Gray Is the New Gold — Inside Japan's Booming Hair Color ...

What this episode covers

Japan has the world's most rapidly aging major economy — and that gray hair is turning into serious business. In this episode, Sakura and Professor Haru meet in a beauty school practice room and unpack the boom reshaping Japan's hair color industry. From fufu, a $19-per-visit salon chain that raised $10.7 million and plans 100 new stores in three years, to irop, a D2C startup targeting the overlooked gap between salon visits, to Karalogue, the Instagram account transforming how professionals choose hair dye — this market is reinventing itself at every level. And as Japan's seniors surge online (52% e-commerce adoption in 2024, up 18 points since pre-COVID), the story goes beyond gray hair. It's about self-expression, personalization, and a culture learning to invest in color — not just hide it. Subscribe and discover Japan's economy, one whisper at a time.◆NoteThe content of this program is intended solely for informational purposes and reflects the personal views of the creators. Please make any investment or business decisions based on your own judgment and responsibility. This program does not endorse or recommend any specific financial products or investment strategies.

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How long is this episode of Narrative Japan?

This episode is 5 minutes long.

When was this Narrative Japan episode published?

This episode was published on May 21, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Japan has the world's most rapidly aging major economy — and that gray hair is turning into serious business. In this episode, Sakura and Professor Haru meet in a beauty school practice room and unpack the boom reshaping Japan's hair color industry....

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