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LAVENDER RING's Photo Book "Living Authentically" Published for World Cancer Day
The " LAVENDER RING " project, which involves volunteer Dentsu Inc. employees working alongside Shiseido and the certified NPO Cancer Net Japan, aims to create a society where people can live with a smile even after being diagnosed with cancer and features a photo book titled 'Life as I Am, to Be Continued.' Smiles and Thoughts of 206 People Living with Cancer " (published and supported by Hearst Fujingaho) on February 4 (World Cancer Day).
This photobook chronicles three years of LAVENDER RING's ongoing "MAKEUP & PHOTOS WITH SMILES" photo event, featuring posters and interviews with cancer survivors created during the sessions, supplemented by interviews with organizing members and cancer experts. Proceeds from this book will be donated to Cancer Net Japan and used for LAVENDER RING's future activities.
【About MAKEUP & PHOTOS WITH SMILES】
An initiative to help cancer survivors express their unique selves through makeup and photography, capturing their vibrant spirit and sharing it anew. Shiseido beauty consultants provide makeup and hair styling for the survivors, while photographer Masato Kanazawa (Shiseido Creative Division) takes their portraits. Survivors write down "what they cherish most," creating a "one-of-a-kind poster" presented to them on the spot. The photos of cancer survivors featured in this book were taken during this event, and the accompanying interviews reflect what they shared at the time.
The online event "LAVENDER RING 2020," held October 24-25, 2020, featured host Miho Nakai, Actress Chiaki Hara, who experienced cervical and uterine cancer and leads the patient group "Yotsuba no Kai"; freelance announcer Shinsuke Kasai, who experienced malignant lymphoma; and Takako Otani, a council member of the Japan Marrow Donor Program. Diverse content was presented, including talk sessions and viewer-participation CM production. The event garnered approximately 8,000 views over the two days.
[Comments on the Book]
■Actress / Talent / Yotsuba no Kai: Chiaki Hara
Eleven years have passed since my second cancer treatment. For ten years, I blamed myself for letting the cancer worsen, suffered from the feeling of being left behind by those around me, and struggled desperately to catch up.
I love the color lavender. It's the color where passionate red and calm blue become one. During and after treatment, I went back and forth between red and blue countless times, experiencing so much joy and sorrow. Now, at this 10-year milestone after treatment, participating in the Lavender Ring project allowed me to feel like the red and blue within me finally blended together, becoming lavender. I truly felt it was good to have experienced cancer in my life.
The smiles within this book are also adorned with many shades of lavender. I hope each story gently heals and reaches those who pick up this book.
■Freelance Announcer Shinsuke Kasai
Everyone featured here is a cancer survivor. "Do you think your life is over?" No, no. "Are you hiding your cancer?" No, no. Certainly, no one thinks, "I'm glad I got cancer." But... there are lives, encounters, and realizations that come from "becoming this way because I got cancer." We live in an era where half of Japanese people will get cancer. Turning the pages, you'll find a wonderful book that gives you strength, making you think, "It's okay to laugh," and "When that time comes, I want to be like that too!"
■Dr. Akira Kawai, Director, Rare Cancer Center, National Cancer Center; Nurse Yoko Kato
In the Rare Cancer Center waiting room, we display a poster featuring 46 unique portraits of cancer patients titled "MAKEUP & PHOTOS WITH SMILES." Each individual's smile is truly beautiful. It not only encourages visiting patients and their families but also inspires us healthcare providers, bringing smiles to our faces. We hope the smiles and messages of the 206 cancer patients captured in this book reach everyone. The Rare Cancer Center hopes to continue supporting cancer patients in living with smiles, together with "LAVENDER RING."
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