DESIGN /
DIGITAL
January 31, 2021
CASIO Privia PX-S1000 × mesm Tokyo, Autograph Collection: Creators Resonating with "TOKYO WAVES" Vol. 4 | CASIO
CASIO
Where Unknown TOKYO Gathers—Hiroshi Doiuchi of BEAMS
Opened in April 2020 in Tokyo's Takeshiba area, the luxury hotel "mesm Tokyo, Autograph Collection" (hereafter, mesm Tokyo). "Autograph Collection" in the hotel name refers to a collection developed by Marriott International, which only hotels recognized for their unique design, hospitality, and individuality are permitted to bear. One of its unique features is that all 265 guest rooms are equipped with Casio's digital piano, "Privia PX-S1000." In this fourth installment of our series, we bring you the charm of Privia x mesm Tokyo as experienced by Hiroshi Doiuchi of BEAMS.
Photographs by Kaku Ohtaki | Text by Yoko Koizumi | Edit by Takashi Tsuchida
A New Project's Pulse and Culture
Hiroshi Doiuchi has been with BEAMS for 21 years. He has spent most of his career in PR and promotional departments, continuously communicating "What is BEAMS?" to the world. His business card lists titles such as Executive Officer, Director of the Global Alliance Department in the Corporate Planning Office, and Communication Director, easily suggesting a busy schedule. Furthermore, he has recently been appointed Representative Director of the new project "BE AT Inc." He also works as a radio personality, DJ, and part-time university lecturer, juggling multiple roles. He also serves as co-representative of "Shagai Torishimariyaku Inc."
BE AT Inc.is a user-participation platform for creating new culture, launched as BEAMS' first joint venture. Another facet of his work is
Shagai Torishimariyaku Inc.which involves producing projects and operating online salons together with architect and entrepreneur Makoto Tanijiri and Teppei Hayashi, representative of BETSUDAI TOKYO.
Doiuchi explains the purpose of "BE AT TOKYO" as "to discover, mix, and deliver."
"I believe that the culture of a city is formed by its community. For example, if we consider apartment buildings in Harajuku, we can assume that residents of buildings like Dōjunkai Apartments (Aoyama Apartments), Harajuku Apartments, and Coop Olympia have built the culture of Harajuku over decades of conversation. While 'BE AT TOKYO' does not limit itself to a specific area, it is a project aiming to create new culture through a platform similar to that of apartment buildings."
For instance, imagine a farmer in Nagano and a musician in Okinawa, each sharing information on Instagram. Though they may not know each other, through "BE AT TOKYO," they could create something that combines vegetables and music. By delivering this to others, a new movement is born, which we believe becomes culture.
"We discover attractive things and people from around the world, and mix them. We don't know if the final product will be a video or a product, but we deliver it to everyone. The company name BE AT not only means 'to exist' but also resonates with 'beat,' implying that we convey the pulse of Tokyo."
Doiuchi explains that while information has traditionally been transmitted linearly from point A to point B, future information dissemination will spread in all directions, like ripples from a stone dropped in a lake. One person's pulse overlaps with another's, eventually becoming a current called "TOKYO WAVES." It is exciting to see what kind of culture these waves will create.
Encouraged and Supported by the Power of Music
He listens to all kinds of music, regardless of genre, including reggae, hip-hop, jazz, and fusion. He was also active as a DJ at famous clubs and lounges during his university days.
"The music scene in the 1990s was exciting and stylish, wasn't it? Of course, I still listen to music a lot and love it."
Leveraging his extensive musical knowledge, he hosts the InterFM radio program "BEAMS TOKYO CULTURE STORY," where he engages in lively discussions about music with guests. The program is now in its fourth year, having welcomed over 160 guests.
"I have various conversations through music, regardless of industry. Music, in any genre, moves the world and supports us. In times like these, I feel more than ever that music gives us strength."
While he has primarily been a listener, Doiuchi is intrigued by the stylish design of "Privia."
"In the last 15 years or so, people's perception of design has changed significantly. Banksy is now a top news item on current affairs programs, and elementary school students attend Takashi Murakami's events. Design is value, and whether a design integrates well into one's lifestyle has become an important criterion for choosing products."
Doiuchi believes that "Privia" possesses such design.
"The popularity of brands like RIMOWA and DYSON stems from their 'excellent design that can also serve as interior decor.' In other words, the key is that they look cool even when left out. 'Privia' not only fully meets this 'okay to leave out' standard but also has a stylishness that blends in as interior decor. And above all, its price is attractive. When I heard the price earlier, I immediately thought, 'I can afford this!' and started wondering where I would put it (laughs)."
A Place Where Various Tokyos Converge
Doiuchi says that what surprised him, in a good way, was the view from mesm Tokyo, having previously experienced the city of Tokyo from various perspectives and angles.
"The contrast between the fixed scenery of towering buildings and apartments, and the constantly moving scenery of Shinkansen, monorails, and cars on expressways, along with the colors woven by nature such as Hamarikyu Gardens, the Sumida River, the sky, and clouds... I felt as if I were looking at a single painting where stillness and motion are balanced. I have favorite views in Shinjuku, Roppongi, and Nishi-Azabu, but I feel that the view from 'mesm Tokyo' has been added to the top of my list."
And it is the location in Takeshiba that made him re-recognize water transportation.
"Waters Takeshiba(a complex facility comprising mesm Tokyo, Atre Takeshiba, and the new Shochiku theater)is newly equipped with a pier. From here, you can not only take water buses to Asakusa, Ryogoku, and Odaiba, but also reach Haneda Airport by limousine boat. I had always assumed that trains, cars, and buses were the only means of transportation, but from now on, the sea will be Tokyo's gateway. It's incredibly stylish and dramatically changes the impression of Tokyo."
Doiuchi has high expectations for "mesm Tokyo," a place where various aspects of Tokyo are condensed.
"As the presence of 'mesm Tokyo' becomes more widely recognized, I believe more diverse aspects of Tokyo will gather here, and I have a premonition that this will include aspects of Tokyo that no one knows yet. There will likely be new art and music. If there's an opportunity to organize an event with art or music in the future, I'd love for you to let me curate it (laughs)."
Model Name | Privia PX-S1000BK
- Size | Width 1322 × Depth 232 × Height 102mm
- Weight | 11.2kg
- Number of Tones | 18
- Price | Open
mesm Tokyo, Autograph Collection
- Address | 1-10-30 Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Waters Takeshiba Tower Building 4F and 16F-26F)
- Number of Rooms | 265 rooms (Guest room floors 17F-26F)
- Facilities | Restaurant "Chef's Theater," Bar & Lounge "Whisk," Banquet Hall "The Banquet," Club Lounge "Club mesm," Fitness
- Rates | From ¥65,527 (per night per room for 2 people, including breakfast, tax, and service charge)
- Tel. | 03-5777-1111
- URL |https://www.mesm.jp
- Access | 6-minute walk from JR Yamanote Line/Keihin-Tohoku Line / Tokyo Monorail Hamamatsucho Station, 3-minute walk from New Transit Yurikamome Line Takeshiba Station
