Clothes Have the Power to Elevate Me

His gaze is strong, with an androgynous impression. His thoughtful, measured speech and calm tone convey intelligence. Occasionally, he laughs with a boyish, uninhibited joy. Actor Hiroki Narimiya has just turned 30 this year.

"Wearing Giorgio Armani today, I was struck again by how beautiful the colors are. Even the navy has an elegant sheen. And the materials. Velvet is a signature Armani fabric, but it makes me feel elevated. Even a single button, the detail is different from anything else. It makes me look a bit more mature. And for men, looking more mature is also enjoyable. It's not about trying to be someone I'm not, but rather, by wearing these clothes, I can set expectations for myself. Today, I felt the power of clothing," he began in an interview after the shoot.

"Lately, I've come to understand what suits me better than before. In the past, I might have looked for 'good quality at a low price,' like vintage leather jackets, but now I choose items that are finely tanned, or of high quality and comfortable to wear. My approach to color has also changed. Beige is a color that really reveals who the wearer is, but I've started to try wearing it. I also mix high and low styles. Once I know what suits me to a certain extent, if I get a really great outer piece, I'll pair it with a simple T-shirt from anywhere," he explained.



Narimiya's encounter with Giorgio Armani was a vivid one.

"Giorgio Armani was always in my mother's closet. When I was in junior high school, there was a runway show for customers at the Hotel New Otani, and my mother couldn't attend, so I went. On the way to the Armani store in the hotel after the show, I passed Giorgio Armani himself on the stairs. He said something like, 'You're really great,' and gave me a little pat (laughs)."

The items from Giorgio Armani, which he had admired since childhood, still evoke the same feelings.

"Seeing my mother wear them, and watching the shows, I thought it was all very dreamlike. Now I wear them myself, and wearing Giorgio Armani makes me feel a bit 'elevated.' Good things are good, after all. In my work, I often travel door-to-door, so I can essentially travel in my pajamas. Even then, just throwing on an Armani jacket or wrapping a scarf makes me look less like I'm in sleepwear (laughs). Lately, I've been paying a little attention to that... so I won't be embarrassed wherever I go."

His recent favorite items are Giorgio Armani glasses. "I love them and wear them every day," he shared during this interview. The frames and temples are a delicate brown gold, with a refined design.

"Giorgio Armani accessories also make great gifts for friends. I want to give my friends something that suits them and is of the highest quality. For my male friends, I'd choose accessories from Giorgio Armani or Tom Ford. Men don't often buy accessories for themselves, you know."











"I tend to enter shops without much hesitation (laughs), but perhaps Giorgio Armani or Hermès might seem intimidating to younger people. However, I believe it's important not to assume they are only for adults, but to set expectations for oneself and give them a try."

Narimiya says he always tries to remember this.

"It's the same with food. Even if I've disliked a dish once, I might try it again at a favorite restaurant... This idea of 'something' that changes as I age. I believe that moving forward with anticipation for that 'something' is equivalent to living joyfully. My daily life is generally demanding, and if I dwelled on every difficulty, there would be no end to it. What's more important is how to enjoy those difficulties, stress, and pressures. I've recently come to actually enjoy these things. When that happens, the energy that comes from within me changes, and I'm able to obtain things that are fitting for me at that moment."

He once acquired a real fur coat, but it didn't suit him at all.

"There's certainly the aspect of whether it suits you or not, but I felt that I hadn't quite reached that level yet. What I'm seriously thinking about now that I'm over 30 is that from now on, it's about substance. If you take the easy route when you're young, you'll face real difficulties later. It's important to always try new things. In my profession, there isn't a single correct answer, so I always have feelings of anxiety and dissatisfaction about things that lack a clear answer, but I mustn't run away from that. I truly feel that often these days."



The Giorgio Armani that the young Narimiya encountered when he was still a teenager has become even more familiar as he's grown older. About 10 years after meeting Giorgio himself on the stairs of the Hotel New Otani, there's another anecdote involving the designer at the opening of Armani / Ginza Tower.

"Actually, I couldn't attend the opening party for Armani / Ginza Tower five years ago due to work commitments. Giorgio Armani himself was visiting Japan, so I really wanted to go... In such cases, one might be overlooked, but Giorgio sent me a signed portrait in a frame. At that moment, I realized he is someone who approaches human connections with great affection. My work involves a lot of strangers suddenly gathering closely, then dispersing, and the repetition of that. So, it's important to be interested in the other person, and to approach everything with affection. When meeting someone for the first time, we might approach them with certain prejudices, or preconceived notions. I try to shed those preconceptions and engage without fear of change. Of course, there are limits to change, but I prefer to live without limits. In the future, I want to become a man who can embrace anything."

Narimiya's philosophy connects with Giorgio Armani's.

"The Armani I first knew was the power-shouldered suits that Jodie Foster wore in the 1980s, but it has changed a lot since then. I believe Armani has a consistent Armani-ness throughout, but it's incredibly difficult to evolve while retaining the 'essentials that must not be lost.' It's about challenging new things bravely each time without compromising one's own basics or concepts. Pursuing that will definitely lead to the next step in one's life, and I think people who live that way will feel a connection when they see Armani."



"What I feel in my work is that actors are mirrors. Those who express something as entertainment must evoke empathy in the audience. What is expression? I believe it's about universal things like 'love' or 'death.' However, the interpretation changes with the times. When one is suffering, they might desire fantasy, or perhaps they might feel relief seeing someone else's suffering. I think having a sense for the times is important, which is perhaps why I resonate with Giorgio's creativity."

When asked where the gifted Giorgio portrait is now, he replied, "I still have it displayed in my living room. Next to Michael Jackson's (laughs)."

He will surely continue to steer his course in the direction he desires, and move towards where he wants to go, just as he always has.――This applies to his acting as well as his style. Effortlessly, and with lightness.


Hiroki NARIMIYA
Actor. Born September 14, 1982, in Tokyo. Made his acting debut in 2000 with the stage play "The Essence of Love of a Dying Humanity..." (directed by Ammon Miyata). Since then, he has appeared in numerous dramas and films, including "Be With You," "Yankee-kun to Megane-chan," "NANA," "Drop," "Gyakuten Saiban," and "Nobō no Shiro." Since October 2012, he has been appearing as the third partner in the TV drama "AIBOU: Season 11." He appeared in the New Year's Day special of "AIBOU" (TV Asahi network) on January 1, 2013, at 9 PM, and the film "Kuroyuri Danchi" is scheduled for release in May 2013.