[profile] Born in Niigata in 1961, Kawashima graduated from the Waseda University School of Commerce and completed the merchandising course at Bunka Fashion College. In 1984 she joined Itochu Fashion System, Co., Inc., where she has edited report magazines, planned and conducted seminars and developed a cross-industrial network of member companies involved in bicycles, home appliances, housing, apparel, cosmetics and distribution. She performs market research and consumer trends analysis for both member companies and overseas firms such as Loreal. Kawashima produces columns on fashion and design for the Nikkei Marketing Journal, Brain and the Senken Shimbun and also writes for the Asahi Shimbun, Nikkei Advertising Note, Nikkei Design, Leisure Industry and Kohkoku.
Publications include: Tokyo shohi torendo (Tokyo Consumption Trends) [PHP]; Oshare shohi tagetto (Fashion Consumption Targets) [co-authored, Gentosha]; Egakareta eruda (A Portrayal of Elders) [co-authored, Shueisha]; Bimuzu senryaku (The Beams Strategy) [PHP], which addressed “select shop” marketing; Isetan no hitobito (Isetan People, May 2005); Naze kono kigyo ni hikareru no ka (What’s Attracts People To This Company?) [Ascom, September 2005]; and, most recently, Matsushita no dezain senryaku (Matsushita’s Design Strategy) [PHP]. All can be found at bookstores nationwide.