OUR INSPIRATION, PART 1

SEPTEMBER 21ST, 2022

Creativity is often inspired from areas that come out of the blue.  Our “Got Fugu” image has some interesting insights.  

Fugu, or pufferfish, is a delicacy in Japan that comes with a caveat; parts of the fish contain deadly toxins.  There are specially trained sushi chefs that carefully dissect the fish into edible parts.  The best experience in the Japanese consumer’s mind is when the chef leaves just enough toxins in the flesh to give the person eating a nice ‘glow’ and internal rise of temperature. 

My question is that if the chef leaves too much of the toxic part on the fish and somebody dies from it, does the chef say, ‘hmmm, better cut some more off’?  And the next patron says,”yeah, cut more off and then I’ll eat it”…?

Another element that became part of our image is the hachimaki, a cloth headband worn as a symbol of effort or bravery.  Made famous by Samurai warriors and Kamikaze pilots of World War 2.  Many are decorated with the Hinomaru (Rising Sun symbol) and some inspirational sayings written in kanji.

The third element to make it on our fugu is the little ‘soul patch’, which is that little nest of facial hair that grows between the lower lip and the chin.  There have been many famous soul patches, but we were inspired by Apolo Ohno, the most decorated American at the Winter Olympics.  Raised by his Japanese father,  Aoplo’s story is one of sacrifice, discipline and perserverance.  While many Olympic athletes have similar traits, his upbringing and training he received from his father, as a hair stylist, is inspiring.