Basically, I like to dress comfortably , hats almost every day.

Please tell us about your first encounter with New Era.

bridge (of a ship)I have a sister who is four years older than me, and she has been dancing in New York since she was a student there, so she was well versed in street culture from that time. She had always been connected with people in the Urahara area, and after my sister came back to Tokyo, she and her friends would hang out with me in Harajuku. At the time, the Urahara boom was just beginning to ignite, and all the older students were wearing "New Era" caps. I remember seeing them and thinking, "How cool!

So it was on the street that you first met.

bridge (of a ship). Yes, that's right. . Then I started dancing myself, and I started wearing "New Era" like the older dancers.

What kind of style did you wear for New Era back then?

bridge (of a ship).: I wore a track jersey as a set-up and a cap on top of it. . I was not styled like a skater, but only like a dancer. . When I think back, I was a hat character from that time.

You wear a lot of hats in your daily life.

bridge (of a ship): Yes, I do. . I probably wear it almost every day. . With a hat, I don't have to worry about my hairstyle, and the same goes for my clothes. With a hat, I don't have to worry about my hair style, and the same goes for my clothes, but basically I like an easy style.

How many hats do you have?

bridge (of a ship). I have more than a hundred of them (laughs). I also have a lot of "New Era" products, including many with curved brims like the "9TWENTY™" that I'm wearing right now.

What criteria do you always use to make your selections?

bridge (of a ship). When I went to a long-established hat shop in Ginza a long time ago, the clerk once told me, "Mr. Funabashi has low ears, so a tall hat suits you well. . That's probably why I tend to pick up items with height. However, I don't want to be tied down by that, so I try to wear a variety of hats depending on my mood.

Plain items do not need to consider the background of the logo.

How do you like the "9TWENTY™" you are wearing now?

bridge (of a ship). I like the clean silhouette. I like this type of cap with a curved brim because it fits my current mood, and it's going really well.

What is your current mood?

bridge (of a ship)The cap with a curved brim like the "9TWENTY™" cap is now a standard item, isn't it? However, in light of the current trends, I think it is a very "modern" item. Rather than a skater's style, I think it gives off a subtle street style. Just by wearing it, you can give off a trendy look. Recently, I've seen many girls wearing them.

I see.

bridge (of a ship). Also, the "9TWENTY™" cap I am wearing now has no logo on the front, and the fact that it is plain is also very important. Men like to know things, so when a cap has a logo on it, they want to coordinate it with the background of the logo. This limits the range of coordination, but with "9TWENTY™," that hassle is eliminated. I am happy that the caps can be worn with a variety of styles, expanding the range of coordination.

Yes, plain items have that advantage, don't they?

bridge (of a ship)New Era has always been associated with hip-hop, but nowadays, the brand is loved by a wide range of people, from small children to young girls. That is why I would like to recommend 9TWENTY™ to anyone who is interested in trying New Era items, regardless of gender.

Lastly, please tell us how to coordinate the "9TWENTY™" with the rest of the collection.

bridge (of a ship): There's no way to coordinate it or anything (laughs). . It's plain, and I think it's easy to match with any style. You can wear it straight on with the brim facing forward, or you can shift it a little to the side or put it on backwards.

I think it's good to wear a headband without being conscious of it.

bridge (of a ship): Yes, that's right. . If you like them, you can buy them in different colors and play around with them. The price is reasonable, so you can easily buy more, and I think it's possible to use a vivid-colored model for the second one to accentuate your outfits.