PROFILE
An art unit consisting of Rui Nakamura, born in 1995, and Yosuke Yamazaki, born in 1990. While each is active as an illustrator, they formed the unit in 2021, and in June 2022 opened "POOLSIDE STORE" in the Gondo area of Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture, which sells original goods.
STORE" opened in June 2022 in the Gondo area of Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture, selling original goods.
Instagram: @poolside_store2021,@ruinakamura_1995,@zaki_yama
Rain, rivers, fishing and Nanga.
On the way to Nagano on the Kan-etsu Expressway after leaving Tokyo, where I was steamed even without taking a sauna, I saw thick, suspicious clouds in the distance and thought, "No way.... I saw thick, suspicious clouds in the distance and thought, "...no way," and sure enough, it was raining here. But the air was so clear and cool that it was hard to believe that we were in Japan!
Two people from POOLSIDE. Rui Nakamura is on the right and Yosuke Yamazaki is on the left.
The two members of POOLSIDE appeared with a dashing "Hello! Both are from Nagano Prefecture and have lived in Nagano all their lives.
The two began drawing illustrations in earnest in 2019. From there, they have quickly emerged as a unit and have been invited to participate in big events such as "Mori, Michi, Ichiba 2023" (Forest, Road, Market 2023).
Rui and Yosuke have a very natural and mysterious charm, just like their unit name. Here is how they came together.
I have good friends, and I somehow found Yoh-chan among them. I saw her works and talked with her for a while, and I thought, 'I get along with her. We started painting at the same time. We started spending a lot of time together, and one day, I thought, 'I kind of want to do this together.
Left: Shirt and shorts made of quick-drying nylon tassel have a dry-touch feel with less contact with the skin. The dry-mix T-shirt worn as an inner layer also has excellent functionality, including water absorption, quick-drying and UV protection. Nanga!Shirt ¥13,200, ,T-shirt
¥6,050, ,Shorts ¥11,000(all Nanga), and other personal belongings of the individual.
Right: Aircloth series T-shirts and shorts using Dot Air are perfect for summer with their excellent breathability and sweat-absorbent quick-drying properties. The drawcords, zippers, and other small details are also thoughtful, and the lightweight and wrinkle-resistant fabric is recommended for travel.T-shirt
¥10,450, ,Shorts ¥10,450(all Nanga), and other personal belongings of the individual.
They visited the Chigawa River, which flows through Azumino, a region famous for soba noodles and wasabi (Japanese horseradish). It is also known as a famous mountain stream fishing spot. The conditions were not good because of the rain, but the cool water from the river that gushes out of the mountains was very pleasant.
On this day, the two are wearing clothes by that are perfect for summer. Rui is wearing a nylon tussah and Yosuke is wearing an aircloth top and shorts made of dotted air, both of which can be used both on land and in the water.
How does it feel to wear it?
I was surprised at how lightweight it was. I usually wear mostly old clothes, and cotton is all I wear, so it feels even lighter.
I also like the loose sizing. The material dries quickly, and I don't mind a little rain at all. It's great for when you go fishing or something.
On this day, Louis was enjoying tenkara fishing for the first time in about three years. He was moving up the river with ease, and his rod handling showed no signs of having been blanked. He cast with pinpoint accuracy to his target spot.
Tenkara is a traditional Japanese fishing method that allows anglers to feel nature directly. It is also easy to do, requiring only a hook, rod, and line. Nagano is also home to an abundance of water from the mountains of the Northern Alps and a large number of rivers, making it ideal for tenkara fishing. Of course, even if you don't fish, just dipping your feet in the river is super cool.
Well, it was raining hard, so we finished up early before noon. After having a quick meal of soba, we drove to Nagano City, their hometown, for a little while.
