Vintage clothes, records, bars, and radio. A new hangout spot called “LOWDOWN MEJIRO” has opened in Mejiro.

"LOWDOWN MEJIRO" opened in Mejiro this past February.
The shop is run by Satoru, the owner, who has long been immersed in culture, including fashion and music. The first floor features vintage clothing he has collected over the years, along with brands created by designers and creators he knows personally, and records. Head up the stairs, and you’ll find the bar “Midnight Blue (MIDNIGHT BLUE).” Furthermore, this venue is where the radio program “Midnight Gunjo,” currently airing on FM Yamagata, is recorded in collaboration with producer Shinya Shoji.

"I actually wanted to run a bar at first."
That’s how Satoru recalls it. The initial concept that led to the current “Lowdown Mejiro” was to open a bar.
It all started with Kotaro Furuichi of “The Collectors,” a close friend of mine.
I had been hoping to create a place where Mr. Furuichi—with whom I often shared a drink in Ikebukuro—could come and drink without any reservations. Around the time I was harboring that hope, the building that had once been Mr. Furuichi’s family home became vacant.

At first, he had only thought of opening a bar. He says he hadn’t imagined selling vintage clothing or records, or even running the kind of store he has today.
"Before I knew it, this is how it turned out (lol)."
I have a friend who loves fashion, a friend who loves music, and some friends who love drinking. As we each brought along the things we loved, Lowdown gradually took on its current form.
The choice of Mejiro as a location wasn't decided from the very beginning either.
"This was the property. That's all there is to it."
Even so, once they opened the shop, they said the calm atmosphere unique to this town felt very pleasant.

Another highlight is the brand's selection, which currently includes the full lineup of this season's T-shirts from 〈TANG TANG〉.

When you enter the first floor, the first thing that catches your eye is the vintage clothing. The items on display are things Satoru has collected over many years.
"I didn't buy them to sell them. I just liked them."
Here you'll find clothes I've chosen based on my own instincts—long before the vintage boom even began.
The same criteria apply to the brands we select. Alongside vintage clothing, we feature brands by designers and creators with whom we have close ties.
"In the end, it's all about people."
It's not about brand names or trends, but whether you're drawn to the creator.
"I want to show you this person's clothes."
The clothes chosen with that sentiment in mind are naturally lined up on the same rack as the vintage items.

The record selection is also typical of this store.
The shelves are lined not only with records owned by Satoru and Shoji, but also with records that musicians and creators connected to the store have been listening to for many years. Each of them has written a comment, sharing their memories associated with that particular record.

Apparently, there was an incident that left a lasting impression on him since he opened the store.
One day, a high school girl picked up a record by “Aburadako,” a Japanese band active in the 1980s, without hesitation.
"Are you sure this is okay?"
I couldn't help but say that to her, and we decided to let her listen to it in the store. Even after that, she still felt the same way, so she went ahead and bought the record. A few days later, she visited the store again with her mother, and this time, they enjoyed coffee on the second floor while having a lively conversation about music and movies.
"I thought it was a connection made possible precisely because the store exists."

Go up the stairs, and you'll find the bar "Midnight Blue."
Although it’s a referral-only system, Satoru says, “It’s not that we want to exclude anyone.”
This bar began because we wanted to create a place where Mr. Furuichi and our friends could relax and unwind.

A recent photo shoot at Midnight Blue. The shoot took place with Daisuke Obana, the designer of N.HOOLYWOOD.

This location is also where the radio show *Shinyaku Gunjo*, hosted by Mr. Shoji and currently airing on FM Yamagata, is recorded.
Although the show began with Mr. Shoji’s simple question, “How about doing a radio show?,” the reason he chose a station in Yamagata—his hometown—rather than one in Tokyo was his desire to reach people working late at night in his hometown.

"It was great because it was FM Yamagata."
That’s what Mr. Shoji says. He explains that because it’s a regional station—rather than one in Tokyo—the show can naturally become part of the daily lives of people working late at night or driving on the roads. He says that kind of intimacy was just right for this program.
Unlike social media, where things flash by in an instant, it gently accompanies someone’s daily life. That sense of closeness somehow resonates with this place as well.

At the end of the interview, when I asked, “If you had to describe the shop in one word, what would it be?” the two of them exchanged a brief glance and smiled.
"It's a hangout spot, isn't it?"
In the future, we’ll host gyoza parties or have friends serve as “manager for a day.” The atmosphere changes depending on who’s there that day.
Some people come to look at vintage clothing, while others come to look for records.
Some people stop by for a drink before heading home, while others visit the bar because they heard about it on the radio.
Even if our goals are different, before we know it, we find ourselves talking to someone.
That same view stretches out before “Lowdown Mejiro” once again today.

• Photo_Go Tanabe
• Edit_Daiki Yamazaki (Rhino Inc.)