Shot01_“NEW CLASSIC” No. 1
Embodying timeless sophistication and quality.
—When people think of Minamikawa, they tend to picture him wearing glasses, but apparently his eyesight is actually good and he wears them just for style. Was there a particular reason you started wearing them?
South Kaw: It’s pretty clear—it was when I became a comedian. When I first started doing manzai, my partner was wearing glasses and had a beard. So I figured, “Well, I’ll grow a beard and wear glasses too,” and we established our “double-glasses” persona to help people remember our faces. I think that’s how it all started. Also, I get really nervous on stage, so the advice I got from a senior comedian—“Wearing glasses will help ease your nerves”—was a big factor. Back then, standing in front of an audience was a huge hurdle for me, but just having a pair of lenses right in front of my eyes really helped calm my nerves.
—From when you first started out to the present, has your approach to choosing glasses changed at all?
South Kaw: I’ve had so many. Back in the day, I only wore black-rimmed glasses that cost around 1,000 yen. But I gradually realized I was starting to blend in with everyone else. At first, I wore cool glasses just as a fashion statement, but around the time I started choosing double-bridge frames to give off a slightly shady vibe, I was fortunate enough to start getting more work. That’s when I realized, “It’s not good for comedians to try too hard to look cool.” I also remember going to a shop in Shibuya with my wife afterward, thinking, “Let’s buy something really high-end to give myself the edge here,” and buying a pair of high-end brand glasses.
—Do you switch between different pairs of glasses at crucial moments?
South Kaw: That’s right. On sets with a high “comedy intensity”—like *Godtan* or *Akashiya Sanma’s Improvement Committee*—I go with a slightly larger gold double-bridge pair. When it’s a make-or-break moment and I know I have to give it my all, I’ll stick with those without trying to look flashy. For YouTube or radio, I might wear a brow-style frame, but when it’s a high-stakes situation, I’ve decided to stick with the big gold double-bridge frames. When I was just starting out, I’d buy sets of 30 pairs of glasses online for 3,000 yen—the kind vendors advertise—and take them to location shoots where I’d put my body on the line, treating them like disposable items (laughs). I used to switch between “expensive glasses for talk shows” and “cheap glasses without lenses for location shoots,” but when people found out, they’d get mad at me, saying, “You’re only doing this because you think it’s funny to break expensive glasses!” (laughs).
—The “NEW CLASSIC” collection from JINS that you wore today was inspired by the question, “What defines a high-quality, timeless classic?” It’s a collection characterized by its ability to retain the best of classic frame shapes while embracing a contemporary aesthetic.
South Kaw: These "No. 1" metal-frame glasses are incredibly lightweight and comfortable to wear... I really think they go with any outfit. They have a modern, sophisticated vibe while still retaining that good old-fashioned classic charm, and I love how the texture of the matte metal parts gives them such a luxurious feel.
—Ms. Minamikawa, you like clothes, don’t you? When it comes to fashion in general—including eyewear—do you like items that embody a “NEW CLASSIC” aesthetic?
South Kaw: That’s true. I do like vintage clothes, but given my age, they can sometimes look a bit shabby. Still, I really love classic styles and silhouettes—they’re just so cool—so I end up buying clothes that are based on those “good old-fashioned” designs but were made in the last decade or so, figuring they probably won’t look too dated. Since these styles have been loved for so long, I figure there must be some that suit me well even at my age.
