MONTHLY CCC SESSION] VOL.08 Mitsuhiro Kubo (GR8) "Seeds of Culture Passed Down from Pulse to Pulse

City Country City" is an anonymous brand that does not disclose its designer team, but has been steadily increasing its presence. In this Series, we interview creators who have been close friends of the brand since its inception to find out what the brand is really like. We will be looking into the contents of this mysterious brand from all angles.

On March 16 (Sat), a limited number of special products from CITY COUNTRY CITY x OLD PARK x Marmot & GORE-TEX BRAND will be released at the select store "GR8" in Harajuku.

To commemorate the event, Mitsuhiro Kubo, founder/owner of City Country City, will appear on the show. We will take an in-depth look at the relationship between "City Country City" and Mr. Kubo, whom he says he has "known for a long time.

There was a sense of bittersweet memories that came back to me from those days.

Please tell us about the connection between you and City Country City.

Kubo:I met the people behind the brand shortly after I moved to Tokyo. Actually, I had known about the brand from when I was still in my hometown. Including that, it was about 30 years ago. That was in the 1990s. I love fashion, so looks are more important than culture. I remember looking at the photos of the brand's people in magazines and being excited.

At that time, the culture of the backstreets was at its peak, wasn't it?

Kubo:That's right. I went from my hometown to Harajuku and visited various stores, but there were almost no clothes (laughs). I went to Laforet in Harajuku, looked at "Nowhere," which was under "Vintage King," and also looked at "Bounty Hunter," but no matter where I went, there were no products. So I was very happy when I miraculously was able to buy some clothes.

At that time, local stores had a lot of momentum, didn't they?

Kubo:It was a mess. When I was a student, our generation had nearly 10 classes per grade, and there were just so many people. I think that is why the fashion market was so large. When I think about it, Tokyo had a tremendous number of people, and I looked at it as a city filled with dreams. It was a festival every day. Even in my hometown, I felt the bustle, so I thought Tokyo must be even more so. The members of "CCC" were active at the forefront of fashion in those days, and I think they saw many things.

Maybe that's why, when I saw the items from "CCC" for the first time, I had a sense of bittersweet memories of those days; it was like seeing clothes that were in my closet when I was 20 years old, but now they have come out.

Bittersweet, is it?

Kubo:I remember thinking, "I was so angry with them back then" (laughs). After moving to Tokyo, I started working for a brand called "Revolver," and the members of "CCC" were also working there as blacks, in the shadows. So, in a sense, I feel like they are my comrades.

Was your decision to deal with "GR8" an instant one?

Kubo:It was not an instant decision, but rather something that already existed (laughs). (Laughs) I feel that we are one of the few people with whom I can share memories of those days.

Of course, I have many good memories, and the experiences I had back then that showed me many things have shaped the person I am today. The culture that was born in Uraharajuku has now become a global phenomenon. It seems to me that "CCC" is still preserving the seeds of its origins.

City Country City" has kept its designer team out of the public eye and has maintained anonymity in its brand activities. What do you think about the content of such activities?

Kubo:I think it is good that there are many different brands, just like everyone knows that Banksy exists, but no one knows who Banksy is. By having the designer's face, for better or worse, it may convey a kind of brand color that is superfluous. Not having that has the advantage of being able to send out only the message you want to convey.

I think they have always been like that. The members of "CCC" are the ones who are never out in the open, but behind the scenes, nodding their heads with a smug look on their faces. That is cool.

Kubo:This may be a bit off topic, but the reason why "GR8" does not make original items is because we have respect for the designers.

So we have always been honest about selling the clothes we bought, but on the other hand, the members of "CCC" are also dedicated to their own work. They are not doing the brand to become stars. You can feel that.

As a buyer, I look at many brands, and it is very important that the designer is cool. If a brand makes you think, "This person is cool," the clothes they make are also cool and fashionable. In the same way, you can tell what kind of people the members of "CCC" are by looking at their clothes.

The MA-1 is a special product of Old Park, a brand created by Hitonori Nakamura, a former staff member of Vintage King in Uraharajuku, City Country City, Marmot, and GORE-TEX BRAND. The MA-1 will be sold exclusively at GR8 from March 16 (Sat.).
¥68,200

To a brand that will create a chemical reaction both intergenerationally and globally.

What are your expectations for "City Country City" in the future?

Kubo:I would like to see you make clothes that involve the younger generation more. Of course the current lineup is great, but I think it would be nice to have items with sharp designs that would shock the younger generation.

At GR8, we are also very happy to see that Korean tech brands are doing very well. They are all starting to create original "tech" products, and new things are being born based on their own unique interpretations. CCC" also has a scent of "tech" with a focus on sports and outdoor wear. I think it would be good to update that and have clothes that are a little more grown-up. I am sure that young people would be pleased with such clothes.

The current lineup is just right for our generation to wear. However, in order to pass on the "seeds" mentioned earlier to the younger generation, I think it is also possible to examine the fit and materials. If we think about how we felt and what kind of clothes we were wearing when we were around 20 years old, I think there are things that can be opened up. It is not necessary to do so for the entire collection; two or so models would be enough. Then, I think the way the clothes originally existed will stand out.

Kubo:Having seen how far 〈CCC〉 has come so far, I would like to see the brand create a chemical reaction, not only among generations, but also globally. Apart from my own personal feelings, I think it would be more interesting to have such clothes for customers who come to "GR8" looking for fashion.

Mitsuhiro Kubo
Born in Ehime, Japan in 1975, he started working at a local store at the age of 18. 2005, he opened the select store "GR8" at Laforet Harajuku. He is the founder/owner of the store.
Instagram:@ ________kubo

Photo_Yuta Okuyama
Text_Yuichiro Tsuji