Hoshi Coupe – Japanese “Star”
In Japan, it’s not very common to grow up in an international environment. My father, Shigeo Ono, works on social education issues and also organizes international educational exchanges and my mother, Masako Hoshi, started the business, where I am now a co-owner: Hoshi Coupe.
“Hoshi” is the Japanese word for “star.” And “Coupe” is French for “cut.” The name sums up what we are: a Japanese hair salon devoted to an international clientele. We currently have 30 people working in our salons in Kyoto, New York, Paris and Berlin.
Berlin
Beginnings
My mother opened her first salon in the Tokyo area in the mid-1980s. She later moved to London where she specialized her styling skills at Vidal Sassoon. Her eagerness to develop her skills led her to Paris and then to New York. She worked in several salons before opening her own business that soon expanded.
Even as a child, I was interested in foreign countries, and knew that I would someday leave Japan. As a student, I enjoyed meeting foreigners and listening to their different opinions. I took part in several exchange programs that my father organized. I never had trouble adjusting and leaving Japan wasn’t a problem at all.
Paris
I studied to be a stylist in Japan and worked in three salons near Yokohama and in Tokyo. It was important for me to gain experience before joining Hoshi Coupe. I had to learn the Japanese technique and skills.
I specialized and developed creative techniques at MOD’s Hair in Paris in the 1990s before I started focusing my time and energy on Hoshi Coupe. Paris is where I gained international experience and made the contacts I needed to expand. We then opened Berlin and Kyoto.
Concept
The focus in our salons is more on the stylist than the interior design. The spaces are created like galleries. They are minimalist and focused, without distractions. For us the salon is like a stage, and the stylist an actor.
As for the design of salons, we prefer to use pure, natural materials. Berlin, for example, has raw concrete instead of painted walls. Kyoto has solid wood, and in Chelsea the design highlights the old building’s red bricks.
Kyoto
Experience
Open borders are good for business. I’m very happy with my work, because it’s exactly what I imagined when I was young. I really like art and music. Hairstylists provide a basic everyday service, but they are also imaginative and artistic. It’s not just about hair. It’s about creating an aesthetic environment.
The work depends on our ideas and each salon has a different style. Our salons are creative, open and international. We serve not only Japanese clients, but everyone in these interesting cities. And that takes a lot of energy.
It’s a great experience working abroad. Being flexible makes most things a lot easier.
Chelsea, NYC
East Village, NYC
Upper West, NYC
Lessons
Difficulties are inevitable. You have to be flexible and look for ways to keep moving forward. My mother’s lessons have helped me along the way:
- Believe in yourself
- Instead of following trends, create new paths, develop different approaches and set your own trends
- Never give up!
- Always be flexible and open-minded
- Try things before judging them
Hiroshi Ono was born in Tokyo. His stage is the world. He is head stylist and manager of Hoshi Coupe. www.hoshicoupe.com