Meomi Hoshi lives with Hazue Kado, who is 101 years old. Ms. Kado has a wonderful hairstyle. She had just gotten a perm a few days prior, specially for this interview.

Meomi: "Hazue, let's talk for a bit. Open your eyes. You just had lunch, so your eyes are a bit droopy, aren't they? Shall we do that thing you're good at, making funny faces?"
Hazue: "No, I won't do that."
Meomi: "You're all prim and proper today! You're usually much more playful~"
Hazue: "I don't know, I'm not doing it."
Meomi: "She really hates it. I often get told I'm persistent and annoying (laughs)."

Their conversations are always like this, as if they are talking to close friends. Meomi and Hazue's cohabitation began eight years ago. At that time, Meomi's mother, who had been living with Hazue, passed away. When Hazue was left alone, Meomi, her granddaughter, moved in with her. For Meomi, who had always been a "grandma's girl," it was a natural progression.

"When I tell people I live with my grandmother, they often say, 'You're taking care of her, that's admirable,' but I don't really feel that way. Maybe it's because I don't treat Hazue as 'just a grandmother.' We fight, and I don't just put up with things or bottle them up."

Sometimes, when Meomi comes home from work and says, "I'm so tired today," Hazue offers to massage her shoulders. On Sunday afternoons, they go to a nearby coffee shop for tea together.

Of course, Hazue can't do everything she used to when she was younger, and she can't live alone without some help. That's why Meomi says they just need to complement and support each other in their lives.

Meomi, a jewelry designer, has been in the business for 30 years. For her brand "shuo," which offers accessories for formal occasions, she not only designs products but also meticulously crafts their presentation on the web and social media, engaging in the entire process of creation and delivery. She also works on remaking jewelry, and showed us beads and handmade parts she has collected over the years.

When she's designing, her mind is always in overdrive. When an idea strikes, she's always in work mode. She has a lot to do, including managing the business and administrative tasks. For Meomi, living with Hazue has had a significant impact on her work, she says.

"Due to my personality, I used to be the type who was always busy rushing around every day. But since I started living with Hazue, I feel like my work-life balance has improved and my life has become calmer. At the same time, my creative sensibilities have been honed. For example, when I cook, I think about how to use ingredients efficiently to make nutritious and easy-to-eat meals. I feel like this connects to my work as well."

Meomi has to be home by seven o'clock when Hazue's day service ends, so she can't work overtime at her own pace. However, she says this has created a clear distinction between work and life, and her creative sense has returned, resulting in a more fulfilling use of her time. When she saw what she wanted to do, she became able to transform her thinking into, "How can I make this happen?" instead of "I can't do this because of my current living situation."

"It is precisely because of my life with Hazue that I am who I am today. I don't know how long it will last, but the way of thinking that has emerged from my life with Hazue will surely remain with me as a philosophy for how I live. The immense value I receive each day, each moment, is truly profound. That's why our life together isn't 'caregiving.' Though, it is a bit unusual, so it might not be a role model for many people (laughs)."

When we asked Meomi, who frequently uses her hands for both work and housework, about her hand care routine, she said, "It's about the same as lip balm; I just apply hand cream when my hands feel dry." This time, we asked how she used the 'Retreat Hand Series' at home.

"I use my hands a lot every day, so these items are very helpful. I also love the soft fragrance that spreads the moment I apply them. Since I started using them, I've had fewer hangnails, and I feel a sense of relaxation."

The ' Retreat Hand Massage Serum' offers a smooth feel, while the ' Retreat Hand Moist Cream' wraps hands in moisture. These items are indispensable not only for her own care but also for Hazue's hand massage time.

"I use the serum and cream not only before bed but also in the morning. When Hazue goes to day care after applying them, many people compliment her, saying, 'Hazue, you smell nice.'"

Massaging with the 'Retreat Hand Massage Serum' and enveloping with the 'Retreat Hand Moist Cream'. Perhaps because hand massages have recently become a daily ritual with Hazue, she says she no longer worries as much about her hands drying out during the day.

"This morning time is also healing for me. Hazue's hands are soft and plump, and they feel so nice. Her fingers are also slender, so I've asked her to model for product photos of jewelry before. And when I touch her hands like this, I feel like I receive energy. Hazue's hands are beautiful, aren't they? You wouldn't think they belong to a 101-year-old."

Meomi and Hazue apparently have very similar palm readings. Meomi recalled a time when someone read their palms for them.

"According to that person, in a previous life, I was the parent and Hazue was the child. But I had always thought we got along well, which is why we could live together like this, so when I heard that, it made sense."

Perhaps there is a relationship between the two that transcends "grandmother and granddaughter." Then Meomi, seeing Hazue eating ice cream for a snack, said something.

Meomi: "My grandmother is such a playful and truly charming person. But today she hasn't shown much of that, which makes me, as her granddaughter, feel a bit disappointed (laughs). Alright, I think I'll take a picture of her eating ice cream. Thank you, Hazue. You were cute today too."

Hazue: "Who says I'm so cute?"

Hands that have lived and worked for 101 years. And another hand gently nestled next to them. There, a "care" of kindness that transcends words was certainly present.