MIYASHITA PARK and working people's fashion.

Meirin:I am embarrassed to call it work because I feel like I am trying to be cool, but thankfully, I have been given the opportunity to produce various kinds of music recently, so I feel like it has become my job. I have always wanted to be a musician. In my case, making music is a part of my daily life, and I feel as if I have been doing my homework for a long time.

Meirin:That's right. Music is difficult to verbalize to people, so when I work on such jobs, I create songs by looking at images and discussing in detail while developing the image of the song. I always feel pressure, and I take a lot of time to prepare before a live performance. I feel like I have to do it right.

Meirin:It's when the song is finished. I like to produce. By the time I'm releasing a song, I've already put it out there. I often feel a sense of joy and accomplishment when I can look back on my skills and see how well the mixing went, while live performance is vague in its evaluation.

Meirin:I make my work in my studio, but even if I don't have plans to meet someone, I change my clothes and dress appropriately so that I can go outside. I feel more uplifted by doing so, and it helps me to switch gears.

Meirin:New clothes that I just bought make me feel good. I decide my own outfits for live performances, and I try to get new clothes and change my coordination every time.

Meirin:I generally buy clothes online, but I heard from an acquaintance that Balenciaga at MIYASHITA I heard from an acquaintance that Balenciaga in "MIYASHITA PARK" provides friendly service, and when I visited the store, I was served very politely and was able to look at the products with a wonderful feeling. I have a hair salon in Shibuya, so I started to drop by before or after my visit.

Meirin:I want to keep making music. I don't think there is a clear goal or objective. I feel that the longing to be like this limits me. Just as when you plant a seed in a field and watch how the plant grows, you are very happy when you produce a large crop, and even if you only produce a small crop, that has its own role to play. I hope I have something I want to do at that time, and I hope the environment is conducive for me to make that effort.

Shogo:About once or twice a week. I take the time to drive to Doshi Village in Yamanashi.

Shogo:Tokyo is an environment where anything is possible and you can work all the time if you want to, but I also feel that I am too busy. By forcing myself to go into nature and touch the soil even once or twice a week, I feel refreshed when I return home. To be honest, it would be very hard without this routine (laughs).

Shogo:The first year, I couldn't do it at all. I studied in my own way, took the time to adjust the environment for the crops I was going to produce, and was very happy when the results came. I think it is a very creative process, because you are actually creating something.

Shogo:I put into my clothes what I felt while working in the fields. At first, I was wearing jerseys while working on the farm, but I wanted to wear something cool that would raise my spirits a little more, so that's when I started this project.

Shogo:When it gets hard, you want to kneel, so I would strengthen the knee area of the pants. Also, pockets could be made to hold a shovel, measuring tape, or scissors. These things are gradually becoming visible. We also ask the opinions of senior farmers and vegetable gardeners to design our products.

Shogo:I haven't heard much about it. So we wanted to make it cooler and even more durable. And with a cool design that could be worn on the street.

Shogo:When I was young, Shibuya was my playground. It was just a fun place with many attractive things to see and do. Now that I am older, I don't play in Shibuya anymore, but I feel like it is constantly evolving with the times.

Shogo:Yes, that's right. I like rooftop parks. I think they are an oasis in the middle of the city. A park is a place for relaxation and communication. Members of the office also come to the park, and since everyone is so relaxed, what they talk about is completely different from what they talk about in the city. The "MIYASHITA I am sure that the park at "MIYASHITA PARK" also functions in this way.

Yamase:I had the opportunity to be involved through such work when the facility opened. MIYASHITA I sometimes pass by "MIYASHITA PARK" on my way from Shibuya to Harajuku, and I sometimes visit the gallery "SAI" as well.

Yamase:At first, I focused on things that were actually present but invisible to the eye, such as what was happening inside the body and people's emotions. Now I draw things that are a little more derived from that. I draw my work as if I were absorbing the scenery I see with my own eyes, what I experience, and what I feel, and then putting it out into the world.

Yamase:When you have been painting for a long time, there are still changes. Before, I was more innocent and abstract. I think that's how I arrived at my current style over time.

Yamase:I myself like primary colors. That is my base, and from there I layer different colors for each piece.

Yamase:I wonder. There are times when I consciously use different colors and other times unconsciously. For my upcoming exhibition on Miyakojima Island, I use colors that I have mulled over in my own way by looking at photos I took when I visited the island. But sometimes I choose colors according to my mood, so it really depends on the time of year and the purpose of the exhibition.

Yamase:It depends on the work, and if it goes well, it takes about a week. Sometimes it takes a long time because I can't see the next step, such as matching colors or composition. It's also a matter of mood, but I think I need to be able to complete the work without being influenced by my mood. It is a bit like an athlete's mindset (laughs), but I try to control my feelings myself.

Yamase:I'm pretty messy, so there was a time when I used to paint in my regular clothes, but my favorite clothes got dirty (laughs). (Laughs.) So now I wear old work pants with lots of pockets, a T-shirt, and an apron over it. It's not something I did consciously, but I feel comfortable in something that is easy to move around in and still functional.

Yamase:That's right. When I am in the studio and go out to eat lunch, it is a hassle to go to all the trouble of changing my whole body, so I leave my pants on and just change my top a little bit (laughs).

James:Toward the end of my twenties, I was thinking seriously about the rest of my life. The owner of the restaurant where I was working at the time advised me to "do what you love," and I decided that bicycles were the only thing for me.

James:I first started working at a used bicycle shop, where I saw a bicycle made by "99 Cycle Sports. I saw a bicycle made by "99 Cycle Sports" and thought it was very cool and beautiful. I was also surprised to learn that craftsmen were making bicycles in Meguro. So I immediately went to Meguro.

James:In the beginning, I was content to work at a bicycle shop and be able to ride my bicycle to work, so I never thought I would become a frame builder. Once I found something I liked, I wanted to go on and on, and I realized once again the depth of bicycles.

James:It was a combination of various triggers and timing, and it ended up that way. I still work two days a week at "99 Cycle Sports," and while studying there, I also run my own store.

James:Bicycles made by Japanese craftsmen are beautiful, precise and traditional. I think that is very attractive, and I learn a lot from it. But in my case, I want to add the essence of American freedom and flexibility. For example, I would dare to use thicker tires on a frame that would normally be matched with thinner tires. In this way, I try to propose a style that is unique to me.

James:That may be so. Before making a bicycle, I talk with the customer at length. Not only about what kind of bike they like, but also what kind of lifestyle they lead, what kind of music they like, and so on. Just like fashion, each bicycle component is individually selected, so I make suggestions that match the customer's mood.

James:It is workwear, after all. I bought my clothes secondhand because they get dirty easily (laughs). When I came to Japan, I was very surprised to see so many people stylishly wearing such old workwear.

James:First of all, it is durable. And also, even if they get dirty or worn out, they still look cool. When I wear such clothes, I feel like, "Okay, let's go for it again today. That's why I like them.