PUFFY records Gaienmae. | feature

As things change, some things remain the same.

Even in a city surrounded by buildings and concrete, if you look carefully, you can feel the breath of nature at a moment's notice, such as flowers and trees blooming by the roadside, parks, and the wind blowing off buildings. Such "nature in the city" has something in common with The North Face Purple Label's outdoor wear that fits in with the city.

Among them, the mountain parka has been a standard item since the brand's birth. This item is made of "65/35 bay head cloth," a high-density blend of recycled polyester and organic cotton spun at a ratio of 65:35. While it has its origins in the outdoors, it has evolved to fit in with the times by redesigning its silhouette and applying a water-repellent finish. The "65/35 Bay Head Cloth" is a garment with its origins in the outdoors.

Wearing the brand's clothes, PUFFY went to Gaienmae, a town they say they are familiar with. The North Face Purple Label's key concept is to "record the nature that can only be found in the city," and we asked the two PUFFY members to record the scenery of Gaienmae in their photographs.

You chose Gaienmae as a town with which you have a connection.

Ami Onuki ("Ami"): That is right. My office was located in Gaienmae when I often went to the company for interviews and meetings. I often came to this area.

It was a little different from what I imagined from your image of the city, so when I first heard about it, it was a new experience for me.

Yumi Yoshimura ("Yumi"): That's right. You wonder what we were doing in Gaienmae (laughs).

Ami: From my point of view, Gaienmae also had the image of a town with adult women who wear beautiful clothes and work.

Do you have any other places you used to go or places that remain in your memory?

Yumi: I remember going into the furniture store below my office just to see what it was like, and impulsively buying a table. I wish I had never gone in there (laughs).

Ami: We used to go to a tofu restaurant that was right in front of our office. My favorite dish was a mixture of tofu and cream cheese. I thought it was closed, but I just passed by it and it is still there. I had a feeling that the stores around there had changed a lot since we used to go to Gaienmae, but I was happy to see that some things have not changed.

Do you usually take pictures?

Yumi: Actually, I don't usually take pictures at all, even with my phone. Ami-chan is always taking pictures of me, so I often have her send them to me (laughs).

Ami: It had been a long time since I had used a camera, and since I couldn't check the pictures I took on the spot like I could with my smartphone, it was a new experience for me. I felt bad if I didn't take good pictures, so I took a lot of them (laughs).

I have the impression that the two of you have always been close. Do you ever go out together?

Ami: It's super.

Yumi: You have been going out to eat together a lot lately.

Ami: However, our life rhythms are a bit different now, so we don't go out to dinner as much as we used to. I would like to have dinner with them every day (laughs).

Yumi: It's a one-sided love. I've been asked to go out with him, but I often turn him down (laughs). (laughs) But on days when we are on tour, we go out to eat together or just hang out in the city.

Ami: We had fun the other day, didn't we?

Yumi: I'm not sure how to put it, but I'm sure it's something I can do! Before a live concert, we have dinner and talk about what we want to do next time or what kind of goods we want to make. It's not so much a meeting as an extension of the meal, and we often think about such things.

Ami: We are so serious!

I don't know how they compare, but there are many comedians who work as a duo and never see each other in their private lives.

Ami: On the other hand, from our point of view, how can you work with someone like that? I can't work with someone I don't like or don't know much about their personal life.

I remember reading in an old interview that you said that Ami is more like a wild animal and Yumi is like its owner.

Ami: Well, I don't really remember if I said that or not, but I often use the analogy that if PUFFY were a video game controller, I would be the crosshairs and Yumi would be the A button. It's like I decide the direction and Yumi is pushing forward toward it.

Yumi: Yes, I'm not very good at taking direction.

Today, both of you were wearing your own Converse sneakers, and I thought they were perfect for the shoot. You two got together without any prior arrangement, didn't you?

Ami: That's right. I didn't think everyone would be so surprised since it is an everyday thing for us (laughs). We often wear them, don't we?

Yumi: That's right. I have the same pair of "Converse" that Ami is wearing today. We often talk about how we buy the same clothes but wear them in completely different ways, and how there are other ways to wear them.

Have the fashions you like been close for a long time?

Ami: Well...I don't think we're that far apart, but I feel like I was lame because I didn't buy many clothes before my debut in the first place (laughs).

Yumi: I remember very well that I went to borrow clothes from Ami because I didn't have any clothes when we went on a date. I think I borrowed a pair of Martin boots.

Speaking of PUFFY's fashion, the way she incorporates backstage brands and her style of wearing denim with T-shirts, even nowadays, doesn't look old-fashioned at all.

Ami: I was not there for many years after my debut. My boss at the time, the chief manager, was a huge shopaholic, and when I went to the office, he had a lot of such clothes ready for me. I would choose which one would look best on which person, and then I would make my decision.

When you were walking outside at that time, did you feel that there were kids who were wearing PUFFY-like fashion?

Ami: In fact, a T-shirt and denim are normal attire, aren't they? On the contrary, we appeared on TV wearing those clothes. So, when we walked down the street, we didn't think we looked like PUFFY.

Were there any fashion icons or people you admired that you thought were cool?

Ami: I had a friend who was a staff member at both Undercover and AFFA, and I hung out with her all the time. She was over 170 cm tall, and even though I knew I would never be the same even if I wore the same clothes as her, I admired her.

Yumi: That's cool. I don't really have a particular person in mind, but I always ask my hair and makeup artist to make me look like a boy in a French town (laughs). (Laughs.) I admire the way he looks cool, but a little distracted, like his hair is shaggy. I want to have that kind of vibe, like ragged shoes but with a nice coat.

What did you think of The North Face Purple Label's mountain parka that you wore today?

Ami: It is easy to move around in, has lots of pockets, and I really thought it was 100 functional. I do a lot of fishing, and it looks good for that too. Yumi, you ride a bike a lot, too, so it must be good for you.

Yumi: Indeed! I ride my bike a lot, like when I go to work, because I don't want to have to grope around looking for a parking spot. This mountain parka is very light and easy to move around in, which is good. Also, I really liked this indescribable shade of green. Usually when I coordinate my outfits, I tend to think of adding another color to the outerwear, but I realized that it is possible to match green with green, as I did today.

Ami: That's what I thought, too. I would have preferred a simple, full-body beige match.

What are your future plans for the commemorative 30th anniversary year, and do you have any message for your fans?

Ami: We love live performances the most, so we are currently putting together a tour called "Road to 30″ to celebrate our 30th anniversary. We hope to celebrate our 30th anniversary with our fans as we go around on this tour.

I'm sure they would be very surprised if you told them that you were still touring 30 years after your debut.

Ami: I don't think I imagined it at all. I even thought it would end with one album (laughs).

Yumi: The people around us listened to our opinions and allowed us to work so freely, which is the reason why we have been able to continue for so long.