Kichijoji, as documented by Maiko Suzuki. | feature

The familiarity of Kichijoji makes you feel comfortable in your own skin.

The city has the impression of buildings and concrete, but if you look carefully, you will notice that nature is actually everywhere, such as flowers and trees blooming on roadsides, parks, and the wind blowing off buildings. Such "nature in the city" is the essence of "The North Face Purple Label's outdoor wear that blends in with the city.

Among these, the mountain parka is a standard item that has been a staple since the brand's birth. The fabric is a 65/35 bay head cloth, a blend of recycled polyester and organic cotton spun at a ratio of 65:35 and densely woven. The fabric is durable and functional, yet feels like cotton to the touch. And with four pockets, you don't need a bag when you go for a walk.

Maiko Suzuki walks the streets of Kichijoji with the brand's face. The North Face Purple Label's key phrase, "documenting nature in the city," we asked Ms. Suzuki to record the scenery and nature in the city in her photographs.

Today's shooting took place in Kichijoji, a place you are very familiar with. What memories do you have of this city?

Suzuki: When I was in high school, the first time I hung out with Rachel was in Kichijoji. We took purikura pictures on a rainy day, and since it was before we started "chelmico," we talked about our future activities at Inokashira Park.

In a sense, you could say that this is where "chemico" was born.

Suzuki: I guess you could say so. Recently, after recording a song called "Utsutsu," I had a drink with AYA, who played bass, and Mitsunaga, who played drums, at Kichijoji.

I was allowed to visit his favorite izakaya (Japanese-style pub), and I could tell that he likes to drink (laughs).

Suzuki: Drinking, I love it (laughs). So, after I turned 20, I often played in Hamonica Yokocho. I like the feeling of liveliness when you enter one of the back alleys.

What kind of town is Kichijoji for you?

Suzuki: What struck me when I was walking around earlier was that even though it was a weekday afternoon, I saw a company employee sitting on a bench opening a bottle of chu-hai (a refreshing beverage). You don't see that kind of scene in Yoyogi Park. I like that about Kichijoji (laughs). It has a sense of familiarity, or perhaps it is a town that I feel at home in.

Do you usually go for walks, as you did for this shoot? The North Face Purple Label" is so familiar to us that we have items with the word "stroll" attached to them.

Suzuki: I usually do this a lot, and I think I probably like to walk. Sometimes I just go for a walk when there is nothing going on, and sometimes I go for a walk when I am stuck in the production process.

Do you sometimes get ideas for songs while you are out walking?

Suzuki: When I work alone at my desk, it is a time for me to put together the various things I have accumulated inside me, but I also get hints from things I see when I go for a walk. By the way, "The Night I Drank Sake" is a song that I wrote while walking the streets of Hatsudai.

The North Face Purple Label mountain parka you are wearing today would make a perfect walking companion.

Suzuki: It was really great. I love clothes with lots of pockets.

Is that because you want to go out empty-handed?

Suzuki: No, I carry a very large bag (laughs). (Laughs.) But at live concerts, even if I put all my belongings in my bag, there are times when I want to go outside the venue empty-handed. In that case, clothes with pockets are very convenient. Also, when I go for a walk around the neighborhood, I generally go empty-handed.

I see that you also focus on functional aspects in your daily fashion.

Suzuki: I might tend to choose clothes that are easy to walk in and move around in. I bought a skirt once to try it on, but I hardly ever wore it. In my case, my live outfits are like an extension of my regular clothes, so I like casual clothes.

That's what I do, I have lots of outdoor clothes. My older brothers and sisters love mountain climbing, and I sometimes get their hand-me-downs. I often wear them on a daily basis.

-During the shoot, you documented the cityscape and nature in the form of photographs. On your Instagram, you post photos taken with your own film camera. Do you like photography?

Suzuki: I used to take a lot of pictures when I was in high school and even wanted to enter the photography department of an art college. But these days, I don't take as many pictures as I used to, except when I go on vacation. I think the brim of the hat I was wearing is probably in the first picture I took today (laughs).

Do you want to try your hand at directing while also being a performer?

Suzuki: The music video for "Utsutsu" is one example, and I also collaborated with a brand to make jewelry a while ago. I have received help from many people, but I quite like giving shape to things that I say, "I want to make this," or "I want to try this," and I would like to try something in the future.

Lastly, please tell us about your future plans for your music career.

Suzuki: I would like to release a solo EP. There are various kinds of music I would like to do, such as jazz-like music with horns, lovers rock, and so on. Also, my first EP, "Deep Green," was in a direction where I wanted to go all out with just beats. green" was in the direction of going all out with just beats, and I would like to do that again.