Shido“My generation… I was born in 1972, but when I was a child, I remember some stylish older men saying, ‘Oh, a Benz?’ (laughs). Like businessmen who loved racing or people in the apparel industry. BMW has always had a sporty and stylish image for me since childhood, making it an object of admiration. At first glance, the design, even on the M5, might seem a bit too understated? But it’s sophisticated, and when you see it driving, its elegance that fits perfectly into Japanese cityscapes and scenery is truly captivating. Despite its extremely sporty performance, it doesn’t feel ostentatious, which I like.”

Yagi“When I drove the M5, I suddenly thought about the engineer who developed the very first M5, wondering if they envisioned this M5 for the future. When the first generation of Kaikado was founded, it was essentially a startup, so they were creating products with the future in mind. Although it’s now considered a traditional craft after 145 years, back then, it was probably just ‘contemporary craft.’ Driving the latest M5, I felt that it has been evolving towards the future from the moment it was born, building on its legacy over generations, and continuing to connect with the future without betraying its fans. In that sense, I’m also curious about how the M5 will evolve in the future.”

Shido“But evolution is difficult. The existence of long-time fans is tradition, right? Brands with tradition must not betray those fans. Yet, they also need to captivate the younger generation, who are sensitive to what’s cool and what’s not. Evolving with the times while not betraying long-time fans. Brands that succeed have mastered that delicate balance. I think these two cars are so well-made that even long-time M fans would recognize their evolution and excellence.”

Yagi“We must pass things on to the next generation. Nakamura-san, when you create a new work, what is it that moves you at the moment of its creation?”

Shido“Pursuing innovation while preserving tradition—isn’t it the same for cars and for us? If Kabuki, the spiritual homeland, has a country, then my challenging other theatrical forms or appearing on TV and in movies is, in a sense, a ‘journey of expression.’ It’s like getting inspiration from traveling abroad; I go to the country of TV and movies, get inspired there, and when I return to my spiritual homeland, I must create expressions unique to Shido Nakamura. I don’t want it to end with just being known as a Kabuki actor who appeared on TV or in movies.

After turning 40, the desire to create new Kabuki works based on my experiences and accumulated knowledge began to emerge. For example, ‘Arashi no Yoru ni,’ which was adapted from a picture book into Kabuki, was created with the intention of preserving the nostalgic world of the picture book, so while it’s a new work, it adheres to the classical charm of Kabuki. I’m hoping that future generations will perform it 50 or 60 years from now; I was conscious of that somewhere along the way when creating it.”

Yagi“I’m looking forward to the future of Nakamura-san’s Kabuki, my world of crafts, and BMW’s M.”

These two men, who have moved people’s hearts through “performing” and “creating,” were thus able to instantly grasp the true value of BMW M, where expert craftsmanship and new technology resonate within the distinct personalities of the M5 and M550i.

Shido Nakamura
Kabuki actor. Born in Tokyo in 1972. His grandfather was Tokizo Nakamura III, a renowned onnagata actor of the Showa era and a member of the prestigious Nakamura family. His father is Mikio Nakamura, the third son of Tokizo III. He made his Kabuki debut at the Kabuki-za Theatre at the age of 8. In addition to his work as an actor in television and film, he continues to take on new challenges, such as co-starring with the virtual idol Hatsune Miku to fuse traditional Kabuki with digital technology.https://chokaigi.jp/2020summer/plan/chokabuki.html
Outfit: Jacket ¥179,400, Boots ¥64,200 (Lemaire / EDSTRÖM OFFICE Tel. 03-6427-5901), Knit ¥35,000 (John Smedley / LEE MILLS AGENCY Tel. 03-5784-1238), Pants ¥35,000 (Acne Studios / ACNE STUDIOS AOYAMA Tel. 03-6418-9923)

Takahiro Yagi
Representative Director, Kaikado Co., Ltd. Born in Kyoto in 1974. Graduated from the Faculty of Foreign Language Studies at Kyoto Sangyo University. Became president in 2017. As the sixth-generation head of Kaikado, founded in 1875 and credited with creating Japan's first metal tea caddies, he inherits tradition while also disseminating its charm overseas through events like Milan Salone and workshops. He is scheduled to demonstrate tea caddy craftsmanship at Ginza Mitsukoshi's Space of Ginza on the first floor from December 26th to December 30th.
https://www.kaikado.jp/
Outfit: Rainmaker