Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Honami Ogawa. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Honami, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
My mom wanted me to be a nurse because it is a nice payment, stable, and my mom is a nurse. But I ignored her advices and chose to be a hairdresser. I worked as a hairdresser but I quit it kind of soon, and I had worked at the restaurant for a while as a part time job. My parents were worried about me and my life because I changed jobs a lot and a part time job is not stable (in japan). They worried about me but still believed in me. When I started working as a nail artist, they didn’t say anything bad even though I changed jobs a lot, they said just “good luck, we’re so happy for you.” They are always by my side and sending me their love from their heart. . That’s why I can keep working hard and see my dream as a nail artist because I don’t want to make them disappointed and want to make them happy.
My dad loves America. He told me how amazing America is when I was a kid. So I’ve loved America since I reached the age of reason. When I told them that I want to go to New York, they never said “no” even though it was during really pandemic. They just trust me and cheer for me. They always pick up my phone call, and make me happy and retry hard again when I am sad for something in New York.
Their presence has been making me strong. I cant appreciate them enough. I’m the luckiest daughter that I have such great parents.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I know it’s kind of unbelievable or unrealistic story but, I heard someone’s voice from the sky when I was a server and I was by Grand Canyon in US at the time. I’ve believed that voice is my grandfather passed away. I was wondering how my future was going to be after I can’t work as a server because of age. He spoke to me “you have to move” from the sky. I was little surprised but it was so easy to accept. And the license about any beauty thing I didn’t have was only nail technician license at the time, because I wasn’t interested in nails when I was a beauty college student. So I started to take nail classes because I was like “I have to take his advice!” , and passed the most difficult exam. I was having fun to take nail classes and doing nails. Eventually I determined to be a nail artist. I can’t imagine what I’m doing now if I didn’t hear my grandfather’s voice at the moment.
I’m using Japanese products most all the time. Because they are good quality.
All my clients are very nice people. I talk with them a lot while I’m serving nails to them. I think that building a nice relationship with clients are the easiest way to avoid any problems between us, like building a relationship of trust.
What I’m proud of my job is I can bring happiness to clients with nail arts. It’s just nails, but everyone looks happy after they get their new nails done and keep making them smile for a month! I feel my nail works can be a part of their happiness in their life. That’s a thing to be very proud of.
If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?
Yes 100%. Like I answered the last question, I’m very proud of my job and I love doing nails. If my kids (if I have kids in the future) say they wanna be a nail artist, I would say “YES!” Having a job which can make people happy is making myself happy and brighten up my life.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: honami_nails