Reconnecting Through Wellness - Interview with Yukiko Kondo

The Setsu Niseko team recently had the opportunity to interview Yukiko Kondo, one of the founders of Lapidem Co. Setsu Niseko’s Rikka Spa is a collaboration between Conceptasia and Lapidem, fusing their experience and expertise in the wellness space with Niseko's stunning landscape and Hokkaido’s natural ingredients. Through sharing her philosophy on wellness, Kondo-san gave us insight into how Lapidem started and how Rikka Spa takes each client on a unique journey of reconnection with the self. 

Please introduce yourself and tell us about your role at Lapidem and how the company started.

My name is Yukiko Kondo, the representative of Lapidem Co., Ltd. In my twenties, I worked as a store manager, in public relations, and as a designer for an apparel company before becoming independent and launching my own custom-made bridal dress salon. When I was at the bridal salon, I was sad to see customers giving up on their dream bridal dresses simply due to concerns about their skin and body shape. It was during this time that I became inspired to help women achieve their dreams. With the desire to help brides-to-be face the happiest moment of their lives in perfect condition, we launched an esthetic salon right next door to the bridal store in Roppongi Hills. This was the beginning of Lapidem ten years ago, back in 2013.

After that in 2014, we opened Lapidem Tokyo spa in Akasaka. There we focused on planning, developing and selling spa products, as well as providing technical training for therapists and designing spa programs for hotel spas throughout Japan and overseas.

I love the philosophy that "true beauty is beyond health" and agree with this statement. Tell me more about this philosophy.

I had a disease called "Basedow's disease" which is a disease of the thyroid gland. According to doctors, when you are inflicted with this disease, the body is in a constant state of running a full marathon. I had never been seriously ill before, and I had devoted myself to my work without even realizing that I was ill. I was in a state where I was surprised that I was even able to live a normal life. There are two things that struck me when I was sick. One is the great importance of paying attention to your body and mind, listening to your body and noticing changes in your physical condition. The other is that you can't be beautiful on the outside unless your mind and body are healthy. From these experiences, I began to study alternative medicine, preventive medicine, and oriental medicine, which became the philosophy of Lapidem today.

How does this philosophy translate into your skincare products and spa experiences?

Our mission is to give our customers the support they need to live a happy and fulfilling life. Mental and physical health is one of the most important factors we should focus on. As I mentioned earlier, knowing and understanding your body’s condition is extremely important in supporting your health and beauty. At Lapidem, we strive to help our customers understand their current mental and physical condition through diagnosis and counselling.

In addition, we also nurture them to take time for their daily skin care rituals at home, and encourage it as a “special time” that helps us to care for ourselves, purify ourselves, bring peace to our mind and body, and promote good quality sleep. We propose daily routines that will ensure your skin, mind and body remain youthful and healthy. 

Kondo-san, what is the secret behind the success of the Lapidem brand and what makes Lapidem products unique?

Although we are still only halfway through our journey, we work with sincerity to provide experiences that bring excitement and happiness to our customers.There are three main things that I personally value in spas. The first is "the story". “From the moment the customer visits the spa until they leave (or after they leave), we think about how we can give them an emotionally moving experience, and incorporate this experience into our stories and programs. 

The second is "to stick to the details thoroughly". In order for our customers to fully enjoy the positive sensations of healing and happiness that they can experience at our spas, we are extremely particular about "pleasantness" down to the smallest details, whether they are noticed or not. is. For example, the scent wafting from the pillow, the music in the room, the soft furnishings, etc. In winter, we are conscious of all the touchpoints that touch the five senses of our customers, such as making slippers, towels, and other items that come into contact with the skin slightly warmer.

No matter how great the concept design, storytelling, or attention to detail, the guest experience depends very much on the skills and experience of the therapist. Without a therapist who touches the skin and touches the customer's skin with the power of invisible hands and a positive mindset that heals people, nothing will start. The therapist, the story, the detail. I believe that there is excitement when all three are combined.

I was able to experience the wonders of Lapidem's skincare products at Rikka Spa, and I loved the texture and scent. Kondo-san, what is your favourite product and why?

Thank you. The item I use on a daily basis without fail is the Five Elements series bath and massage oil. There are 5 types of this oil, but it was developed with the concept of "skin care that creates an opportunity to learn about yourself". Based on the philosophy of oriental medicine and yin and yang five elements theory, it is an oil for each constitution. We call it the “Oil Health Method,” and every day after taking a bath, I apply the oil that matches my condition at that time to my hair, face, body, and whole body.

Rikka Spa is a collaboration between Lapidem Tokyo and Conceptasia. What kind of spa experience do you aim to offer Setsu guests?

The spa experience at Rikka Spa is completely different from the one at Lapidem Tokyo. At Rikka Spa, we are using local ingredients from Niseko - we respect nature, learn from nature, and have a culture of living in harmony with nature, with the goal of providing a spa experience that can only be experienced at Rikka Spa.

What are you most looking forward to with Rikka Spa in Niseko?

Three years have already passed since the unprecedented pandemic began, but I feel that the importance of wellness tourism is increasing worldwide. Niseko is the perfect place for a retreat that fulfills your desire to get in touch with nature. It will make you realize once again the importance of reviewing your daily habits, raising your health awareness, and living in wellness. Also, through the experience at Rikka Spa, we hope that people from all over the world will learnabout the wonderfulness of the spa experience unique to Niseko.