Autophagy and Professor Yoshimori: What We Learned at the Esthe Pro Labo Global Summit
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A meeting that changes your perspective
"At the Esthe Pro Labo Global Summit, Markéta and I had the opportunity to speak in person with Professor Tamotsu Yoshimori, a renowned world-class scientist, expert in autophagy, and collaborator of the Nobel Prize winner for the discovery of this process, Professor Yoshinori Ohsumi. And the more we listened to his lecture, the more clearly we understood why Japanese science in this field is where it is today.
Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this lecture and for this unique, unforgettable meeting." - Hana Olscher
What is autophagy and why does it matter
Autophagy is the process by which the body cleans and renews its own cells. It is one of the most important aging and longevity mechanisms the human body possesses.
The word autophagy comes from Greek and literally means "self-eating." It may sound alarming, but it is one of the most elegant systems nature has developed. We can think of it as the cells' internal cleaning system. The cell recognizes damaged or unneeded parts, such as worn-out proteins or dysfunctional organelles, and recycles them. Waste is turned into building blocks for new, healthy structures.
When autophagy functions properly, cells are able to renew themselves more efficiently and maintain their quality. They recycle damaged structures and maintain cellular balance, which is directly linked to aging and stress resistance. However, autophagy activity naturally declines with age, which is why it is now considered one of the key mechanisms of healthy aging.
In 2016, Japanese biologist Yoshinori Ohsumi received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of the mechanisms of autophagy. The work of Professor Yoshimori and an entire generation of Japanese scientists, who are currently researching the relationship between autophagy, vitality, and longevity, builds directly upon these discoveries.
Professor Tamotsu Yoshimori
"Maintaining autophagy may help extend a healthy life. Extending a healthy life is a key challenge in super-aging societies."
— Prof. Tamotsu Yoshimori, Osaka University, AutoPhagyGO Inc.
Professor Tamotsu Yoshimori is one of the most cited figures in global science in the field of autophagy, a fundamental cellular renewal process that today stands at the center of all longevity and anti-aging science. His research builds directly upon the work of Yoshinori Ohsumi, who won the Nobel Prize in 2016 for the discovery of the mechanisms of autophagy.
His standing is evidenced by concrete data. Professor Yoshimori is the second most cited expert in the field of autophagy in the world, with over 16,482 total citations of his scientific papers. He ranks 22nd globally in the field of molecular biology, and in 2025, he became a finalist in the prestigious TOP 40 XPRIZE Healthspan competition, which seeks the most promising approaches to extending the healthy human lifespan.
Yoshimori is also the founder of AutoPhagyGO Inc., a Japanese spin-off of Osaka University that translates scientific insights about autophagy into real-world applications: from cosmetics and dietary supplements to pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, as well as global longevity programs. It is precisely this ability to bridge cutting-edge basic research with practical products for health and beauty that makes his work so relevant to the philosophy of Inner Beauty.
At the lecture, we also saw a slide with an analysis of citation rates in the field of autophagy, compiled by the Scopus database system in 2019. In the ranking of the most cited autophagy researchers, he is among the seven absolute world leaders, along with other Japanese scientists such as Mizushima, Ohsumi, Komatsu, and Tanaka. This overview also reveals something essential: out of the seven most cited autophagy researchers in the world, four are Japanese. Japan truly leads in this field, and it leads thanks to decades of systematic basic research.
Hana Olscher: 32 years in the industry, a life dedicated to beauty and science
The path byFEMME took to reach these insights is no accident. Hana Olscher began her professional life in cosmetics at the age of 18. Today, after 32 years of industry experience, she stands as the founder and owner of byFEMME s.r.o., a premium Czech brand based in Mikulov that specializes in scientifically backed products and protocols for beauty and wellness.
Her journey is not just about the length of her experience, but about the constant deepening of her knowledge. Hana Olscher holds an education in epigenetics—the science of how lifestyle, environment, and baseline factors influence gene expression and, consequently, cellular health, aging, and regeneration. This education gives her a deep understanding of the mechanisms that underlie autophagy and modern anti-aging science. Thus, she is not merely a distributor of products, but an expert who understands the science behind them.
Participation in exclusive global partner training
The meeting at the summit was not a one-time event. Hana Olscher is personally participating in exclusive training organized by AutoPhagyGO Inc. for select global partners. Together with partners from several countries around the world, she is gaining direct access to the latest scientific findings straight from Professor Yoshimori's laboratory.
This training is not publicly available. It is intended only for a strictly selected group of international partners. For byFEMME, this means that the products and protocols we bring to our clients are based directly on the source of global autophagy research, not on secondary interpretations or marketing simplifications.
It is this direct access to top-tier science that distinguishes the byFEMME philosophy. When we speak about autophagy, we speak with understanding gained directly from those who are shaping this field at the global level.
Why Japan leads—not thanks to marketing, but thanks to science
What impressed us most at the summit was not just the quality of the research itself, but the way Japan approaches it. Japan is a world leader in autophagy research not because of attractive presentations or clever marketing, but because of decades of validated scientific studies and patient basic research.
This approach is precisely what differentiates real science from trends. In recent years, autophagy has become a popular topic on social media, where it is often simplified into easy guides related to fasting or biohacking. But the reality is much more complex and fascinating. Autophagy is not something that is simply "turned on" after a few hours without food. It is a complex biological process whose efficiency depends on the quality of nutrition, cellular energy, mitochondrial function, sleep quality, the level of oxidative stress, and the overall state of the organism.
How autophagy relates to beauty
Autophagy is not just about the internal health of cells. It is a process that also affects our external beauty, which is why it is so essential to the philosophy of Inner Beauty.
Skin renewal is a direct manifestation of functioning autophagy. When cells efficiently remove damaged proteins and organelles, the skin looks fresher and younger. Autophagy helps eliminate oxidative stress, which is one of the main causes of premature skin aging.
Metabolic support is another manifestation. Healthy cells mean a more efficient metabolism. Autophagy helps the body process nutrients better and maintain energy balance. And finally, antioxidant protection: the process of cellular recycling naturally reduces the accumulation of toxins and free radicals that would otherwise damage healthy tissue.
Herbzyme Hakko Black: fermentation that supports autophagy
It is this Japanese philosophy of combining the latest science with traditional principles of health that lies behind the Herbzyme Hakko Black product.
Following the Nobel Prize in 2016, there was an explosion of scientific interest in how we can naturally support autophagy. Research has clearly shown that certain bioactive substances, especially polyphenols from fermented plant extracts, have a proven ability to activate this regenerative process.
Herbzyme Hakko Black is a premium fermented beverage made from tea and herbal extracts that naturally provides these polyphenols. The fermentation upon which this drink is based is a technology deeply rooted in Japanese culture and now supported by modern autophagy science. It takes place in the traditional way in Japanese cypress barrels made of hinoki wood.
Key active ingredients target cellular energy, microcirculation, antioxidant protection, and support for autophagic flow. Black ginger, botanically Kaempferia parviflora, is a traditional Thai and Japanese plant rich in methoxyflavones associated with supporting cellular energy. Black garlic undergoes a long fermentation process that increases the content of antioxidants and creates unique bioactive compounds. Fermented black maca adds adaptogenic support for vitality, and Awa Bancha tea contributes polyphenols with strong antioxidant activity.
Hakko Black is caffeine-free, gentle on digestion, and suitable for both morning and evening use. In byFEMME salons, you can enjoy it, among other times, after a dry enzymatic bath as part of a comprehensive cellular health care ritual.
Why one product or one procedure is not enough
From the entire lecture and all the meetings at the summit, one main message emerged, which Professor Yoshimori and other scientists repeated. Autophagy in itself, just like exosomes, Deazaflavin, or any other modern technology, is not enough in isolation.
The most important thing is to create an environment in which cells can function properly. Autophagy works effectively only when the entire organism is in balance: when digestion is functioning, when the level of inflammation and oxidative stress is low, and when cells have enough energy and quality nutrition.
That is why at byFEMME, we do not approach autophagy as a single miracle product, but as part of a total approach to cellular health. Herbzyme Hakko Black, Esthe Pro Labo fermented beverages, mitochondrial and cellular energy support, and high-quality daily care together form a system that respects what Japanese science shows us: that true beauty and longevity begin at the cellular level.
What we took away from the summit
Meeting Professor Yoshimori was more than just professional training for us. It was confirmation of why we decided to become a representative of Esthe Pro Labo and the Pro Labo Concept brand in Europe. Because we stand behind science that takes its work seriously, and behind products whose foundation lies in decades of real research.
We thank Esthe Pro Labo for this opportunity and for the unique meeting with one of the most significant professors in contemporary longevity research. And we look forward to passing everything we have learned on to you.
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