Focus>>Bodyworker Junko Sone: "A moment of courage" for a joyful everyday! Living authentically with curiosity and a fearless heart for change (Part 1)

Junko Sone is a woman who perfectly embodies the phrase "gets more wonderful with age."
A bodyworker who owns her own studio, at 72 years old, she is thoroughly enjoying living alone. Her unique lifestyle resonates with many, leading to the publication of her essay "71 Years Old, Living in a Public Housing Complex: Enjoying 'Living Alone' Every Morning" (Diamond, Inc.) in December 2023.
Ms. Sone, who has lived a tumultuous life, shares insights into how to live authentically.

Even if you fall into a deep slump, the outcome is the same.

—You've lived a life fraught with challenges: divorce at 40, your father's company going bankrupt at 49, leading to extreme poverty, and cervical cancer diagnosis at 61.

It's truly a selfish story, but I was born and raised in a wealthy family, and at 24, I married a man I met in college who came from a similar background. I never worried about money and lived a life of comfort, but I always felt a sense of unease deep down, so I divorced at 40.
My values differed greatly from my parents, who wanted me to be a good child, and my husband, who was content with the status quo, while I wanted to act on my thoughts immediately. I found it incredibly stifling to be unable to live authentically.
But because I was incredibly naive, after the divorce, I lived with my three children in a 150㎡ apartment owned by my father's company, receiving executive compensation. Then, my father's company went bankrupt, and we were forced to leave the apartment... That's when I finally had to stand on my own two feet.
For the first time in my life, I experienced the fear of "not being able to make a living because of lack of money." What truly spurred me on during that difficult time was my children, and because I had started working in osteopathy after my divorce out of interest, I managed to move forward.
Thanks to my hard work, I was blessed with many clients and eventually became independent. Just as I was setting up a large studio near Shin-Osaka Station and training instructors, I was diagnosed with stage 3C cervical cancer. The cancer cells had spread throughout my pelvis, making surgery impossible. I thought I had overcome the days of poverty and relentless effort, and now it was cancer. I was struck dumb by the sudden calamity.

—Despite numerous painful experiences, I don't sense any of that from you now. How did you overcome them?

I'm naturally quite a positive thinker. I believe that if I think "things will work out," they do. So when something happens, I might initially fall into a deep slump, thinking, "What should I do? I might die," but I then try to convince myself that "I'll recover after a night's sleep."
Because even if I were to dwell on it more deeply and fall into a deeper slump, the outcome would be the same. Nothing would change. So I decided to abandon the mindset of "falling into a slump."

I love starting from scratch!
It's fun because there's room to think.

—It's hard to change your mindset on your own, even if you know you should. Was there a trigger that made you a positive thinker?

I am the eldest of three siblings and was raised with great care. My reputation at the time was "a good child who could study and listened to her parents." I even thought of myself as an honor student, and because my father was strict, it was necessary for me to be a good child. But somewhere, I also felt uncomfortable.
I entered a preparatory high school, and everyone around me was brilliant. I, who had always managed without much studying, saw my grades plummet due to the high level of my peers. My parents were shocked. At that moment, shedding the skin of an honor student felt incredibly liberating. I didn't do anything wrong, but I thought, "Going off the rails is this much fun!" In a way, I realized that it's more exciting to just do what I want and that I actually can do it.

—If you always worry about how others see you or if your choices are wrong, you'll be afraid to act.

Of course, you might lose something in the process. But isn't it fun to start from scratch? I absolutely love it! Instead of starting fully prepared, I'm curious and enjoy figuring things out and shaping them myself.
When I was 49 and forced to work seriously for the first time, I naturally had no professional experience. I couldn't even open a bank account on my own. I asked many people, tried things out, and learned social skills in my own way. And that built my confidence.
When I was diagnosed with cervical cancer, I had been feeling vague and unwell despite always being full of energy. Getting a diagnosis, in a way, relieved me... It's true that I was deeply disheartened for a while. But I then switched my mindset, thinking, "I need to re-examine my body from here. I need to find a way to get better." I realized that just being down wouldn't change anything.
When you start from scratch like that, there's a lot of room to think, so you can challenge anything, and it's fun. When you think that way, the fear disappears.

Ms. Sone, who is 72 years old, continues to challenge new things without fear of failure. Her driving forces are curiosity and an ultra-positive mindset. Her words, full of kindness, are like a charm that gently encourages you to look forward when you're feeling negative.
In the second part, Ms. Sone will share the exercises she incorporates to maintain her physique and tips for truly healthy eating that she learned through her battle with illness. Stay tuned!

(Photos by Noriko Kawase)

Profile

Junko Sone

Born in Osaka Prefecture in 1952. Body Meister. She has overcome a tumultuous life, including divorce, zero savings, and battling cancer, and now lives each day enjoying life without spending a lot of money on things like cooking, handicrafts, sewing, DIY, and computers, without worrying about small things.

Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studio.sone/

Studio Official Website: https://www.studio-sone.com

By Junko Sone
"71 Years Old, Living in a Public Housing Complex: Enjoying 'Living Alone' Every Morning"
Diamond, Inc.