"For beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness.
For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others.
Audrey Hepburn."
Your skin is still so firm.
Patting the skin like this...
helps in tightening.
Right, I'll put on the skincare now.
I'll use an anti-aging moisturizer.
All done. Thank you.
Your V-line is much more pronounced.
The chest is beautiful too.
You're right.
Thank you as always.
Hold on.
What is it, Boku?
Do you go to beauty salons?
What about it?
Nothing. I'm just a little surprised.
Richard has always been a metrosexual.
You should fix that face of yours too.
No thank you.
Go on, Richard.
Her name is Honoka, the beautician.
She's a very cheerful girl.
She runs a beauty business from home and I go there regularly.
Thank you.
Thank you for your patronage.
I'll be back next month.
Once a month?
- Any problem? - No.
Stop interrupting and let him finish.
Continue.
Actually, Mr. Kusakari...
- Kusakari? - I made it up.
It doesn't mean anything.
I have to close this shop.
Why? If that's the case, I'll come once a week.
No, it's not a problem with the business.
Don't tell me you're getting married.
I've always been plump. I'm not pregnant.
- Then why? - Actually,
I have been scouted.
- By Mika Salon! - Congratulations!
Thank you!
And so, she embarked on a new chapter.
That was a year ago.
Mika Salon?
- The beauty charisma, Minobe Mika. - Minobe Mika?
You really are clueless, aren't you?
My dear female friends, are you living a dazzling life?
This is Mika's Beauty Karte.
For our model today, we have invited Uemura Yumi,
a housewife we met shopping at Omotesando.
- Please to meet you. - Likewise.
This is what we will be introducing today.
The Sakura loose powder by Mika Cosme.
It will make your pores and fine lines disappear.
An ex-model.
She opened her own beauty salon...
and dabbled in various businesses, all with much success.
Mika Athletic, Mika Foods,
and Mika Salon are all subsidiaries of her brand.
She is the spokesperson of the Mika brand.
The flagship store, Mika Clinic,
is the mecca of beauty gurus from across the nation.
She's a beauty.
I guess she is similar to me.
Honoka is a big fan of her too.
It was like a dream come true when she got employed at Mika Salon.
The most important thing to have is inner beauty.
Accentuating that with a little bit of physical enhancements...
is what we do here.
She is so nice.
Is she?
Honoka thinks so too, so she has been working very hard.
In the beginning.
We finally get to the main point.
I got a call from Honoka yesterday. She wanted to discuss something.
I told her I was a lawyer.
I was shocked when I saw her.
That once cheerful Honoka was gone.
It happened not long after she started working there.
(A few months ago)
The meeting is starting.
Good morning.
Morning.
Good morning.
Morning.
(Mika Clinic)
Good morning.
Morning.
Let me apologize first if I made a mistake.
Didn't I tell you to lose weight?
Sorry.
I'm asking you if I told you that before.
I did, right?
Was it one or two times? I think I said it at least 10 times.
Sorry.
The more I see you, the more shabby you look.
Why won't you lose weight?
I have been trying.
You haven't lost any!
You look just like a fat pig to me.
Are you trying to spoil my brand?
You pig?
I might as well call you Piggy from now on.
Where is your answer?
You should answer with an oink.
I can't listen to any more of this.
- Terrible, isn't it? - Very terrible.
Dako, this isn't a time to laugh.
I'm not.
What kind of inner beauty is this?
Honoka has been ridiculed like this for almost a year, every day.
Why can't you lose weight?
Sorry.
Piggy!
Your answer?
Yes.
No!
It's oink. Oink.
Oink.
Oink!
Because it was her dream company, she did all she could.
Alas, it got too much for her mentally.
She had to stop working.
This is the last recording made before she resigned.
She has locked herself up at home since then.
With this...
Your answer?
I want her to kneel before me and ask for forgiveness.
Or maybe I should just go to the press.
That would be unprofessional.
Oink.
Leave it to me.
I'll help you.
Trust me.
Mr. Kusakari.
Honoka.
Put your trust in me.
What is the point of begging for forgiveness?
The most she is going to get is one billion yen, that's it.
Dako, Boku, will you two help me?
I want to show her who is the real ugly pig.
I have no reason to turn you down.
We'll get ourselves a huge payout and split it with Honoka.
Don't worry.
You'll still be able to have your treatment once a month.
At the home-based beauty salon, in Honoka's room.
Maybe once a week?
Don't be mistaken.
I have no ill will toward Honoka.
No. I understand.
You don't have to confess to us.
Older men tend to prefer the ones that are a bit plump.
It's more assuring if they are slightly ugly.
Dako, forget I said anything.
Hey.
Richard, are you angry?
She isn't ugly.
I didn't call her ugly.
Just slightly ugly.
A little bit ugly.
Richard gets angry too.
Of course.
You can be so inconsiderate.
Just like Minobe Mika.
Plain on the outside, rotten on the inside.
So mean.
He actually said I am plain-looking.
Richard!
Leave it to me.
I'm just as good as Dako. The two of us can handle it.
Thank you, Boku.
Was Cleopatra really beautiful?
Are the bare-faced photos on SNS really without makeup?
"I really don't give any special care to my skin."
Is that really true?
The truth is under the foundation.
Welcome to the world of the Confidence Man.
(The Confidence Man JP: The Beauty Charisma)
Such unstoppable allure.
How about us building a new empire together?
There was a beautiful girl...
Those imitations in the market are incomparable to Benten water.
Why do you think women all want to be pretty?
Minobe Mika.
Married when she was a model. Divorced after having two kids.
A successful businesswoman who has no interest in parenting.
She leaves that to her helper.
Rather than growing up under vile parenting,
the kids are considered lucky.
Stop removing them!
This is my room.
Let us use it.
Every year, the company organizes a Miss Mika beauty pageant.
However, the spotlight is often on the head judge, herself.
Shameless attention-seeker.
This can't be used at all.
She is known in the company for her hot temper.
Many employees have quit due to mental stress.
A typical offender of power abuse.
She is the type that vents her frustration on a chosen target.
Recently, her new skin care products have flunked in the market,
so she's in a foul mood.
She is a money-minded person.
She should be an easy catch.
Richard, leave it to me.
Stop it.
I said stop!
Hello.
I am Park Jiro from the cosmetic mall, Jet Soul.
Are you Korean?
My mom is Japanese.
I went to Korea at 18 in hopes of becoming an idol.
I took part in auditions and trained hard for three years.
But I failed to be selected as a member of Bangtan Boys.
That famous group?
They are too talented.
They're amazing. Such incredible dance moves.
So I decided to start a business with a friend.
We created a cosmetic shop geared toward men, Jet Soul.
Geared towards men?
We made the right decision.
South Korea is a powerhouse in the beauty industry.
Men are interested in looking like the idols.
Currently, we have four outlets in Seoul and two in Busan.
We are aiming for Tokyo next.
We thought about partnering with another company.
"Which cosmetic brand is headlining the trend in Japan right now?"
It's none other than your company.
Men are paying more attention to their looks nowadays.
How about us building a new empire together?
"Make men more beautiful."
I'll be blunt. Speed is the key in conquering this untapped market.
Interesting.
Yes.
It seems profitable.
Thank you.
We should discuss the funding...
I wish you all the best.
I'm not interested.
Men should focus on inner strength.
Beauty belongs to women.
You're so beautiful, Dako.
You should've partnered with me from the start, Richard.
You're right.
"This is the era of men with makeup."
Julie said that 40 years ago.
I've already tried my best.
Boku, you'll have to take a back seat this time.
You can help behind the scenes.
Why?
There is no other way. She has already seen your face.
Kim Taro.
It's Park Jiro.
Ms. Mika is right. Beauty belongs to women.
There is no place for men. I'll make her take the bait.
You are so dependable.
So what are those?
Helper, please open these up.
Me?
It is from the French luxury brand, Eline Charpentier.
The most luxurious moisturiser in its line.
Each tub costs 46 thousand yen.
What? 46 thousand yen?
Those are only the casings, 25 boxes in total.
There is only one actual product.
Boku, go to the 100 yen shop.
Buy some face cream and fill these tubs up.
All 25 boxes?
You will need enough to fill 300 tubs.
Come in!
Hello.
Have you memorized the script, Madame?
No. It's Mademoiselle.
Excuse me. Mademoiselle.
Who is this?
She is the manager of Charpentier's secondary production factory,
Camille Charpentier.
A fake, of course.
Who are you then, Dako?
The factory's director, Celine Keiko Blanche.
Fight beauty with beauty.
Finally, the day has come to unleash my ultimate weapon.
My incomparable beauty can finally be put to use.
Such unstoppable allure.
The Charpentier heiress went against her dad's will,
wanting to become independent. A made-up story of course.
Camille is in the midst of searching for a partnership brand.
It will be allowed to use the Charpentier name...
and have exclusive rights to the new product.
Ms. Mika loves doing business with the higher echelons.
She will definitely buy it.
Hey.
Aren't you going, Dako?
Dako?
She left without meeting her? Why?
I don't know.
Something must have stopped her.
What is true beauty?
I wonder.
If you ask me, it might sound superficial,
but I still believe that is inner beauty.
I agree.
I mean, people nowadays care too much about physical appearance.
It doesn't matter if you are fat or thin, really.
Judging someone by their appearance is considered harassment anyway.
Self-improvement and living life the way you want.
That is the beauty of the current society.
"One day, I decided for myself that I am beautiful the way I am."
Gabourey Sidibe said that.
- Awesome words. - Right?
That's the way it should be.
Those are just pretty words.
Not at all.
All right then.
An ugly girl with a pure heart and a beauty with a rotten heart.
Which one would you date?
Why are you asking me to choose?
I'm saying you wouldn't choose the nice but ugly girl.
It's the same for Richard too, right?
It's all a bunch of crap.
Saying things like inner beauty matters when we all know the truth.
We are just pretending to be noble.
I almost made the same mistake that Boku did.
I wasn't able to decipher...
Minobe Mika's real character.
Minobe Mika's real character?
- I'm changing the bait. - Excuse me.
- I have already filled 15 batches. - You can throw them away.
What?
Sorry. Can I have a bit of your time?
We'd like to invite you to a recording...
of Mika's Beauty Karte.
Me?
There is no way I can be on the show.
Don't be shy. It won't take up a lot of time.
(Ms. Onuma Hideko)
Ms. Onuma, did you come out to shop today?
No. I came down from Yamagata to run some errands.
Are you from Yamagata?
Girls from the snow kingdom have such good complexion.
Do you usually use makeup?
I'm too plain for that.
Not at all. Don't mind me asking, but how old are you?
I'm 35.
Really?
Sorry, I deducted a few years.
I'm actually 40.
Forty?
Your skin is glistening.
How do you normally take care of it?
I don't do anything special.
This is a little embarrassing.
Here. What do you think?
Well. I'm a little embarrassed.
You look very beautiful.
You can do this easily on your own.
I hope you try it at home.
The item I am introducing today is the Mika Rouge.
I highly recommend it. I hope you try it out.
See you again next time.
Thank you.
(Benten water)
Did you not like the makeup?
It's not that. I just feel weird with it on.
What a waste of this good canvas.
What is your usual skin care routine?
I don't really have one.
Thank you so much for today.
Benten water?
(Newly launched Mika Rouge)
What do you think?
I'm a little embarrassed.
You look very beautiful.
I did pretty well with the Yamagata accent.
Dako, I don't know where you are going with this.
How do you expect to trick her?
She'll find out immediately with a test.
The real deal is always straightforward.
I need you to fill up 500 batches.
- No! - You have to!
I went to see Honoka.
She is still holed up at home.
I've introduced her to a psychiatrist.
Poor girl.
Hurry up and fill these up, Mr. Helper!
He can't wait for his special treatment.
- Igarashi! When did you get here? - Igarashi! When did you get here?
I have set the bait.
I'm waiting for the passing fool to eat it up.
We can't get flustered at this point in case it ruins the plan.
All we have to do is wait.
Patiently.
He is saying such things without batting an eyelid.
The sales are still not improving.
Using the same method isn't working.
We will need to release a high-impact product.
Have you found the lady from Yamagata?
She left without writing down her contact details,
so we have no way of finding her.
How about the toner?
- Toner? - The toner she left behind.
The lab ran a test on it.
It's not sold on the market. It's self-made.
I see.
The Miss Mika pageant is coming soon.
(Benten water)
(Benten rice bowl, Southern Alps natural water)
(Mysterious healing properties, Water recycling facilities)
I came down from Yamagata to run some errands.
(Benten water, Yamagata prefecture)
(One search result)
(The More You Know, The More Fascinating It Is)
(Four Unspoken Urban Legends)
(The Beauty Village in Yamagata)
(Beauty Village)
Beauty Village?
Wow, beautiful! Pass!
Next, please.
Please use this product.
Are you 60? I totally can't tell. Pass.
Please use this before we begin.
This is the most expensive essence by Mika Cosme.
You'll soon have glowing skin.
Use it religiously.
Right, you pass too.
Congratulations.
- Please use this product. - Please.
Can I help you?
May I know if this is Yamori Publishing?
Yes. This is my house.
I'm the president, Igarashi.
Excuse me.
This book is published by you, right?
Yes.
The author, Nekonome Pachiro...
Nekonome Pachiro?
Yes. Can you introduce me to this person?
Well...
That is actually my pen name.
The Beauty Village is just like its name,
a village of beauties.
The Beauty Village is supposedly the Kinada Village in Yamagata.
Silky, smooth skin.
Kinada Village was named so as a homophone to the phrase.
But the village has long disappeared due to the merging of small towns.
As the legend goes,
a long, long time ago,
in a poor village,
there lived a beautiful girl called Okuni.
All the men in the village were smitten by her beauty.
The news of her spread...
and reached the ears of the town lord who wanted to wed her.
Her family was beyond ecstatic.
Sending her away as the lord's bride means prestige for the family.
However, on the day the lord was supposed to marry her,
the village men ambushed the procession.
We won't let you have Okuni!
It was said a few people were killed.
Because of that, all the men in the village were decapitated.
Okuni blamed her beauty and committed suicide...
by jumping into a well.
Later, legend has it that anyone who used the water from that well...
would become a beauty just like Okuni.
The village has produced many beauties well-known in the town.
Soon, people started calling the village the Beauty Village.
You're here.
Long time no see.
This is Mr. Yoshimiya from the town hall.
Hello.
I'm Yoshimiya from the Regional Promotion team.
My goodness. The Beauty Village is nothing but a legend.
But the name Kinada Village means smooth, silky skin.
No. That is all made up.
He is always like this.
When I interviewed him before, he wouldn't tell me the truth.
I mean, anyone with common sense would know there is no such thing...
as a village of beauties.
Thank you for waiting.
- Beautiful, right? - Very beautiful.
Long time no see!
It has been a while.
You're here.
Have you heard of Benten water?
No, I can't say I have.
This woman had it with her.
Do you know her?
No.
This is the payment for the interview.
I can't accept this.
Well...
I don't think she will meet you.
If you can help arrange a meeting, I'll give you another.
I can't accept it.
I shouldn't accept money.
Hideko, are you in?
It's Yoshimiya.
Hideko?
Maybe she went to the mountain.
Could this well be the one that Okuni jumped into?
No.
Hideko.
Hideko!
I finally found you.
What is it?
You forgot this.
Thank you.
It's a very good toner, isn't it?
Not really.
No need to be humble.
People who use it are all beautiful.
Did you make it?
Do you have more? How did you make it?
Why don't you show them?
There is nothing to show.
Hideko!
This person is the famous Minobe Mika.
She is our guest who came all the way here.
Isn't it rude to keep her outside?
Just show it to her, okay?
All of these?
Did you make them yourself?
I have been making it since my mom died.
Did your mom teach you how to make it?
It was my grandma.
So it was passed down through generations.
If you don't mind, can you give me some of it?
It's nothing special.
I'm not asking for it for free.
I'm willing to pay you an appropriate price.
This thing isn't worth much.
Then it should be fine to sell it to me.
Why are you so unwilling?
It's a rule.
Benten water cannot be taken out of the village.
A rule?
It is like saying giving beauties to the town will ensure its prosperity.
Hence, this water must not leave the town.
That is just a legend from the past.
How long are you planning to hold onto such a stupid rule?
You are belittling it.
Women of the Onuma family...
have protected this through generations.
You said you'd pay an appropriate price.
What is the appropriate price? Ten thousand? Hundred thousand?
Don't be ridiculous.
Those imitations in the market are incomparable to Benten water.
This toner is made from the well water and plants...
from this place.
I'm not going to simply sell it to anyone.
To be fair, allow me to say this.
The Kinada Village is long gone.
The number of residents have been declining too.
So who are you actually protecting this for?
I feel the same.
Didn't your husband leave this place...
because he was tired of the life here?
Actually, I know that you are always going to Tokyo...
to find Akio.
You can sell the Benten water and make money.
Maybe Akio will come back then.
I'm sure you won't be punished for it.
Hideko, you've hung in there long enough.
Please leave.
Hideko.
Please leave.
Please leave. Leave!
Awesome performance.
As usual.
Tell me something.
What is Minobe Mika's real character?
We can't allow the Benten water to disappear like this.
But ma'am, it's contents are just that of a normal toner.
Or could there be something different in the well water?
It's not about the contents.
This Benten water has a history.
It contains the dedication of those who produce it with their lives.
Excuse me.
This might not be a sound suggestion.
Well...
This piece of land and the mountain belong to the Onumas.
There is a large arrears to the fixed asset tax.
I can see why. It is a big piece of land after all.
The state can take back the land at any time.
I see.
So if you buy the land after the state expropriation,
everything would be settled.
This is all I can say.
It's probably 300 million yen.
I can't say more,
but it's probably around that amount.
It's a good thing for the government.
A really good thing.
Three hundred million.
Boku, why do you think women want to be beautiful?
Isn't it to attract the other gender?
To make men like them?
No.
Women are obligated to be beautiful from the day they were born.
For women, beauty is something they are entwined with.
Like a curse.
A curse?
It is a foolish notion, but it is fact.
A realistic martyr.
That's who Minobe Mika is.
She is willing to devote everything she has...
in pursuit of her ideal beauty.
Thank you.
This is the so-called beauty expert.
Although I don't know what her driving force is,
but it's for that reason...
that she's unable to accept people lacking beauty sense.
You pig!
She will never give up on a trendy product.
She values that over revenue.
That's why she'll take the bait...
and offer 300 million yen for the mountain.
Hideko, open up!
Listen to me, Hideko.
I want you to come to the Miss Mika pageant next week.
Okay?
What?
I really thought she was going to take the bait.
Our usual methods are not working.
What is she actually thinking?
Don't worry. We've already got her in our trap.
So are you going?
I have to since Ms. Mika personally asked.
I know it's a closed-door pageant,
but your identity might still be exposed to the public.
I know. I'll do my best to avoid standing out.
What are you going to do about winning?
What am I supposed to do?
I can't help it that I was born with such outstanding looks.
Where did the Onuma Hideko that you created go?
It comes naturally when I'm on stage.
There you are.
Congratulations, Hideko.
I don't deserve such a high honour.
What are you saying?
All the judges, including myself, voted for you.
You should be proud.
There is no need for you hide, Richard.
I don't think it's a right time to show myself.
How do you feel about competing?
Nothing in particular.
Aren't you happy?
Not really.
I'm sure you're feeling excited.
Sorry for forcing you to take part.
But I wanted you to realize something.
The happiness that comes from beauty.
The radiant appearances of the contestants.
The smiles from the audience.
Isn't it a wonderful thing, helping someone become beautiful?
I'm just like you.
I'm doing this work with all I have.
I want to work with you.
I want people to know about your remarkable toner.
I wish for everyone in the world to become beautiful.
Why?
Why are you so persistent about that?
My mom...
was a cheerful, kind-hearted...
and beautiful woman.
She must have been.
When I was six,
she was involved in an accident.
She was left with a scar on her face that stood out.
Even so, she remained cheerful.
But...
people around her only showed pity toward her.
Even my dad became ashamed and stopped her...
from showing her face in public.
Soon after, he abandoned us for another woman.
My mom retreated into her own shell.
She always hid her face wherever she went.
She couldn't find a proper job.
She was met with all sorts of rejection.
And passed away.
Why?
Once so outgoing and smart,
why does my mom have to go through that...
just because her looks changed?
This world is actually a joke.
So I made the decision.
I will make every woman in this world beautiful.
I want to save all those women who are like my mom.
This is my dream.
I have never actually told anyone this.
I...
have no plans to take the Benten water from you.
If one day, you wish for everyone to become beautiful,
don't hesitate to give me a call.
I'm willing to pay whatever the price.
Let's help the world become more beautiful.
I'll be waiting for you.
We got her.
Yes.
I'm going to call her. She said she'll pay any amount.
What's wrong with you two?
Don't tell me you're feeling bad because of her sad story.
I'm sure she made all that up.
Do you really think so?
Who knows? But I don't care.
Hey, Richard. I am doing this for you.
You wanted to give the money to Honoka, right?
Yes, that's right.
All right. We'll be swimming in a sea of cash soon.
How many bottles have you filled, Mr. Helper?
Sixty-five batches.
You are still a long way from 500 batches.
That is impossible.
Not many orders will come in anyway.
You're right.
We are still waiting for the money to come through.
Dako, what's this about?
What?
According to Victim A,
Minobe Mika verbally harassed her staff, is physically abusive,
rude to customers and a home-wrecker.
Nothing but attacks.
Every entertainment show is talking about it.
The recordings are circulating on the Internet too.
But I have those recordings.
She must have a copy.
- Honoka? - It has to be, right?
How could she do that? I haven't received the money yet.
I took the recordings to a magazine and was paid 500 thousand yen!
- Why did you do that? - Because you didn't do anything.
I sought advice from another lawyer...
and was told I could get at least one million yen.
Also, they said they'll make her kneel in remorse.
I can finally vent my frustration.
I'm going to move back home and find work there.
But I've never heard anything about physical abuse,
being rude to customers or men snatching.
Because the magazine kept instigating,
I kind of spiced things up.
But isn't it amazing?
I'm getting a total of 1.5 million yen.
I'll need to figure out how to spend the money.
"Minobe Mika quits her position as president.
The company has suffered a huge loss from the criticism."
I guess it's inevitable.
Looks like it failed.
The contract is officially terminated.
I'm sorry.
But after examining the contents,
our new president concluded that lacked commensurate value.
Their decision is correct.
That means this has been a wild goose chase.
- Sixty-five boxes of water. - Throw them away.
How is Honoka doing?
She got Ms. Mika to apologize and received compensation.
She is currently on vacation in Hawaii with her parents.
She bought business class seats.
So we tricked the authority,
but lost out to the commoner.
All right.
Stop being so down about it.
Minobe Mika is not going to give up so easily.
It will take six months at most for the criticism to die down.
Then she will return to the Mika brand.
She will once again treat her staff like they're worthless.
And then we can reboot our plan once more.
We'll make her buy the Benten water, okay?
Just wait six more months. All right.
That is a possibility!
So we'll keep the water here.
Throw it out because it's in the way.
Kasumi, Tsubasa. Don't forget your lunch.
Here you go.
All the best in your exams, you two.
(Six months later)
- All right. - Good boy.
- We will be leaving. - Take care.
Is she weeding?
It doesn't seem like she has plans to return to her business.
Even this beauty expert is going to retire, I suppose.
You think so? I wonder.
- Good morning. - Good morning.
Look at this. The azalea smells so nice.
It would probably make a great health product.
I'll give you some once I make it.
- Really? - I can't wait.
Age has nothing to do with it.
- I'm looking forward to it. - All the best.
I will.
Looks like she is not retiring any time soon.
I think it will take a bit longer. Let's wait patiently.
For the return of the beauty charisma.
Yes.
Wait.
- Did you put on makeup? - No.
Yes, you did. You obviously have foundation on.
Even eyeliner.
Are you addicted to beauty too?
I'm just accentuating.
Not bad at all.
Mr. Choi Saburo!
It's Park Jiro!
(The Beauty Charisma, End)
(Next Episode)
The next prey is the president of an IT startup, Katsura Kimihiko.
A cameo by Koike Teppei.
When a well-planned fraud meets the passion of sports,
a dramatic counter attack is born.
The Confidence Man JP, Episode 9, The Sports.
This has been Igarashi reporting.
(This drama is a work of fiction.)