At the end of the NGO Village in Gypsy Avalon is a stall operated by Junko Ikeno, president of Harih Corporation, that is dedicated to making comfortable wigs that can be worn for sporting activities like yoga, jogging, and, one day, surfing. 

Junko started the company because she suffers from alopecia, a genetic disease that leads to adolescent hair loss as she no longer has any hair follicles on her body. Once an avid surfer, she was afraid of the stigma of being seen in the ocean hairless. She estimates that 0.1% of Japan’s population suffers from the disease, or approximately 120,000 people. 

With a prior background in athletic wear apparel, working for an OEM for North Face as well as Adidas, she decided to dedicate her life’s work to making more comfortable wigs. Her wigs are one-piece constructions with silicon edges, allowing for a tighter fit. Also, each wig is made from a 3D model, ensuring maximum comfort.

But crafting such wigs does not come cheap, as an average wig costs about 300,000 yen, or a monthly subscription service costs about 15,000 yen per month.

To introduce more people to her innovation, she has also made a cool cap that can be paired with an ice pack, offering immediate relief from the heat. Also, her stall offers a footbath for 1,000 yen and a 10-minute back rub in a recliner for NT$1,500. For those feeling the aches and pains of the festival, having a quick rest could be well worth it.