MONTHLY CCC SESSION] VOL.06 KISHITA Tomomi (is-ness / ISNESS MUSIC) "A Sense of Communication that Transcends Language Barriers

City Country City" is an anonymous brand that does not disclose its designer, but has been steadily increasing its presence. In this Series, we interview creators who have been close friends with 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.

Tomomi Kishita, designer of "is-ness" and "ISNESS MUSIC," will appear in this issue. This time, City Country City has collaborated with Tomomi Kishita, who is well versed in house music culture and related creations. We follow the relationship between the two brands from the past to the present.

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When we have the same taste in music and culture, we can communicate with each other beyond the language barrier.

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

Kishta:It has been almost 30 years ago, but I used to hang out with the "brand people. At the time, I was the manager of a store called "PERV," which opened in Harajuku in 1994. It was a store that introduced London dance music, street fashion, and other underground styles from the other side of the world. In addition to selling apparel and records, the owner DJ Marbo was throwing parties with DJ Harvey, and I was helping him as a staff member.

The 90s was also the dawn of house music, wasn't it?The following is a list of the most common problems with the

Kishta:Yes, that's right. Especially in Japan, New York house music was the most major. It was music derived from disco. However, DJ Harvey and DJ Marbo, who used to live in London, taught me a lot of interesting European dance music and records of various genres that I had never heard before.

The T-shirts you brought today are also very old.

A piece from the legendary New York party "THE LOFT" where WAR's "CITY COUNTRY CITY" was played. The evergreen message and design are appealing and can be worn even today.

An item from the edit label established by DJ Harvey and Gerry Roone. A fascinating item that those who understand it will appreciate.

The long T from New York house label SHELTER RECORDS features a simple design.

Kishta:They are the ones I bought or received at parties. They are things that I don't usually wear but can never throw away. Looking at them brings back memories of those days.

Did you dance with the "brand" in the clubs?

Kishta:We played clubs, had dinner, went to record stores, and were together 3 or 4 days a week. The room I was living in at the time was our hangout spot, and before going out we would check out the promo records that were sent to us and the new releases we had just acquired, and we would listen to the used records we had dug up in desperation together until we wore them out (laughs).

Kishita-san's company, "isness music," is involved in music-related creations, and that history is your original experience, isn't it (laughs)?

Kishta:That may be so. I still go to clubs often, and I like music and dancing. Also, it is interesting to be able to hang out with people I would not normally associate with at a club.

There are people with many different identities.

Kishta:Yes, that's right. Being exposed to the ideas of these people leads me to design, and the fashion of the people in the clubs inspires me as well.

WAR" is an American funk band that created the famous song that is the original inspiration for the brand name. The same print is on the back. This is also Kishta's personal item.

City Country City" also uses music as a backdrop for its creations.

Kishta:When I saw the brand name, the first thing I said was "WAR! (laughs). I could tell that they really love music.

What did you feel about the design?

One item from "Country City" has a print on the cuff that resembles a record promo disc. This is also a story that those who know what they are talking about will understand.

Kishta:For example, when they say, "This is the same stuff that was used for the graphic design," I can feel a certain sympathy for them. There is a core to the work that those who understand it can appreciate. On the other hand, there is also a graphic sense that makes even those who don't know the source material think, "Cool! On the other hand, there is also a graphic sense that makes people who don't know the source material think, "This is cool!

That's what attracts you.

Kishta:And yet it is genderless and borderless. It can be worn regardless of nationality, generation, or gender. When cultural interests such as music and art match, I think there is a place where people can communicate with each other beyond language barriers.

Music is the key word, and you can wear it to the club.

City Country City and Izness Music will be releasing collaborative items.

(ISNESS MUSIC×CITY COUNTRY CITY FOR STIRWISE EST〉crew neck sweatshirt ¥22,000 each, sweat pants ¥19,800 each

Kishta:We are planning a pop-up event in October at a store in Sendai called "Stairwise East". Both of these brands carry our products, and we were approached because of our history.

How did this item come about?

Kishta:The store asked for a sweatshirt set-up. We worked with "City Country City" to come up with the graphics. We worked with "City Country City" to come up with the best graphics.

The logo is a well-balanced mix of the "house" logo of "Isness Music" and the familiar logo of "City Country City.

Kishta:We made some adjustments (laughs). (Laughs.) It's a small detail, but the letter "E" in "ISNESS MUSIC" is the logo of "City Country City" and so on.

No back print?

Kishta:I had thought about it, but in response to a request for something simple, I decided to eliminate it this time. I had already created a graphic for the back print, so it would be nice if I could use that for some other occasion (laughs).

What is the intention behind the reflector print?

Kishta:It's safe even in the dark (laughs). Among the dealers, music was a key word, and they also had an image of being able to wear it to clubs and so on. So I would like them to wear it to parties.

Lastly, what are your expectations for City Country City in the future?

Kishta:I would like to see the dark side and the crazy side in your future creations. For example, "Isness Music" has made T-shirts with the word "ACID" written on them, and I would like to see items like that that make people smile (laughs). I would also like to see digital fashion in virtual spaces such as games and the Metaverse.

Do you mean that you are into fashion in such a virtual space?

Kishta:It would be interesting to see someone wearing a logo item with "CCC" written on it on the screen. I hope that you will continue your activities energetically and without being stereotyped in this way.

Tomomi Kishita
While studying fashion design, patterning, and sewing at a fashion school in 1989, he also worked part-time in the editorial department of a fashion magazine while still in school. In 1994, he became the manager of "PERV" in Harajuku, and after working as an advisor for various stores, he became independent in 2001. He launched "is-ness" to create products that can be felt in the heart.

Photo_Yuta Okuyama
Text_Yuichiro Tsuji