' from all over the world to Shiga~

Takeichi also acts as a facilitator who turns guests visiting from all over the world into deep fans (related population) of the region.

・Management of the guesthouse
'terimakasih'

Developing an at-home base in Shigaraki where backpackers and travelers from all over the world, including Europe, the US, and Asia, gather.

Conducting unique 'grassroots international exchange' on a daily basis, such as attending to local Shigaraki ware culture and hosting with Japanese home cooking.

■ Community Creation by the Regional Revitalization Group 'Shigaraki GIP'

Launched the handmade market 'Gena Gena Ichi' and built a local market mechanism where vendors and residents can naturally connect.

* The handmade market 'Gena Gena Ichi' closed its 10-year history in May 2019, but the spirit of the warm local community cultivated there has been passed on to current sustainable regional activities.

■ Support for the Movie 'Hibi' and Succession of Traditional Culture

Takeichi is also active as a central figure who launched a group to support the movie set in Shigaraki as a community during its location shooting.

Interview article from that time

Also featured on AZUMA's blog

■ Volunteering and Next-Generation Support for the 'Shigaraki Fire Festival'

To protect local traditional events, she plans and operates crowdfunding herself to financially support volunteer staff struggling with labor shortages.

*Quoted from Instagram post

5th year of Fire Festival volunteer staff🔥
15 people, including 3 new members, played active roles in their respective tasks!

We also had a video created with gratitude to those who supported the Eco-Lab through crowdfunding🎞️

■ Counseling and Women's Support as Fortune Teller "Rokuyo Tsubaki"

—Openly disclosing adult ADHD. Psychological support that affirms an authentic way of life—

The reason Ms. Takeichi attracts so many people in the field of community development is largely related to her role as a mentor who deeply empathizes with people's hearts.

She has provided face-to-face readings for many years as a divination appraiser at commercial facilities such as the major fortune-telling hall "Kaiunkan E&E," supporting the management and life decisions of many clients.

In her work as a QHHT (Quantum Healing Hypnosis Technique) practitioner, she conducts specialized sessions that approach the subconscious and past lives of her clients through deep hypnosis known as the Dolores Cannon method.

She continues to share her experiences by disclosing her own characteristics of "adult ADHD," conveying her real-life experiences positively, and acting as a mental support for those struggling with the same issues.

■ Studying Abroad in Bali in Her 50s and Life Challenges

—Do not use "age" as an excuse. The very attitude of taking on challenges is her greatest charm—

Ms. Takeichi's mindset for international exchange and place-making is born from numerous "challenges."

Realizing her long-cherished dream of studying language in Bali.

After turning 50, she decided to study abroad in Bali alone for one month. She proves that life can be updated at any time, regardless of age.

The Sawa a la Mode article summarizes her story from a tumultuous life to becoming an appraiser at a major fortune-telling hall, as well as an interview where she discusses her "aggressive life" of being multi-talented and driven, while disclosing her own characteristics of "adult ADHD."

Part 1 of the life interview leading up to becoming a fortune teller:

The Shigaraki guesthouse "terimakasih" was named with gratitude for the land of Shigaraki where she raised her children, adopting the Indonesian word for "thank you" as its name.
Her learning in Bali has become a thick foundation for her current international exchange.

Part 2, discussing her Bali study abroad and future plans:

She talks about her one-month life in Bali, her experience of studying abroad after turning 50, the spiritual realizations she gained there, her future vision of a dual life in Shiga and Okayama, and her plans for a "refuge house" to heal the hearts of modern people and spiritual tours.

As a hairdresser, I had the privilege of hearing her stories while cutting her hair. As a radio personality, Ms. Takeichi is a great storyteller, and I felt as if I had transcended time and space to be there with her.

■ Food and Health

—Dietary regimen to harmonize the body and maintain high performance—

While working on community development, Ms. Takeichi pursues mental and physical maintenance through "food" both theoretically and practically.

This share is a post from when Ms. Takeichi was certified as a Kurashi Yakuzen (Lifestyle Medicinal Cooking) Manager.

■ Discovering Another Active Side I Never Knew

As I delved deeper into Tomoko Takeichi's journey, I discovered another side of her: she is an active female rider with a medium-sized motorcycle license.

Her way of living, which enjoys life without being bound by age, has been featured in the lifestyle media 'Sawajenne,' and at the root of her frontier spirit lies a toughness and free-spirited mindset, much like riding a bike through the wind. I also love motorcycles and have a medium-sized license, so I felt a sense of connection there as well.

■ Audio and Expressive Activities Utilizing Media

Ms. Takeichi serves as a regular radio personality on community FM stations (such as FM Hikone and FM Hana).

On the audio media platform Voicy, she broadcasts her daily realizations to the whole country under the nickname 'peko-chan.' She also functions as a narrative curator who draws out people's 'narratives,' edits them, and connects them to society.

【Regional Co-creation】 Things I Think I Could Collaborate on with Ms. Takeichi

I am based in Kyoto and Shiga, promoting the charms of Japan to the world. I imagined connecting the tourists from all over the world I meet at my kimono culture experience shop near the World Heritage site Kiyomizu-dera with the sustainable community Ms. Takeichi has built in Shigaraki. That kind of future excitement spread within me.

Overseas guests who enjoy Japanese culture in Kyoto could visit Shiga the next day to experience sustainable living and local communities. If we could integrate that cycle, wouldn't more people get involved in the region, making the town even more interesting?

I will summarize the continuation of this as my own vision for regional co-creation in a separate article.

I will also reprint some content from Ms. Takeichi's interview article that I thought was a particularly wonderful vision.

Afterword | Why I Wrote This Article

〜Drawing Out Charm and Bridging to the Future〜

The background to compiling this article lies in a 'special story that began three years ago' between Ms. Takeichi and me.

In 2023, a customer at my hair salon consulted me, saying, 'I am looking for an old folk house in Shigaraki.'

While researching information, I learned of Ms. Takeichi's activities in utilizing vacant houses, and our meeting began when I visited the Shigaraki Writer's Festival that year to speak with her directly.

And now, in 2026. I have been given the opportunity to be in charge of the 'hair donation cut' for the hair that Ms. Takeichi has been carefully growing for three years.

The time spent passionately discussing our vision in front of the mirror was the ultimate payoff for the connections made in 2023, which formed a significant 'line'—a culmination of events that I was only able to draw together because I was a hairdresser.

I have continued my work of drawing out and giving shape to people's 'essential radiance.' At the same time, I have a history of over 16 years of delivering my own experiences and activities through blogs and social media, and everything has connected to become a solid path toward the future.
All of this has come together to form a clear path toward the future.

This hair donation cut is one manifestation of the connections built over the past three years.

I hope to continue acting as a bridge, using the 'power of beauty' and the 'power of words' as a catalyst to create a better future.

Satoko-san,
thank you for giving me such a wonderful opportunity.

p.s.
Satoko-san shared her current vision with me.

She plans to change the name and logo of her salon in the Shigaraki shopping district to 'Kokoro Totono-u Kokonen' (Heart-Aligning Kokonen).

Author of this article: AZUMA KANAKO

'Delivering the charm of Japan to the world' is my mission as a regional co-creation director and synergy coordinator, bridging the future through the power of beauty and words. Based in a kimono culture experience shop in Kyoto, I work as a hairdresser providing hair, makeup, dressing, and promotion, sharing the appeal of Japan with people around the world. While creating 'opportunities for people to love Japan even more,' I share the co-creation process of expanding the potential of people and towns, mainly in Kyoto and Shiga, through story highlights and my media blog.

https://www.instagram.com/b_u.azuma?igsh=OGJ3OHc3YmI1dDln&igsi=OGJ3OHc3YmI1dDln