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Hanatsubaki began publishing poetry in its April 1938 issue. The very first poem to be published was “Mitsu-no Rougoku” (Prison of Nectar) by Daigaku Horiguchi. This poem is a beautiful description of how butterflies and bees are attracted to the sweet nectar of flowers. In subsequent issues, the magazine opened with poems received from French poet Paul Fort, Saisei Muro, Akiko Yosano, and Kishiko Wakayama (Bokusui Wakayama’s wife). The tradition of opening Hanatsubaki with a poem is still ongoing today.

In 1872, at a time when the Japanese lifestyle was gradually becoming more Westernized, Shiseido was established with the aim of enriching and enhancing the beauty found in the daily lives of the Japanese people. Shinzo Fukuhara, the company’s first president, was also a photographer, and besides his main work in the cosmetics industry, he had a passion for art and literature which inspired him to spread aesthetic consciousness among customers through the Shiseido Gallery, Shiseido Parlour, and the Hanatsubakimagazine.

The belief that beauty is not created only by cosmetic products, but also by art and literature is linked to the underlying principals of the company. This is the reason that Hanatsubaki continues to shine the spotlight on literature and poetry.

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