I have been trying to start a new routine in 2025 — savour a copy of my favourite magazine, Monocle while sipping my morning coffee on weekends. Which can be a farfetched ideal, given that two kids are clamouring non-stop for my attention. So, many a time I let the words wash over me and trickle down my senses, not necessarily retaining anything.

But this article on Bunka Fashion College in Monocle’s Feb 2025 issue struck a lasting blow on my consciousness. Spotlighting a fashion school situated close to Shinjuki, it depicts the lives of young aspiring designers who willingly put themselves through the grueling process of knowing how to sew and construct garments — for the sake of their dreams. Given Japan’s depreciating yen and sluggish job market, I am sure touched by these daredevils who throw caution to the wind in pursuit of self-actualisation. The outfits they design are outlandish, a hotchpotch of diverse styles, and definitely not marketable for the masses. The idiom 义无反顾 (charging ahead unhesitatingly) calls to mind. They love what they do and go for it.

Lest I paint an overly bleak picture, it seems that this prestigious institution is thriving, what with attracting international students and having its graduates highly sought after by Japanese corporations.

In Singapore, we prioritise financial viability above all else, so it’s heartening to read how following their heart doesn’t necessarily mean that these young Japanese designers are left behind. I reckon that this will give me food for thought as my children grow up and seem to find their way.