Shido Nakamura, a leading Kabuki actor of our time, and Takahiro Yagi, the sixth-generation head of Kyoto's tea caddy workshop, Kaikado. These two men, who have reached the pinnacle of their respective crafts while upholding tradition, yet continue to innovate with refined sensibilities to create new value, drive the latest M model, the "M235i xDrive Gran Coupé." This car, born from BMW's masterful craftsmanship, cutting-edge technology, and refined sensibility, allows them to discuss its true worth.

Standing beside the BMW M235i xDrive Gran Coupé in Snapper Rock Blue, Kabuki actor Shido Nakamura and Takahiro Yagi, the sixth-generation head of Kyoto's Kaikado, are deep in conversation.

Nakamura: "When I look at a car's design, I first check the side profile. The flare of the shoulders, the sense of dynamism, the smooth flow. This car's body color, a metallic blue, perfectly complements these condensed, powerful lines. It's stunning. You can see the craftsman's soul in the meticulous details."

Yagi: "Indeed. Shido and I are around the same age and share a love for cars, yet as we talked, I realized our preferences for lines and angles differ. But with this car, I too was drawn to its condensed form and strong side profile. Passing by a building whose facade mirrored like a polished surface, I found myself admiring it while driving."

Kaikado has been handcrafting tea caddies in Kyoto for 145 years. Despite being the sixth-generation head, Takahiro Yagi is aggressive, exhibiting at Milan Salone to sell his tea caddies globally and opening contemporary cafes.

Meanwhile, Shido Nakamura enjoys immense popularity as a Kabuki actor, while also creating innovative stage productions, such as the "Hatsune Miku x Kabuki" performance at Kyoto Minamiza (though unfortunately canceled due to the spread of COVID-19). How does this M model, the BMW M235i xDrive Gran Coupé, with its motorsport DNA, resonate with the refined sensibilities of these two men who preserve tradition while boldly evolving?

Nakamura: "I'm always conscious of wanting to do new things and bring in new audiences to the theater. People often talk about tradition and innovation, but the balance, the delicate touch, is truly crucial."

Yagi: "I understand completely. Our tea caddies involve about 130 processes, all finished by hand. We don't change that. We don't alter the dimensions or details of the tea caddies made since long ago. If I can create even one new thing on top of that and pass it on to the next generation, then I believe my time as head will have been worthwhile."

Nakamura: "Driving the BMW M235i xDrive Gran Coupé, I realized that cars are the same. There's the tradition of BMW, and while preserving that tradition, this latest M model cuts through the times with its performance and design."

Yagi: "I see. Certainly, the exhilaration and excitement when you step on the accelerator are exactly what you'd expect from BMW, from an M model."

After enjoying a test drive of the M235i xDrive Gran Coupé, the two moved to Shinbashi Enbujo in Higashi-Ginza, Tokyo, Nakamura's home ground. Sitting in the front row seats of the 1,424-seat theater, they continued their conversation, gazing up at the stage during its off-season.

Nakamura: "The sporty lineage, you could call it tradition. Adding new technology enhances the excitement. It's the same for us; the key is that delicate balance. The BMW brand has a unique style. The way it maintains its integrity in this era is truly cool. I especially admire the balance in the M models."

Yagi: "I couldn't agree more. Tradition, in our worlds as well as yours, is built upon a foundation of accumulated skill, and the driving force for innovation into a new era is, of course, technology. However, as you said, the exhilaration, the ability to move the driver, comes from the refined sensibility of the engineers who carry BMW's tradition and innovation."

Yagi, too, while making the world aware of the beauty of his tea caddies, diligently works on crafting them in his workshop daily. He is influenced by his father, the fifth-generation head, and sometimes receives tea caddies for repair that were meticulously made by his father or grandfather. Here, he fully demonstrates his skilled craftsmanship.

When the lid of a Kaikado tea caddy is placed on the body, it gently slides down with its own weight and seals itself. This requires not only high precision as a product but also the intuition and sensibility honed over many years. Kaikado's tea caddies are also a testament to skill and sensibility.

And so, the conversation turned to the balance between honoring tradition and embracing new challenges. The phrase "delicate touch" or "balance" was exchanged between the two multiple times. The BMW M235i xDrive Gran Coupé, too, is a model that embodies this "delicate touch" and "balance" between tradition and innovation.

Nakamura: "The balance is crucial. Speaking of balance, returning to the car, I also appreciated that this car (the BMW M235i xDrive Gran Coupé) isn't overly Spartan."

Yagi: "That's true."

Nakamura: "As a car enthusiast, I find overly Spartan cars tiring. Even I could like this one. In Sport mode, it truly performs like a sports car, yet it can also be used as a regular four-door car. The balance is just right."

Yagi: "While I enjoy driving competitive models with roll cages in the city, I was particularly impressed by the balance of this M model. The sporty acceleration and straight-line stability when I stepped on the gas on the Shuto Expressway in the rain were remarkable. And yet, as you say, it offers the convenience of four doors."

Nakamura: "Its relatively compact size makes it very practical for city driving."

Yagi: "And its design has a strong presence despite that size, which is also appealing."

As their conversation about the brand-new four-door sports coupe they had just test-driven heated up, the Kabuki actor's expression softened as he said, "By the way..." He then confessed that he had coincidentally seen the sixth-generation head of Kaikado on a TV program once before.

Nakamura: "It was a program featuring people in Kyoto who, as artists and craftspeople, preserve tradition while infusing it with youthful spirit. You were one of them, and your mindset deeply impressed me. What inspired you to try new things while working in a world that values tradition?"

Yagi: "I think it was a significant factor that I worked elsewhere for a while before returning to the family business. During that time, I came to genuinely appreciate how cool my family's work was."

Nakamura: "I can relate to that. When I was a university student, I happened to attend a Kabuki performance for a seminar. I bought a ticket and went. I remember being surprised and incredibly happy to see my peers genuinely moved, saying 'Kabuki is amazing!' and 'Kabuki is fun!' It made me realize, 'It's cool! It's interesting!'"

Yagi: "Did that become the starting point for your innovative stage productions?"

Nakamura: "But you see, the digital Kabuki, for instance, where I co-star with Hatsune Miku, actually adheres to classical techniques. While it might seem like we're doing something new, like merging classical Kabuki with digital and virtual worlds, the acting methods, costumes, and makeup all follow traditional Kabuki principles."

Yagi: "Speaking of which, we collaborated with Panasonic to create a speaker using our tea caddies. Even then, our primary focus was on how to imbue the tea caddy with its classical charm. There's an aspect of compromise, but also a clear boundary: 'This is our tradition, and we cannot change it.' That's how it is."

The conversation then turned to taste and aesthetic sensibility. The fact that both men were wearing mechanical watches from the same Swiss brand that day only fueled the discussion. As individuals who embrace new challenges while inheriting tradition, their shared passion for cars led to a lively exchange.

Nakamura: "Those who choose this car likely possess considerable aesthetic judgment. It embodies a unique craftsmanship inherent to BMW, and the fact that it's an M model makes it even more special. I feel the skill of master artisans who fully understand what makes a car sporty. Whether it's my Kabuki, your traditional crafts, or a car like the BMW M model, ultimately, it's the creator's soul that moves people."

Yagi: "I couldn't agree more. I used to own a BMW 3 Series, and I felt that same sense of being embraced and secure when I sat in the driver's seat."

Nakamura: "It's sporty yet supple. Not just the appearance, but the engine, suspension, and all the details have been meticulously crafted as an M model without compromise. You can feel the creator's soul in that, and it appeals to the masculine spirit. You wouldn't fully grasp it without driving it."

Yagi: "BMW M models excel in that kind of balance."

Nakamura: "BMW has the slogan 'The Ultimate Driving Machine,' and it's true. Especially the M models, I believe they are cars that offer the most enjoyment to the driver above all else. Perhaps the BMW M235i xDrive Gran Coupé is a model that only BMW could create."

Perhaps inspired by the performance born from the "skill and sensibility" embodied by the BMW M235i xDrive Gran Coupé, their conversation about cars continued unabated. The leading Kabuki actor and the master craftsman of traditional arts soon found themselves sharing the innocent smiles of fellow car enthusiasts.

Shido Nakamura
Kabuki Actor. Born in Tokyo in 1972. His grandfather was Tokizo Nakamura III, a renowned onnagata (female role actor) of the prestigious Kabuki lineage. His father is Mikio Nakamura, the third son of Tokizo III. He made his debut at the Kabuki-za Theatre at the age of 8. In addition to his work as an actor in television and film, he continuously challenges himself by fusing traditional Kabuki with digital technology, such as co-starring with the virtual idol Hatsune Miku. On August 16, 2020, "Super Kabuki Supported by NTT," featuring Hatsune Miku, was performed online for one night only during "Nico Nico Net Chokaigi 2020."
https://chokaigi.jp/2020summer/plan/chokabuki.html

Takahiro Yagi
Representative Director, Kaikado Co., Ltd. Born in Kyoto in 1974. Graduated from the Faculty of Foreign Language Studies, Kyoto Sangyo University. Became president in 2017. As the sixth-generation head of Kaikado, founded in 1875 and said to be the first in Japan to produce metal tea caddies, he inherits tradition while also promoting its appeal overseas through events and workshops, including Milan Salone.
https://www.kaikado.jp/

Spec
BMW M235i xDrive Gran Coupe
Body Dimensions | Length 4,540 x Width 1,800 x Height 1,430mm
Wheelbase | 2,670mm
Vehicle Weight | 1,590kg
Engine | 1,998cc Inline 4-cylinder DOHC Turbo
Maximum Output | 225kW (306ps) / 5,000rpm
Maximum Torque | 450Nm (45.9kgm) / 1,750-4,500rpm
Transmission | 8-speed AT
Drivetrain | 4WD
Tires | 225/40R18
Price | 6,650,000 yen