[FOCUS IT.]Picky, a store and bar directed by Yuya Nara, accelerates Tokyo's night scene: ⁉︎

Tokyo's night scene has been forced to stagnate at the mercy of an unforeseeable pandemic. The light and sound have disappeared from the nightclubs and music bars that have spawned numerous movements and relationships, and the night scene that was once commonplace is fading with each passing day.

A store and bar that throws a wrench into the status quoPICKY THE SHOP / BAR (hereinafter referred to as "Picky")opened in Omotesando, Tokyo. SHIMA, which offers high-trend hairstyles that capture the times, has taken on this project.

Why did a popular hair salon, which continues to be a leader in the beauty industry, decide to open a store and bar under the current circumstances? We asked Yuya Nara, director of "Picky," and Kaori Shima, president of "Shima" to answer this question.

PROFILE

Yuya Nara

SHIMA HARAJUKU Art Director / Hair & Makeup Artist

. Born in 1980. After graduating from beauty school, joined "SHIMA" in 2000. While working for fashion magazines, advertising visuals, and hair shows, she also continues to do salon work. She is highly trusted by international celebrities such as Lady Gaga and the Olsen sisters.
Instagram:@yuyanara

PROFILE

Kaori Shima

President, SHIMA Corporation

. Born in 1980. Enrolled in beauty school while still in college , and started double school. After graduation, he joined "SHIMA" and worked as an assistant to Mr. Nara at the Aoyama store where he was assigned. Currently, he succeeds his father as the president of "SHIMA" as a managerial position.
Instagram:@shima_official_account

. First of all, let me ask you about your backgrounds. Mr. Nara, you are not only a hair stylist, but also a hair and makeup artist and a fashion icon in Tokyo.

Nara: When I was a student, magazines were the mainstream and street snapshots were in their heyday. I was a cut model at the time, and that is how I came to be featured in the magazine.

At that time, many of my friends around me were stylists and photographers' assistants, and by the time I made my debut as a hair stylist, they had all become independent and were developing their skills. Through this connection, I began to receive requests for hair and makeup work in addition to my salon work. My first job was a visual for Yoshitaka Kajitani's jewelry brand Yoshiko Creation Paris. The photographer was Nobuyoshi Araki (Araki Nobuyoshi), and I remember I was very nervous from the very beginning (laughs).

. You said that many of your friends were involved in the fashion industry at one time or another. You have always been surrounded by many people in the fashion industry. Is there a reason why you decided to become a hair stylist instead of an apparel designer?

Nara: Of course I liked clothes, but if you ask me if I wanted to be a salesperson or a designer, I didn't. . . Also, I liked painting and wondered if I would attend art school, but I couldn't make a living unless I could sell art, too. I have a surprisingly solid mindset (laughs). . However, because I was familiar with magazines, I had a strong yearning for the glamorous world, so I chose the profession of hairdresser, which allows me to work in such a field as well.

. How did you come to become the president of "Sima", Kaori? Since your parents are the founders of the company, did you always want to be a hairdresser from a young age?

Kaori: That's not true. I had no intention of becoming a hairdresser, so after graduating from high school, I attended a regular four-year college. During my first year, I didn't put much effort into my studies or my part-time job, and I was living a carefree student life. One day, my father scolded me, perhaps because he couldn't stand to see me like that. I was so inspired that I started double-schooling at a university and a beauty school.

At the time, I didn't even know the word "beauty" for beauty, but three years passed by, and I obtained my beautician's license and graduated from college without incident. I was about to decide what I was going to do when my parents recommended that I join Shima. I thought I would be able to work in management right away, but my father told me to go to the field first. . That was the start of my life in beauty.

So the road to becoming a business owner was not easy.

Kaori: Then, five months after I joined the company, I was transferred to the Aoyama store and was assigned as an assistant to Nara, who had just made her debut at the time.

Nara: You worked as an assistant for three years and finally made your debut. . I didn't care at all about being the boss's daughter. . I had a lot of guts because I was from the gal generation (laughs). (laughs). And he was also good at getting the gist of things.

Kaori: After debuting as a stylist and gaining on-the-job experience, I became a press 11 years ago. 6 years ago, I took over from my father as director and was involved in staff training, overall salon management, branding, and new store openings, and this year, I became president.

You must have had a long history of working together. You two have been mentors and disciples for a long time, and now you are working as a player and Kaori is working as a manager.

Kaori: Yes, that's right. I have known Nara for 20 years, and now we are like good business partners. Since I have been watching the entire process from the beginning, I think I understand Nara's strengths and human nature more than anyone else. . He is serious but likes to drink and has a wide circle of friends. Since I was young, I have been communicating with VIPs in the industry without hesitation, and I have a personality that everyone likes. That's why I asked Nara for advice on this restaurant, saying, "Isn't it about time you tried something like this? I asked Nara for advice and that's how this restaurant started.

Now that we have a better understanding of the two of you, let me ask you about "Picky," which opened last November. To be frank, what kind of a restaurant is this place?

Kaori: Simply put, it is a complex made up of two spaces. Just inside is "Picky the Shop," which sells original items as well as domestic brand clothing and accessories. In the back is "Picky the Bar," a bar space that can also be used as an event venue or gallery. Nara was in charge of the direction of the project.

Nara: At Picky the Shop, we carry the standard items such as hair care products by Shima and original Picky T-shirts. In addition, I have selected brands from my friends, such as DELUXE and the eyewear brand INARI. I would like to regularly develop collaborative items, and at the time of the opening, I asked collage artist Kosuke Kawamura to design a T-shirt for me.

Picky the Bar" was inspired by "Le Baron de Paris" (Le Baron), which used to be located in Minami-Aoyama. It was a lounge where all kinds of people, from street kids to people in the fashion industry, gathered, and both Kaori and I used to hang out there when we were in our 20s. At Le Baron, I was able to talk with people I admired and meet many cool adults.

But over the past few years, such stimulating social gatherings have been disappearing rapidly. I opened this store in the Omotesando/Harajuku area, which is a center of culture, to provide young people of today with the same kind of experience I had when I was young.

Kaori: Our goal is to create a place that is a melting pot of races, where there are college students, but also artists and entertainers. The name "picky" means "selective," and we named the place "Picky" because we wanted it to be "a place with a special feeling" for those who come.

Do you have any particular taste in interior design?

Kaori: At the core of the design is a modern and cool worldview that is typical of the trend-setting salon "Shima. Many nightclubs and bars are decorated in a European style. . What we wanted to express in "Picky" was a simple and sophisticated space.

So, while mixing various tastes such as neon signs, white concrete walls, and metal, we have trimmed away unnecessary decorations. It is neither too rough nor too glaring, and I think it has become a comfortable space for all generations and genders.

Nara: I also like the capacity. It seats 26 and can accommodate about 50 people including standing. It is more spacious than a lounge, and it has a VIP room with karaoke and a DJ booth, so it is convenient for private parties. The bar counter overlooks the floor, so it's easier to avoid any problems, and you can have a drink in a more relaxed atmosphere than in a club.

. So "Picky" is a restaurant that reflects your tastes and "Sima" style. . What was the reason for opening a new store in the Corona Disaster, where irregularities continue to occur?

Kaori: The year 2021, when this project started, was the 50th anniversary of "Sima" and we were also turning 40 years old. So, when we wanted to challenge ourselves to create a new business outside of the salon business, we came up with the idea of combining a store featuring "Sima" products such as shampoo and hair oil with a bar that would take advantage of Nara's community and ability to attract customers.

Nara: I am glad that we were able to open at this time. Since the Corona disaster, I have heard people say that they are starved for communication, and I have heard from my friends that there are many people who are looking for a place to socialize. I can't go back to my old life right now, but I hope that "Picky" can provide an opportunity for people to do so.

It's been three months since you opened, what are your goals for "Picky" in the future?

Kaori: I mentioned earlier that we are aiming to create a place that is a melting pot of races, but at "Picky the Shop" we would like to be more selective and increase the number of independent but cool items. And for those who can't come to Tokyo.EC SiteI would like to continue working with Nara to make it even more perfect. Now that we finally have an idea of what our customers are looking for, we would like to further improve the quality of our products through trial and error with Nara.

The goal of Picky the Bar is to be a place where people say, "When I think of Tokyo nights, this is the place to be! . In fact, we initially envisioned it as a members-only bar for VIPs. . In fact, at first, we envisioned a members-only bar, where only VIPs would be allowed. But if we did that, we would not be able to let young people see the glamorous world and create a real night scene. I want to create a space where people of different generations, occupations, backgrounds, and everything else can mingle and create a new culture.

How about you, Mr. Nara?

Nara：I am often asked in magazine interviews, "What are your influences? Nara: I am often asked in magazine interviews, "What influences you? In the same way, I believe that the connections you make by actually visiting a place can be an asset to you. I would be very happy if "Picky" could create various encounters like I did when I was playing at "Le Baron".

Photo_Naoki Tomita