What do you do
here? I perform cosmetic surgery and I' a qualified dermatologist. Many other people do the
surgery, but they're not qualified dermatologists. I even have my own range of natural
skin-care products.
So what's the difference? Some patients might find they're treated wrongly, for example, for a fungus, if they
go straight to a surgeon who's not also a dermatologist. A lot of dermatological treatment
is based on chemical peeling and wrinkle removing with collagen. Now we have laser
surgery. I have three different laser machines for removing sunspots, blemishes, acne
scars and so forth. I can also do hair removal with a laser. It's fantastic. Very quick. I
occasionally do liposuction, too. That's not such a common operation in Japan, because
it's usually too expensive.
What is your background? I graduated from Tokyo Medical College and then went to UCLA. Tokyo was a very strict
Japanese medical education. After I'd finished my PhD I decided to go to the USA to do
postgraduate training. To get into UCLA I had to present my PhD thesis, and they gave me a
scholarship. While I was in America, I married a Scottish-American, which is where my
surname came from. My maiden name is Takagi.
Tell us about your commute to work. I take the train in Japan. When I was living in the States I used to drive everywhere,
of course, and I seldom walked which meant my cholesterol level was becoming very high, so
I decided I should give up driving and get on the train when I got back to Japan. Since
then, my health has improved, I've got back to my normal weight and my cholesterol level
has dropped, partly due to Japanese food, of course.
How long have you been established? I've been here since 1972. A long time.
What do you like about Japan most? I love Japanese food, I adore sushi. Most of all, though, I like the fact that if I go
to a restaurant by myself, it doesn't arouse attention, nobody looks at me as if I'm
strange. In the US, though, it's another story. People look at you as if to say, "Why
don't you have a boyfriend", you know. It's a very unpleasant feeling.
What do you dislike about Japan most? I wish Japanese people were more open. Because I lived in the US for ten years, I
became very un-Japanese. A part of my personality changed and became very open. I don't
like the way Japanese people don't talk straight, they're very awkward. I talk straight. I
suppose that makes me very unusual for a Japanese. I'd rather be open-minded and straight
talking than go through all the Japanese ceremony. Some people don't like it. It's getting
better with the younger generation, though.
What's the weirdest thing you've ever seen or experienced here?
It's too difficult for me to remember. And things that strike you as strange may seem
normal to me, since I'm Japanese.
What is the most common operation that you carry out? Common operations include breast enlargement and nose lifting, to give people an
upturned nose. But I do hyperhydrosis operations almost every day. That means removing the
sweat gland from under the armpit. It's quite a common operation for women here.
Why do you think it is so common? I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that women wear really valuable silk
kimonos and they don't want to get them damaged with sweat. It's not like you can just put
them in the laundry basket after you've finished with them; you need special cleaners.
Don't forget that one kimono costs a lot more than a whole lot of Western clothes. Also,
Japanese people are very nervous about perspiration. If they have their sweat glands
removed they have less to worry about.
What is the strangest operation you've ever been asked to perform? The strangest one that I'm most commonly asked to perform is when people don't like
their own belly buttons. They don't like the way it sticks out or goes in, whatever, and
they want me to correct it.
Do you have a favorite place to eat or drink in Tokyo? I'm always looking out for fair-priced places to eat alone. I'd like to get to know
Roppongi better.
Where would you like to be when the big one hits? I hope it never hits in my lifetime. If it does, I'd like to be any place except
Tokyo.
You have to spend the rest of your life trapped on the Yamanote line. You're allowed to
take one book, one CD and one luxury item. What would they be? I'd probably take an American thriller along with me. I wouldn't need a luxury or a
CD.
Occupation:
LIFE IN JAPAN: