Jun Kurihara / Chief Director, Journal Standard Relume
He has been a member of Journal Standard since its early days. After working as a buyer for many years, he became a director in 2016 and has been in charge of "Journal Standard Relume" since Fall 2018.
The concept is to "not have a fixed concept.
How did you come to open this restaurant?
chestnut fieldIn August of this year, the Journal Standard Shibuya store, which had a 21-year history in Jinnan, closed its doors, and I did not want to leave the "Jinnan" area of Shibuya with nothing to offer. We chose this location because it is near Jinnan-zaka and there is a lot of pedestrian traffic.
Do you still have a special attachment to Jinnan?
chestnut fieldThe history of Journal Standard began in Jinnan, and I feel that way. Another reason is that more and more people from overseas are coming to this area, and with the increase in the number of hotels and the re-opening of Shibuya Parco next year, we are gradually sensing a rise in the number of people coming to this area.
I see. Looking around the store, I see that the lineup is exclusively men's items. What is your goal there?
chestnut fieldIt was for the simple reason that we wanted to try something new. This store is a combination of two store names, "Journal Standard" and "Journal Standard Relume," but neither of them had ever applied furcas to men's wear only.
The store seems to be a bit unique among the many select stores around it that offer both men's and women's products. Could you tell us again about the concept of your store?
chestnut fieldIt is like a base that transmits the mood of the moment, or the "now. We are planning to hold new events and pop-ups every 40 days. The more the atmosphere and taste of the store changes, the more we can approach customers from various angles. In other words, the concept of Jinnan-zaka Journal Standard is to have no fixed concept.
The layout of the restaurant also gives the impression of a mix, or rather, a jumble of various elements in a good way.
chestnut fieldThat's right. I wanted to present the shop in a more diverse way, rather than dividing it into categories. Of course we want to show the items in the store, but more than that, we want the customers to find the store as a whole interesting.
Up until now, select stores have literally focused on the selection of items. However, I feel that this form is changing.
chestnut fieldIt is now commonplace to "select" products. Whether it is imported products or originals, if a store does not offer its own taste, it will be difficult for customers to find a reason to shop there.
In a situation where information can be obtained anywhere and shopping can be done anywhere, the weapon of just "good selection" no longer works.
chestnut fieldWhat do we want to communicate here? I think that "selection" is a way to express this. We need to add something extra, not just "because it's nice" or "because it's cool. Therefore, we will be selecting the necessities for the events that will be held every 40 days.
Currently, there is an event called "A-LEAGUE," which is based on the themes of "sports" and "hip-hop.
chestnut fieldIt is not a collection of so-called sporty items such as functional clothing, but rather sports in a more fundamental sense that is expressed here and now.
I think the diversity that was spoken of earlier is evident here as well.
chestnut fieldWe envision a cheap sporting goods store like those found downtown.
Is it a store that always has piles of clothes and a year-round wagon sale atmosphere?
chestnut fieldThat's right. I really like that chaotic mood, and I included various elements with sports at the core. Soccer, basketball, baseball, of course, but even classic hunting is a kind of sport.
Especially deeply involved are "Awesome Boy," a vintage store in Harajuku, and "ICHIRYU MADE," a remake brand. The remake items created through collaboration between the two are particularly eye-catching.
chestnut fieldAwesome Boy" is a store centered on hip-hop, and together with "ICHIRYU MADE," we are remaking sports items and making clothes as items to be sent out from there. However, this is not the only reason we are doing the pop-up. We are asking for their help in expressing the vague theme of sports.
It's been two months since the store opened in September. How has the customer response been throughout the store?
chestnut fieldAlthough we only offer men's wear, we actually have many female customers as well. Men with a wide range of styles also visit our store, and we would like to continue this trend to make it a store that attracts all kinds of people.
What kind of events do you plan to hold in the future?
chestnut fieldWhile keeping the "American" element of "Journal Standard" at the core, I would like to express the "current" era, or on the other hand, I would like to swing to the classic style. I am not just going back and forth between eras, but I am trying to add various perspectives as I express myself.
A new form of fashion that remakes sportswear.
As mentioned in Mr. Kurihara's interview, "Jinnan-zaka Journal Standard" is currently holding a sports-themed event called "A-LEAGUE. Among the items that make up the store, the "Awesome Boy" remake items stand out in a unique way.
AWESOME BOY × ICHIRYU MADE Remake Basketball Vest ¥25,000＋TAX
AWESOME BOY × ICHIRYU MADE remake kung fu football shirt ¥25,000＋TAX
AWESOME BOY × ICHIRYU MADE Remake track cargo pants ¥20,000＋TAX
AWESOME BOY × ICHIRYU MADE Remake Baseball Coat ¥30,000+TAX
After working in apparel sales, he switched careers to become a tailor. He started the remake brand "ICHIRYU MADE" based on the skills he cultivated there. He creates each item by his own hands.
Owner of the vintage store "Awesome Boy" in Harajuku. He deals in vintage clothing items with a focus on hip-hop. He started producing remake items last year.
knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare)I originally worked at a certain brand store. It was a store that mainly handled denim items and also did repairs. After that, I joined a tailor and studied the structure of clothes and repair techniques before setting up my own business.
Did you always want to do a remake brand?
knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare)I was making remake items by combining clothes with clothes, not as a brand, but because I wanted to wear clothes I liked. I thought it would be better to develop my skills, so I entered a tailor shop. After working there for several years, I set up my own business last February.
knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare)I often wonder if I can do this. I often wonder if I can do this (laughs). (Laughs.) At first, I am a bit confused because I receive designs that I did not have in my mind. But it's fun to work on it, and when it's finished, I feel that I have created something good.
knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare)It is the same for me. By being placed here, we can be seen by customers we normally don't have access to. I hope that A-LEAGUE will eventually grow into a global brand in the hands of people overseas.
