1 I'm travelling the world to discover the secrets of lasting beauty,... There's snail secretion in this. ...great health... This is your pharmacy. Yeah. ...and extraordinary long life. Better skin than I've got! Look at him! From different parts of the world, I wanna find the secrets. This week, I'm in fashion-forward Japan,... Oh my God! ...where their flair for innovation... I look like I have caterpillars on my eyes. It's amazing. ...takes me to extremes. I think I'm turning Japanese. So, will I find the beauty secrets of the future in Japan? The whole body turns white? Yes. That's crazy! Or are their ideas about well-being and beauty... Sumo! ...in a world of their own? She's shaving my ears! Oh my God, my ears. INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC Copyright Able 2015 UPBEAT MUSIC I'm here in Tokyo ` one of the flashest, shiniest cities in the world. It just buzzes with energy. It's extremely modern, has the most insane shops, things to do, beauty products, so I can't wait to dive in and see what we've got. Tens of thousands of people come to this part of Tokyo every day to enjoy fashion in its purest form. I'm here in Harajuku, which is the heart of Japanese youth fashion ` and it's insane. < What`? What do they call this? The 'Cyber' look is just one thing the kids here are into. You look gorgeous. Thank you. Everywhere I look, people are pushing fashion boundaries. How brilliant! They say trends aren't followed here; they're started. Japanese fashion expert Yui Moritani is taking me on a fashion voyage of discovery to the centre of it. So, can you tell me about Harajuku? And what happens? How does this happen on the weekends? So it's just 'anything goes' here? Yeah. And it's` And it seems to be a place where you come down and just really show your individuality. And everywhere you go, there's something cute. Yeah. Whatever floats your boat, you can find it here. So let's give it a go. Mm. > I'll go dress up. Yeah. Japanese youth have radically embraced anime characters and Western caricatures. Any look that you want can be found here. Punk never dies. It exists right here in Japan. Fashion is the way to stand out. But their fondness for being cute goes to extremes. What age group is the 'Lolita'? 50? Yeah. Great! I qualify by just five years. I love that about Japan. It's amazing. It's exciting. Lolitas come in four styles ` Gothic, sweetie, pop, and me? I'm choosing a classic. Where does this go? Round my leg? OK, shall we try this on? Don't laugh. (LAUGHS) All right. I'm gonna come out and milk the cows in a minute. OK, ready? Yep. > This is amazing. This is my Lolita outfit. QUIRKY MUSIC Does this go like this? Yep. Just to finish Lolita off, we've got a teddy. (CHUCKLES) How fun, to be able to get lost in this... this world of fantasy and expression and being an individual. I'm getting right into this dress-up culture. And in Tokyo, there's a place to do just that and capture the moment on camera. Right. We're going to go for the onesie look, maybe. (GIGGLES) This is so ridiculous. But at least I get to experiment with the make-up. Who needs anti-ageing cream when you can put love hearts all over your wrinkles? I've customised my look and thrown out the rule book for this shot. (YELPS) It's the Japanese way to do fashion. Who the hell is that on that photo? It turns out I didn't need to worry too much about my make-up ` or almost any of my facial features. You can go through and edit these, like make your blush on your cheeks more pink or nude, change the shape of your face too if you want to. I think I'm turning Japanese. So you look nothing like you come out in the photo. Very very photo-finished, airbrushed and Photoshopped. Now I'm going from some of the most ultra-modern fashion trends in Japan... to one of the oldest. Part of the Japanese obsession with traditional beauty goes back to the exotic allure of the geisha. Once considered the epitome of Japanese sex appeal, modern geishas are more about the artistry of hosting and entertaining skills. Welcome to this house. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. A thousand years ago they used to use rice powder, water and lead to create the foundation for that beautiful, white, flawless look that they get. Pretty extraordinary. Lead, wow! Konomi is letting me into the secret world of geisha beauty. So, when you were 18, what made you decide to` you wanted to become a geisha? I like traditional dance. Mm-hm. And uh, uh, my mother... Mm-hm. ...is geisha. Oh, beautiful. Yep, OK. OK. Because I'm sure once you've padded the foundation down with white, it would actually look quite dry and cracked. Even back centuries ago, that is why the red was used ` to look like a Westerner. Yes. Uh... Wow. (SPEAKS JAPANESE) It's a scarily universal standard, but like I've found in other countries, Asian women want angles in their faces. You can now start seeing the definition in the pink. It's quite beautiful. Yeah, yep, eyebrows. My daily routine is basically to put mascara on, if I do. Do you have a boyfriend? Wha`? I mean... Oh my God, you don't want to tell me that, do you? (LAUGHS) OK, it's secret. < Secret, secret. Geishas are allowed secrets, that's good. I like that. Shh! I don't like talking about my private life either. Yeah. > To make more feminine? OK. Sharp, yeah. > There's a certain design that goes on the back for the geisha. I never even graduated high school, let alone become an artist. Hang on, do we have an eraser? We'd leave this blank, because it was considered, and I think still is, a very... sensual part of the woman's body, that likes to be... kissed. And` Right? (CHUCKLES) Well, I think so. I would have left it maybe a little bit bigger. Guys need landing pads. That's the problem! I can't imagine going to these lengths every day. And she's not even dressed yet. There's an undergarment underneath the red, and then the kimono gets put over this. Do you find it hot? Very hot and heavy. Heavy! The definition of the word geisha is 'artist'. And I can see there's so much artistry in every step to achieving their iconic beauty. But with great art comes suffering. (GROANS) That was a good pull. Anything for a tiny waist. So, the only thing that's left to do is the hair, which is gorgeous. Very elaborate. Oh, is it really? This has been a complete honour to share with you. And the transformation is just incredible. I want to show you, uh, my traditional dance. OK. TRADITIONAL JAPANESE MUSIC PLAYS (SINGS IN JAPANESE) It's usual for a geisha dance performance to be accompanied by traditional music, played on a samisen by another geisha. That was amazing and` and so different. Thank you. At 84 years old, Senyume has been a geisha most of her life. Now, you have been a geisha since you were 16. Is there a difference between when you became a geisha and` and now? (SPEAKS JAPANESE) TRANSLATOR: Not everybody makes that much effort today. But some of them work really hard. And those are the ones that make progress. As a geisha, you need to practise your art ` not only at work, but after business hours too. If you chose to live your life again, would you be a geisha again? (SPEAKS JAPANESE) TRANSLATOR: Being a geisha, you get to meet knowledgeable people, and you get to learn a lot from them. So it's a wonderful job you can have. Thank you so much. Arigato. (SPEAKS JAPANESE) TRANSLATOR: I have been drawn to the beauty coming from your eyes. Oh, you're sweet. I feel the same with you. When you feel someone's spirit, like, someone as` as open as you are, it's` it's been an` it's been a lovely` a lovely day, thank you. Domo. Thank you. It was a really special moment for me, that's for sure. And I think that's what I'm learning on this journey is the connection and the energy that we feel off each other. I think that's where beauty exists. So, what can I learn from the Japanese about the science of beauty? Finally! I've got some good news. And a warrant of fitness from a beauty witch. We have to do maintenance every day. Young men like classic cars. Everybody! Everybody! . Earlier this year, on this shared driveway, a couple of neighbours came up with a bright idea for a business. So where did Chalk Design begin? How'd you get your start? Jess bought me these pots one day. I said, 'Wow. We could totally do that.' So how did the website come about? We're business mobile customers. Spark have given us a free website. The template is there. Drag and drop. It's super easy. Where to from here for Chalk Design? We're global. We've got a website. Yeah. And that's amazing. If you're a business mobile customer, get yours now. 1 In Japan, I'm exploring their ideas about beauty and well-being. Like a lot of countries I've been to, anti-ageing is an obsession. But here, women over 35 who maintain a youthful look have been given a special name. I have an appointment with a bimajo, which means the 'beautiful witch'. And somehow it involves sumo wrestling. Yuko, every single morning, you do five minutes of sumo exercise? Yes. Do you know sumo? Yeah, they've got the big bums and the bandages and the... (GRUNTS) Yeah, yeah. Dr Yuko Tanaka believes her strict routine is the secret to a beautiful and healthy life. Very good for core mu` muscle. Ichi, ni, san, shi. Itchy knees! Ichi, ni. San! Shi! OK? (LAUGHS) Ichi, ni, san, shi. Ichi, ni, san, shi. Ichi, ni, san, shi. One more. OK. Ichi, ni,... Ooh, that felt good. ...san, shi. Sumo. Then we go down, ready to fight. (LAUGHS) Yes, yes! 'So, how does the bimajo 'beauty witch' label fit into all this?' 'Bi' is beauty; 'majo' is witch. So, um, beauty witch. Um, but, um, I think witch is not good, um, word for Western people. But in Japan, witch is a good word. It's a good word. Mm. So 'beauty miracle' is very good. So, can you tell me how old you are? Cos you're beautiful. I'm 63 years old. 63. Wow. You're completely flawless ` so how have you maintained that? Food. Right. But it's regular upkeep that Yuko believes is the vital part of her skincare routine. Mm. Young men like classic cars. Everybody! Everybody! Everybody! Yuko creates some of her beauty magic from the inside too, including a very special breakfast recipe. It's already done, so you don't have to cook it. (LAUGHS) So, on here I've got bonito fish flakes ` which are fermented ` the tofu's fermented, soya sauce, sesame seeds, some spring onions. OK. BOTH LAUGH I wonder how this would go down at home. My kids would think I've completely lost it! Wow. I think I've found my breakfast. (LAUGHS) This is really good. My whole sensory system right now, um` I feel, um, awake, alert. The response from it is` is quite extraordinary. Like, you feel it in your head too. Mm, yes. It makes you feel good. It's` It's something that I will definitely take home. What is the advice you would give to someone in their 20s to staying... young? Be` Believe I am young. So the eternal, youthful spirit,... Mm. ...no matter what age. I'm, um, 63 years old, but I always` I am 30 years old. How old are you, always? Me? Mm. Oh, I'm 16. No, no, no, no. BOTH LAUGH So, what are other Japanese women doing to get that flawless look? If you've ever wondered what a beauty theme park is, you're about to find out. This shop is the ultimate customer experience for anti-ageing, face creams, toners, make-up. Come have a look. Creams for all different types of skin. Hair shampoos, body lotions. Then we have the apparatus ` always good to find something that kinda stimulates the skin. Fragrances! One of my favourite things. There's just everything you need! But best of all, there's a make-up simulator. This is where I get to try beauty products where they don't actually touch my skin, but I can see what the eyeshadows, the lip colour and the blush look like on my face. So, now we're gonna put the eyeshadow. The product gets scanned. TOUCHPAD CHIMES Boom. Now I have, you know, a very kind of orangey eyeshadow with blue eyes and the highlighter underneath. I mean, I look like I have caterpillars on my eyes. It's amazing. And it kinda looks edgy and cool. I would never choose something like that, ever. I just wanna try all the colours. TOUCHPAD CHIMES Ooh. Yeah, not too sure. It might be a little` No. TOUCHPAD CHIMES Better. It's fun! It's fun. And I look like I've had a facelift, which is awesome. So, what's on the next floor? Oh my God! This is crazy. This machine you put against your skin to measure the temperature. You can find out whether your skin is healthy or not. So let's see where I'm at. OK. MACHINE BEEPS (GASPS) So, 34 is perfect skin temperature. And mine is... 33! Finally, I've got some good news! And it took me all the way to Tokyo to get it. Next ` I'm up for a hair-erasing experience. Will I have... stubble? Yes, always. And I hunt out the latest in anti-ageing across the counter. Imagine waking up to that in the morning. 1 The energy is Japan is endless. It's like real-life channel surfing. One second it's modern, the next it's traditional; new, then old. It's mind-blowing, and so are their beauty options. In Japan, there's a beauty product or a gadget for everyone. And for everything. So I'm sussing out the 'beauty booty'. We got snail hand cream. Horse oil. Is that the beauty down there? This little guy... is to make your nose... taller. What's this thing? It's a lot of plastic, but at least it's not surgery. Imagine waking up to that in the morning. This is to stretch your face so you don't have wrinkles. (SCOFFS) That reminds me of something. (CACKLES) You clean your` shove that up your nose and you clean all your bogeys out with it. There's all masks with different kinda essence in them. So, we have amino collagen, normal collagen. Clearly, it's very very popular here. You can have it on your face. You can scoop it. You can take shots of the collagen. Any which way, it's your choice. I'm gonna look younger by the end of this trip. Can we take these? I'm discovering that, like China, the model for female beauty here is clear, white skin. So when the sun comes out, the umbrellas go up. In fact, there are whole institutes dedicated to making your skin whiter. I'm here at Pola Cosmetics where they have a variety of whitening products. They also think they can eat themselves pale. Hi. Hello. Hi. (SPEAKS JAPANESE) TRANSLATOR: We have supplements and skin cream that together create whitening beauty. So they work from both the inside and the outside. So, you put the cream on, and then you take these. And then the outer and the inner come together. Yes. (LAUGHS) That's crazy! How does it make you white? (SPEAKS JAPANESE) TRANSLATOR: This range helps your body change in a way that your skin is more resistant to sunshine. You get less sunburnt. The whole body turns white? Yes. Do you think it would suit me? Mm, yes. I don't know about that. I` I just can't get my head round taking a pill to whiten your skin. They told me in Australia my skin was high risk for sun damage. But as long as I'm sun smart, I think I'll stick with my tan. But there is a beauty trick many Japanese women use to achieve their famously soft skin that I might just have to try. I'm about to experience what you might call the cutting edge of Japanese beauty. And I gotta say I'm kind of a little bit nervous about it. PECULIAR MUSIC Women here in Japan sometimes, um, shave, because it helps exfoliate their skin, as well as helps, um, the beauty products go into the skin, and you get a more smoother, um, shinier look. I think we should just get on with it, cos I really am quite... (GIGGLES) Do this. Here we go. How many people have you shaved? 200 women a month. 200 women a month? Yes. Reduced wrinkling is supposed to be one of the benefits too. But the size of that blade isn't helping my worry lines! SINISTER MUSIC (GROANS SOFTLY) She's shaving my ears. Oh my God, my ears! Oh my God, my little hairs. They've been with me for 45 years, and now they've all gone. Will I have... stubble? Will I have hair? Will I have to always do this now? Yes, always. (SNORTS) Are you <BLEEP>ing kidding me? Oh, my hairy chin. That's really close. And that's right up near the eye. I can't believe I'm getting the full yeti shave when I'm not even that hairy! Do I have a hairy nose? The part that feels awkward to me is it's something that you would see a man doing, so... Think I'll leave this beauty technique to the guys. But my skin feels great. My tour of beauty in Japan has been one out of the box, literally. However you want your body to be moulded into, they have a product to try and make that happen. Their thirst for innovation is exciting ` they wear it on their sleeve ` and the power of cuteness is king. But they also completely honour the past at the same time. To be allowed into the geisha world, it was a moment I don't think I'll ever forget. The older geisha, she sees beauty so beyond the face and straight into the eyes. To me that is beauty, because she immediately connected, immediately had energy, and it was incredible. And then our witch. I mean, how extraordinary was she? I don't know what my kids would think about it if I placed tofu down for breakfast. That would be kind of a f-fun thing to do. She's the wise one of beauty. That's what happens when we age ` we become wiser. So I'll definitely take that home. But, it's unlikely I'll be taking home this drink. This beer, apparently, can make you more beautiful, because it has collagen inside it. It tastes kinda, um, raspberry-ish, berry. Drink my way to beauty. No. It's just all too masculine for me, to be honest. What the hell am I doing? OK, I'm outta here. (LAUGHS) Copyright Able 2015