Streetwise freedom in golf wear. Eastside Golf, which has gained popularity in the U.S., has landed in Japan for the first time.

Eastside Golf, a brand whose concept is to allow everyone in the world to enjoy golf with confidence and without discrimination, has arrived in Japan for the first time!　On December 7, a launch party was held at "SHIBUYA LADs," one of the brand's stores, to spread the spirit of "FUN GOLF" and a street-style golf that has not yet penetrated the Japanese market. The launch party was held at "SHIBUYA LADs," one of the brand's stores.

We interviewed professional golfer Olajuwan, CEO and Creative Director of Eastside Golf, and Earl, a top-ranked instructor with the PGA of America, who were in Japan for the party. They were joined by Kenya Okuno, a professional skater who produces the Adress golf brand and is trying to popularize "FUN GOLF" in Japan, and exchanged opinions on the differences between golf in Japan and the U.S., as well as how to enjoy golf and its style, They exchanged their opinions on the differences between golf in Japan and the U.S. and how to enjoy golf and its style.

To sponsor myself to become a professional golfer
brands.

Congratulations on the launch of Eastside Golf in Japan!　We would like to ask you about the brand and what you are aiming for.

Olajuwan:Thank you!　I hope everyone in Japan likes it.

Okuno:First of all, I would like to know how Eastside Golf got started.

Olajuwan:I started playing golf when I was 6 years old, and by the time I was 13, I was in Chicago, taking golf lessons with Tiger Woods, etc. From there, I traveled all over the United States. When I entered college on a scholarship, I met Earl, who would go on to co-found the brand. There, we both got serious about golf, and even though I was on a scholarship, I was able to gain experience by competing in national championships.

Earl:After college, Olajuwan went on to become a professional golfer and I went on to become a coach and instructor.

Olajuwan:But the road to becoming a professional golfer is not a simple one. ...... I worked as an office worker for nine years to earn enough money to eat. But one day, I saw myself in a suit and thought, "This is not who I really am. So I decided to become a professional golfer again.

Okuno:I see. So it wasn't easy after all.

Olajuwan:When I decided to become a professional golfer again, I decided to create my own logo. That is now the logo of my brand.

Earl:The motif of this logo is Olajuwan. I like this logo very much.

Olajuwan:From there, I made a lot of clothes using this logo. Even though it was the first time, we made as many as 3,000 pieces (laughs).

Earl:It's crazy (laughs). Olajuwan is going back to being a professional golfer next March. The reason why he started the brand is to sponsor himself.

Okuno:It's great to start a brand to sponsor yourself.

I see. That is an interesting experiment. What is the concept of the brand that you are aiming for?

Olajuwan:The concept has been classic golf wear and street-style golf wear. One of the first things we are doing is creating a mixture of these two elements.

Earl:By adding elements of street wear, we want to create a phenomenon in which golf wear, which until now has only been sold at sporting goods stores, can now be found in street stores.

Olajuwan:It's also a concept that golfers from 15 to 70 years old can wear.

You also design clothing for a golf brand called "Address," but don't you share some of the same concepts as "Eastside Golf"?

Okuno:The concept of "Address" is "Style matters on the course, on the street," so there are a lot of similarities.

Olajuwan:Yes, I think so. I think it's pretty close.

Earl:How long has Kenya been working on the "address"?

Okuno:It's been about a year and a half. It is still a newcomer brand.

Golf in Japan is a "culture.
Overseas golf is a "culture.
Its a subtle difference.

How do you divide the roles of Orajuwan and Earl at Eastside Golf?

Earl:Olajuwan is the CEO and founder of the brand. I am also a co-founder of the brand, and I aim to build on the vision that I have from the beginning, without losing the axis of the brand itself. I am also a co-founder of the brand, and I aim to build on the vision that I have seen from the beginning, without losing sight of the axis of the brand itself.

Olajuwan:I am the founder and creative director. I am the one who decides on apparel designs, color patterns, etc. I am also the one who decides on marketing plans. My role is to be in charge of each and every one of those creative aspects.

I see. So the two of you are complementing each other in areas where you are lacking and moving the brand forward. In Japan, golf still has a somewhat formal culture, with jackets being the only way into the clubhouse and shorts not being allowed on the course. ...... I get the impression that golf is more of a gentleman's sport, but what is the general perception of the sport in the U.S. and how is it enjoyed?

Okuno:I was wondering about that myself.

Olajuwan:From our point of view, the custom of having to wear a jacket seems very luxurious. However, what I like about the Japanese golf culture is the fact that we spend a whole day on the course, which allows for closer communication, which I think is appealing.

Earl:In the US, we play rounds at a faster pace, 2-3 hours, so maybe that's a big aspect of it being used as a business tool. We don't have lunch together or ....... Fashion may be freer than in Japan, but there is a business-like aspect.

Okuno:I see.

Earl:Japanese golf has a strong image of "traditional culture = respecting tradition. This is different from what we think of as "culture" (i.e., incorporating new things as they come along). I feel that overseas is more open and in the process of evolving.

Olajuwan:Of course, there are "addresses" like Kenya's, so I am looking forward to seeing how "culture" and "culture" will intersect in the future of golf in Japan.

Do you also design your wear with what they said in mind?

Okuno:I could certainly sympathize with what you both had to say, and I think that may be true. I lived in Hawaii for about a year myself. I used to play golf in Hawaii, but people there play fast rounds and dress very casually. Some people play in sandals, shorts, and T-shirts. In Japan, it costs a lot of money to play a round of golf, and it takes a whole day to play a round, so I feel that beginners cannot play casually in this environment. I think the challenge is how to lower this barrier.

Olajuwan:I would love to see Kenya take the lead on this.

Okuno:We are trying to create a routine like ...... where we skate at the Komazawa Park park, go to a club, and then go out for drinks afterwards.

Earl:For example, if you mix Kenya's skating and various other things, it will naturally become a "culture.

It's not just about immediate profit.
We value a vision that looks 10 years into the future.

I think there is a strong connection between golf and street culture such as hip-hop music and skateboarding in other countries.

Earl:My impression is that golf has never had this aspect. I believe that every sport has its own "culture," but for golf, "culture" has been associated with history or something a little more formal, I think the problem is that "freedom" and "music" have never been associated with it.

Olajuwan:In order to drive golf in the future, it is important to connect with such things. It will depend on what we want the golf scene to look like in the next 10 to 20 years, but that is what we want to create.

Earl:If you look two years into the future, all you have to think about is making money, but we want to look 10 years into the future of the golf scene.

Okuno:Well, that's a hot story (laughs). In the U.S., for example, do you enjoy golf differently depending on the region, such as the West Coast or the East Coast?

Olajuwan:There are no major differences between states, such as the West Coast and the East Coast. Of course, there are differences in weather conditions, grass conditions, and course topography. The major difference may be who runs the clubhouse. Depending on who makes the rules, rough clothing may be acceptable.

Eastside Golf has collaborated with Jordan Brand and Beats headphones.

Olajuwan:By collaborating with various brands, we get more exposure, which gives us more opportunities to let various people know about us. One of the biggest was our collaboration with Jordan Brand, which led to the appearance of our collaborative shoes in the "NBA 2K" series of games. We also appeared in "MLB" and "PGA" games, so I think the value of the brand has increased even more.

Earl:Collaboration with large companies is something we are proud of. However, just because it is a big company does not mean that we can create the "culture. We believe that this is an area that cannot be linked, so even if we collaborate with a large company, we at Eastside Golf would like to value the "culture" that we create.

Okuno:It is really important that we don't let our own axes get brushed.

What items would you recommend?　Also, Mr. Okuno, were there any items that caught your attention?

Olajuwan:The pictures on my sweatshirts, t-shirts, and shoe boxes depict our ideals. The player is me, and people of different races are watching me play ....... I recommend this graphic because I adopted it for my clothing with the hope that this is the world I want it to be.

Earl:The vest I'm wearing is lightweight and warm, so it's perfect for cold-weather rounds. Of course, it can be layered for other occasions as well, so it's very useful.

Okuno:The design of these sweatpants with Velcro to install golf gloves was an eye-opener. This is a detail that only golfers would understand, but the idea was revolutionary.

Finally, how would you like Japanese players to wear Eastside Golf?

Olajuwan:In any case, I would like you to dress in a way that is true to yourself. I think Japanese players have been dressing in ways that fit the image of "golf," but I want them to aim for a style where they can wear what they want to wear and follow their own beliefs. I would be happy if Eastside Golf is a part of that.

Okuno:We have clothes that can be worn not only in the golf scene but also by skaters like us, so please check out "Eastside Golf".

Photo_Daiky
Text_Yasuyuki Usijima