Asahiichi & KEBOZ guide you through a chic way to spend time in Kuramae.

Next, it was the turn of "Kebo's." Kenbo is a former businessman who worked for an advertising agency until he started his brand. His reason for starting a brand without a career in clothes making was extremely pure.

I have always loved clothes, so I decided to try making them myself. That was just four years ago. At first, I just wanted to make my friends happy, but as the brand gradually grew, I decided to focus solely on "Kebozu. One year after quitting my job at the company, I started a company with Shin-chan (Monzen-san) and opened this store.

But why did you set up store in Kuramae, a place where fashion was not popular? Kuramae is a town with no fashion image, so I thought it would be interesting to open a shop there. I think it would be more memorable for customers to come all the way here to buy clothes. In fact, we have many customers from outlying areas, and we would be happy if they came to Kuramae for the same reason we did.

Kevoz" now has a nationwide fan base, not just a few clothing enthusiasts. The number of followers has increased by 60,000 between June and December of this year, and is currently at a breakneck pace, exceeding 120,000. Numbers are not everything, but the growth rate so far is an indicator of the high level of attention.

I don't pay much attention to the numbers, but I am happy that more people are getting to know "Kebo's." Compared to the past, we have a much younger clientele. Compared to before, we have a lot more young customers. There are high school students who come here because they enjoy talking with the store staff, and there are fathers who buy matching items for their sons. The age range is surprisingly wide, and people of all ages and both men and women come to visit us.

There is a synergistic effect with "Asahiichi," and sometimes locals who come for a drink on the spur of the moment learn about "Kevozu" and become fans. And, of course, vice versa."

The circle of the community is expanding without any intentional set-up. How does your partner, Mr. Monzen, perceive the momentum of "Kebozu"?

To be honest, I am surprised. But there is something I think about. Kawamura works harder than anyone else and plays more than anyone else. When he goes to a pop-up shop in a rural area, he goes out for drinks with the people of that town and then goes to work. While traveling, he would earnestly repost the posts of his fans. While I was doing that, I recently learned that the maximum number of Stories is 100 (laughs).

Kenbo values communication not only in real life but also offline. The secret of "Keboz" being loved by many people can be found in his every action. When collaborating with others, he often proceeds with projects based on trust.

I only want to do what I think is good and interesting. I am not conscious of sales lines or trends in my inlines, and what is important to me is whether or not I want to wear the items. There are items that don't become a hit, but I never regret it because I made them because I wanted to make them.

Kenbo has grown "Kebo's" to this level by following his "love" to the letter. We asked him about his future plans.

I would like to open a second store in my hometown of Asahikawa. I would like to add a batting center, a public bathhouse, and other entertainment features to the current business model, so that people can spend the whole day playing there. I would also like to hold youth baseball tournaments. We grew up playing baseball, so we would like to contribute to society through that. For now, we hope that next year will be a year in which we can share our thoughts and personal side. Let's go for a stroll in Kuramae!