Tadayuki Kato publishes a book. The half life of one of BEAMS's most outliers is now available in one book. | feature

Strong desire to make clothes.

Nowadays, the image of Mr. Kato as a lover of things is well established, but what are the roots or origins of your love for things?

Kato: The story goes back to my junior high school days. I used to stop off at places like Fujisawa and Machida on the way home. There were many more stores then than there are now, not only used clothing stores, but also toy stores, record stores, sneaker stores, and so on. As I looked at these shops over and over again, I began to feel that this one was nice and that one was nice, too...

Kato: That is exactly how it is now, so perhaps that is my original experience.

I think it was in the 90s when culture and fashion magazines were very active.

Kato: That's right. Magazines were pouring in a crazy amount of information every month, and I was reading them all the time. I was exposed to various cultures and was fascinated by all of them. I think it was around the end of high school that I got really into clothes. I went to Harajuku a lot at that time.

A number of Mr. Kato's personal collection displayed at the event venue.

I was such a student during my school days, so perhaps it was only natural that I chose BEAMS as my place of employment.

Kato: That's not true. I was actually going to join "Yoshida Kaban.

That's a new one for me! Tell us more about it.

Kato: Yoshida Kaban" is known for its "Tanker" series, isn't it? I was into "Good Enough" at the time, and at the same time, Yoshida Kaban released a collaboration bag with "Good Enough". I couldn't get enough of that collaboration bag. At that time, I was thinking that I wanted to join Yoshida Kaban, so I stormed into the store. I asked, "I want to work here, what should I do? I asked.

Yubaba would have been outraged (laughs). (Laughs.) That was a bold move.

Kato: The clerk who helped me at that time was a very nice person and immediately checked my resume. He asked me to submit my resume, so I wrote it immediately the next day and brought it back to the store. I got a phone call, and within three days I was summoned to the head office in Kanda. I went there after buying a book on how to prepare for the exam and reading it at random, thinking, "Oh my God, what if I have to take a written exam? Then I got a job offer (laugh).

I guess your energy and enthusiasm must have been felt. But why did you turn down the job offer and then go to BEAMS?

Kato: When I thought about what I wanted to do, I knew that I wanted to make clothes. I knew I could not lie about that feeling. So I decided to go straight to a clothing store instead of taking the long way around and chose “BEAMS. It was at BEAMS that I learned about Yoshida Kaban, and it was also at BEAMS that I went to buy a shirt before a date. I think there were many different apparel stores, but at the time, in my mind, ”BEAMS" was the only place to go if I wanted to make clothes.

You didn't take your resume to the store at that time, did you?

Kato: I went through the proper channels (laughs). (Laughs.) Well, I was a lousy job hunter who went to the interview in a T-shirt and shorts. And I was late for the final interview. I went all the way in wearing a blazer for that one day, but it was ruined (laughs).

Sleeping in?

Kato: No, no. Before I joined the company, I thought I had to check out "BEAMS Harajuku" before I joined the company, so I dropped by there before the interview. I stopped by before the interview, and the customer service person who helped me was a very nice person. He had interesting stories, so I listened to him for a long time, and when I realized it, the time had passed (laughs). (Laughs.) You can't say, "I've got some business to attend to..." when someone who could be your future senior is talking to you seriously. So I was serving him until the very end, and I ended up being late.

Did you tell him that you were late because you stopped by BEAMS HARAJUKU?

Kato: I did not say anything. I thought it would be wrong to make the person who served me angry because of me.

That is a very typical episode for Mr. Kato, isn't it? Despite all that happened, Mr. Kato successfully entered the company. As you mentioned earlier, you already had a desire to make clothes from that time on.

Kato: That's right. It was a vague idea, but I had always wanted to create something like this since that time.

Ten years ago, "SSZ" became a brand under the direction of Mr. Kato. Before I introduce the items commemorating the 10th anniversary, I would like to ask you something...what is the correct way to read it? What is the correct way to read it? I am aware that it is "SSZ," but there are many theories, aren't there?

Kato: It's okay to be vague. This kind of thing.

Well...that was the most unexpected answer. What's in your heart?

Kato: [Joon's name] “ANTI. HERO” can also be “Anti-Hero” or "Anti-Hero". Neither is correct or incorrect. I feel uncomfortable with the idea of deciding "this is the right answer" in such cases. SSZ" has neither a website nor an Instagram account, and that is actually the same thing. I think it's good that we don't know. The ambiguity of the site gives it a sense of blank space, or a sense of "what's this? Or, what is this? So please feel free to call it what you want, depending on your feelings on the spot.

I see you had that in mind. Now, with that in mind, please tell us about the items for the 10th anniversary.

Kato: The collection is called "TEN YEARS of HONING THE SSZ". It means "We have been polishing the SSZ for 10 years, just like sharpening a sword," and the lineup is tied to the past collections.

Kato: First up is this "BIRD WEP", an updated version of my insanely favorite outerwear from the 2019 SSZ SIGNATURE COLLECTION" in 2019, and this time we have released an updated version. It has a unique and mysterious sheen to it, and I think we've made something really good this time as well. I garment-dye it after sewing, and it has a kind of seaweed-like sheen (laughs). (Laughs) That is another point I like.

(laughs). And you have two kinds of T-shirts. The one with an outdoorsy feel...?

Kato: You might think it's Patagonia, but it's not. I have an outdoor brand that I really like called Sequel, and this is a parody of it. I have a lot of outdoor brands, but the one I've had since long ago and have a strong attachment to is Sequel. So, I quote from it with respect.

The logo "outdoor clothing" has been changed to "lifestyle clothing" and "DURANGO/COLORADO" has been changed to "HARAJUKU/TOKYO. It is also interesting that "DURANGO/COLORADO" has been changed to "HARAJUKU/TOKYO," making it look more like a street brand. And the other thing?

Kato: Jim-san (graphic artist Jim Phillips) - right?

Kato: Actually, this graphic itself was drawn more than ten years ago. I kept thinking, "Not now, not now," and as a result, I let it sit for a long time.

I am very happy to hear that you have reached this milestone and are now ready to see the light of day.

Kato: He is a legendary artist who cannot be left out when talking about skating. It was a special timing, after all.

And speaking of "SSZ," pants. Why wouldn't you release pants in this anniversary year?

Kato: This is a special collection for [SSZ], isn't it? This collection is an updated version of the “Zazen Pants” that we created for the first time at that time. Zazen pants" are pants made of a fabric that is so stretchy that you can literally sit in zazen meditation, and I think they are one of the first synthetic fiber slacks today.

What areas did you update?

Kato: Another season's collection was "REVENGE OF THE STREETS". STREETS" collection, in which we made pants using "eVent", a highly breathable functional material often used in outdoor items. The "Zazen Pants 2" is, in essence, a mixed version of that. They are not made of eVent, but they are easy to wear, thick, but classic, light, and easy to dry. It is a combination of the best of the pants we have made so far.

SSZ is particularly passionate about pants. Why do you value pants so much, Mr. Kato?

Kato: I think the most important thing in men's fashion is pants. I believe that a man's “personality” is expressed in his pants. If you want to be masculine, you need pants that are thick and dong, if you want to be spiky, you need slim pants, and if you want to be a nerd, you need sarouel pants. Well, there is subjectivity, too. By the way, personally, I don't trust people who change the silhouette of their pants from one silhouette to another (laughs).

It seems to be linked to the way you work, Mr. Kato.

Kato: That may be so. In the morning, when you imagine what your day will be like and choose your clothes, don't you think about pants first, not tops? In my case, if I have to work in the field, I always choose pants that are easy to move in and can get dirty. In this sense, pants are the most important part of a person's daily activities. That is why pants are the most important item of clothing in all of our lives.