With a wide variety of cosmetics at their fingertips, Japanese women really go to town on their makeup. It was in the 18th and 19th centuries that the custom of wearing makeup spread to the masses, and makeup hasn't stopped evolving ever since. The w... (more)orld's best makeup brushes today are made in a town in Hiroshima, and recently, women have taken to the internet to post videos of themselves applying makeup. On this edition of BEGIN Japanology, we introduce you to the world of Japanese makeup.

Peter Barakan, Stuart Varnam-Atkin