A modest planting space at the entrance of the atelier features a plant called Hydrangea paniculata, which belongs to the hydrangea family. As early summer approaches, it blooms with clusters of beautiful white petals adorned with pale green outlines. After flourishing throughout the summer, the flowers gradually turn brown and decay. By the onset of autumn, the dried flowers are pruned, and all the leaves fall off, leaving only the branches. It will spend most of the passing seasons in a lifeless state until the following summer.
On a freezing winter morning while watering, I suddenly think. This hydrangea, which now only has branches left, might actually be dead already, and even when next summer comes, it may not have any leaves or flowers.
The philosopher I admired often said, "Communication is always a free thing (i.e., one-way). Because it doesn't come back (i.e., it doesn't return), consideration, free consideration exists." As I water the plants while enduring the cold, I strangely find that this makes sense.
Even if I water it every day, or even if I skip watering it, the Hydrangea paniculata doesn't say anything. It just stands there as a branch. Still, I continue to water it almost every day (though the frequency drops a bit during winter). It maintains its silence without expressing gratitude or complaints, because the next summer, it will sprout leaves and bloom beautiful flowers again. It seems to say thank you for continuing to water this withered tree, as it becomes so fresh and vibrant.
I sometimes feel the same way about sales in the online store. Of course, we cannot see the faces of our customers, and most of the time, we are the ones reaching out via email. While there are many who do send us messages, we primarily reach out to customers who are silent (non-responsive), create products, and deliver them.
Strangely, the more silent our customers are, the more we can't help but think about them. Are they truly satisfied with their interactions with us and the products? Would they be happier if we did this? While imagining the customers actually wearing the products we delivered beyond the PC display, we continue to experiment and refine our approach.
From time to time, I run into customers who say, "I've been wearing this for many years without taking it off," and it makes me feel relieved.