PROFILE
Representative of Globespecs. born in Hiroshima in 1959, opened "Globespecs" in Shibuya, Tokyo in 1998 and in Daikanyama in 2000, and won the "Bestore Award" at the "MIDO" exhibition in Italy for two consecutive years since 2005. . In June 2008, opened a new store in Kyoto, the first new store in 20 years. . He was the only Asian company to be selected as one of the top five in the Optimum Retail Award, an eyeglasses exhibition held in the U.S. He is also a blogger of HOUYHNHNM's.
b.houyhnhnm.jp/okada_tetsuya/
PROFILE
Designer of "Old Joe", born in 1979 in Kagawa, Japan. In 2008, he started "Old Joe" together with his ally, the sign painter "NUTS ART WORKS". Currently has flagship stores in Shibuya, Tokyo and Kanazawa, Ishikawa. They have just released exclusive items with the California-based craft brand "Shizu Designs. He has a deep knowledge of a variety of products, from workwear to suit styles.
oldjoe.com
PROFILE
Sign painter, born in Aomori, Japan in 1974, started his career under the name "NUTS ART WORKS" in 1996, and has worked on signage for many well-known stores and brand graphics. 2008, he started "Old Joe" with Yusuke Takagi. . He is currently working energetically on his own works. He is considering holding a solo exhibition under his real name (Naoto Hinai) instead of "NUTS ART WORKS.
www.nutsartworks.com
Surprise, discovery, and empathy .
. First of all, how did Okada-san and Takagi-san get to know each other?
Okada:Actually, I first heard about "Old Joe" before I met Mr. Takagi. I think it was the catalog for the fall/winter 2016 season. The visual was just so cool. I can't remember how I got the catalog, but I was drawn to the styling by Akio Hasegawa, and of course the visual of a 70s "Ferrari" in an industrial atmosphere. Of course, the clothes in the book were also very much to my liking. I wanted to see it up close and personal, so I started going to the Shinsen store. About three years ago, I met Mr. Takagi for the first time at an exhibition.
I see that it is relatively recent. What was your impression when you met?
Okada:The worldview of the catalog, the antique fixtures in the store, the art books casually displayed, the miscellaneous goods, and everywhere I looked, there was an extraordinary attention to detail and sense of style, and I selfishly thought he was no older than myself. When I first met Mr. Takagi, I mistook him for a staff member (laughs). I was surprised that he was younger than I had imagined, but when I talked to him, I found that he knew a lot about many things and was very particular about them. He is especially knowledgeable about vintage clothing, and his clothes are made with the classic details that I like, making me a fan of the brand at once.
How about you, Mr. Takagi?
Takagi:Actually, I have been shopping at "Globespecs" since the Shibuya store was in a different location. I think it has been about 10 years since then. . At the time, a friend of mine had a studio nearby, and I had always been curious about it. . When I went in, the antique "The Spectacle" caught my eye and I bought it.
So you knew Okada-san one way or the other.
Takagi:I only recently came to know Mr. Okada, and that was several years before I met him at the (Old Joe's) exhibition. . I happened to see him in a magazine and was aware that he was Mr. Okada.
How did you feel when you met him?
Takagi:. He was very gentle (laughs). (Laughs.) I had thought he would be a glaring person, but when I talked to him, I found him to be very soft-spoken, generous, and wonderful.
What brought NUTS-san (NUTS ART WORKS) and Mr. Okada together?
NUTS:I met him directly through an acquaintance, but like Yusuke (Takagi), I had been buying glasses at "Globespecs" before we met. Of course, I had seen Mr. Okada in magazines for a long time, so I knew he existed.
Okada:（I had often seen you at exhibitions (at Old Joe's), but it was not until Mr. Takagi introduced us that we began to talk properly.
What was your impression of NUTS?
Okada:At first, I had the impression that he was a quiet person, but as we talked, we found many things in common, such as good restaurants and art, and since then we have become very close friends.
NUTS:He is older than me, but his behavior was so nice that I didn't feel that, and he is very knowledgeable, so I have learned a lot from him.
By the way, how long have you and NUTS been in contact with each other?
Takagi:More than 10 years ago, before I started "Old Joe," when I was working as a freelancer, I saw the artist (NUTS ART WORKS) at one of my client's companies on another matter, and I thought he was an extraordinary person. It was right around the time he did the cover of "HUgE" magazine. He was shy and didn't even make eye contact with me at first (laughs).
NUTS:Did I say that? (Laughter)
Old Joe" was started by you and NUTS, right?
Takagi:Old Joe" is basically an anonymous brand, and I am in charge of all product design, mainly clothing, and visual design for the store, while Gahaku provides graphics and works with me on the branding. While I am also an artist, I don't think there are many other brands that have someone who is so closely involved with the brand, so I would say that Old Joe's neutral style, which is not too close to fashion, is a major characteristic of the brand.
It has been more than 10 years since the brand was launched, but has your stance remained the same today?
NUTS:. Maybe I've been leaving it up to you lately (laughs). . It's not that I'm doing it consciously, it's simply that the sign maker has become more important to me than "Old Joe.
