Journaling Brand “CAREN” – Mamo "Being Able to Accept Yourself" – Self-Counseling Techniques for Surviving in a World Without Safe Spaces to Express Yourself

Therapy is still not widely accepted in Japan due to financial and society gazes. CAREN, a brand centered on mental health and well-being, continues to expand its community through the creation of journaling books and the promotion of journaling culture. We spoke with Mamo (@mamo_momoko) the founder of CAREN, about what led her to establish this brand and what she does to maintain her own well-being.

Interest in Mental Health Sparked by a Family Member’s Illness

– You’re currently active in two fields: design and mental health community-building through CAREN. What were you doing as a student?

I’ve always loved designing and looking at cute things since high school. So, I pursued architecture in college, studying spatial design. But to be honest, I wasn’t really thinking about my future, and at the time, I felt like I had made the wrong choice.

– Really? But your design work now seems to connect to that background, doesn’t it?

Of course, academically speaking, architecture involves more than just making things look cute—it requires technical knowledge like drafting blueprints. Looking back, I don’t think I made the wrong choice, but during my studies, I often felt like it wasn’t the right fit for me.

– Were you already interested in the field of well-being at that time?

Back then, I wasn’t even able to objectively assess my own situation.

I didn’t really understand myself or know what I wanted to do, but I jumped into job hunting anyway. Naturally, it didn’t go well, and I ended up in a negative spiral. I never saw a psychiatrist, but there was a period when I stayed shut in at home for about a month—I definitely wasn’t in a good mental state.

– When you don’t have any knowledge about mental health, it’s easy to just get lost in your worries, isn’t it?

After graduating from university and working as an office employee, I never had the chance to learn about mental health. But when I quit my job to study design and start freelancing, a family member developed a mental illness.

Their symptoms were much more severe than the depression I had imagined, and their personality completely changed. That’s when I started researching the causes and treatment options, which became my first real exposure to mental health.

– It must have been unimaginable to see a close family member suffer from depression.

I basically stayed by their side all the time—for both their sake and my own. But of course, it was confusing and overwhelming.

Even when I went with them to see the psychiatrist, I was so anxious that I ended up crying in front of the doctor. But the doctor handed me a note with a phone number, saying I could call if anything happened. That small gesture really helped me get through it.

The Birth of CAREN and Building a Community

– What led you to create a community, CAREN?

While caring for my family member, I struggled to find work as a designer and started thinking about my career path and life direction. Even after my family’s condition stabilized and I moved out on my own, I continued studying mental health for about a year and a half alongside my design work.

During that time, I started considering not just working as an in-house designer but creating my own brand where I could integrate design and promote mental health awareness.

– And that idea eventually became CAREN?

Yes. Opportunities to study mental health are quite limited, right? Since I naturally enjoy sharing things I like with others, I started feeling a strong desire to spread awareness about mental health.

At first, I mainly shared mental health knowledge and tips through Instagram and posts on note (a Japanese blogging platform).

– You are now creating original journaling books. Why did you choose a physical product as your method of outreach while running a mental health community?

I realized that simply sharing information through Instagram and note might not be enough to truly support someone’s mental health. That’s why I decided to get a counseling certification and start offering counseling services as well.

In addition to just listening, I also developed programs that help people engage with their emotions while learning about mindfulness and self-compassion.

– That’s an impressive level of initiative.

Even so, as I continued sharing information, I felt that simply communicating it myself wasn’t enough to reach a larger audience. That’s what led me to launch a journaling book as a product about a year ago.

Unlike just conveying information, a product doesn’t feel overly instructional—it blends naturally into daily life through its own appeal. I really liked that aspect of it.

– Even for people who aren’t initially interested in mental health, a product like this can serve as a gateway, right?

Yes, exactly. That was one of the reasons I wanted to create a product. Mental health isn’t something you can just work on for a short period and then be set for life—it’s an ongoing process.

You have to keep checking in with yourself and facing your emotions continuously. Of course, that can be done through someone else, but ideally, there should be a way for people to do it on their own, in a casual and accessible way.

Valuing Words That Come Naturally

– What kind of activities does your community engage in?

Up until now, we’ve organized programs where people gather for a set period to learn about mental health and deepen their self-understanding. Moving forward, I want to center our activities around both online and offline gatherings, using the journaling book as a key tool.

Rather than setting strict entry or exit points, I envision creating a flexible space where simply having the book can make people feel connected as one.

– What do you keep in mind while running the community?

When it comes to journaling, I emphasize using natural words that come from within, rather than trying to write something that sounds nice or impressive.

– What’s the connection between language and mental health?

Personally, I place great value on dialogue—whether it’s journaling or having conversations with others—because it gives me time to reflect on myself. For example, when a friend shares a problem, I naturally support them in the moment. But later, I might think, “If I were in their shoes, how would I feel?” That kind of reflection is what makes dialogue so interesting.

You could try doing this through social media, but if possible, I prefer talking to people face-to-face.

– Was there a specific event that made you feel this way?

After the pandemic, I found myself becoming reluctant to interact with others. Talking to people is fun, but it also takes effort, and sometimes it’s easier to just deal with things alone. That contrast made me reflect on my own communication habits.

Through my experiences, I’ve learned to value the process of understanding myself—what I want to do, what I like, and what tends to bring me down.

– Have you noticed any changes in yourself since becoming more mindful of dialogue and learning about mental health?

Absolutely! It’s not that I suddenly became a happier or more positive person, but I feel like I’ve been building a personal guidebook for myself. Because of that, even when something bad happens, I don’t get shaken as easily. I’ve also become better at accepting sadness when it comes.

Before, I relied on others to provide certain emotional support, but now I can do a lot of it for myself, which has made things much easier.

– How can someone develop a more objective perspective on themselves?

When I’m feeling unsettled, I try to ask myself, “What exactly is making me feel this way?” I make a habit of looking at my emotions through a self-counseling lens. Just recognizing what’s happening inside you can be a huge relief.

– When struggling with relationships, communicating your feelings takes energy. How do you handle that?

Facing issues head-on isn’t always the best answer, but at the same time, I try not to just bottle things up.

One useful approach is Nonviolent Communication (NVC). It’s a method that helps fulfill both your own and the other person’s needs through empathetic dialogue. The idea is to first express how you feel, then clearly communicate what you would like from the other person. If conversations could be structured like that, wouldn’t it be great?

– That makes sense! I’ll try it myself. Do you have any go-to methods for recovering when your mental health dips?

I’m not into intense workouts like weight training or running, but I can at least go for a walk. Even when I feel completely drained, walking is something I can still manage.

For me, lying in bed and endlessly scrolling on my phone tends to make me feel worse. But when I go for a walk, my surroundings naturally change, and that refreshes my mind.

Until the Day CAREN Is No Longer Needed

– Who do you hope will discover CAREN?

Everyone, really. Even people who seem “fine” on the surface have their struggles, and a lot of those worries can be eased just by being understood. That’s why I think mental health awareness is something everyone needs.

Of course, I want people who tend to overwork themselves to find CAREN. But I also hope those who think, “I’m fine” will come to our events, too.

– Counseling isn’t widely practiced in Japan. What role do you see CAREN playing in the future?

Some schools and companies have counselors, but in Japan, counseling is mostly seen as something for people with diagnosed mental health conditions. And with the financial and logistical hurdles, I think it will still take time for it to become mainstream here.

That’s why I want to keep creating alternatives—like journaling books and events—to make mental health support more accessible.

– Sometimes, just having someone listen makes a huge difference.

Exactly. Even if there’s no solution, just getting things off your chest is important.

I’ve spent time working one-on-one to help people through counseling, but moving forward, I want to reach as many people as possible through these books. If we can spread the idea that self-reflection is a normal, even cool, thing to do, that would be amazing.

Compared to when I started CAREN, the perception of therapy in Japan has already changed a lot. In another 5 to 10 years, I hope it becomes even more normal. Ideally, I’d love for a day to come when CAREN is no longer needed—when mental health care and counseling are fully integrated into our culture.