Lounge
April 16, 2015
Reika Ito x N.HOOLYWOOD Daisuke Obana | Spiritual Dialogue (Part 1)
Spiritual Dialogue Vol. 11 | N.HOOLYWOOD's Daisuke Obana
Reika Ito's Vision of Her Guests
“A King Living This Life to Bring Light of Hope and Joy” (Part 1)
We invite creators active in various fields as guests, and spiritual healerReika Itoreads the energy emitted by guests, combining it with multiple astrological readings to assess the source of their creativity. She uncovers past lives directly connected to the present, hidden potential, and delves into the charm of the creators themselves, which often remains hidden behind their work.
Text by OPENERSPhotos by KADOI Tomo
Our guest for the 11th installment is Daisuke Obana, the designer of the menswear brand N.HOOLYWOOD. He began his career at a vintage clothing store and founded his own brand, "N.HOOLYWOOD," in 2000, which has since expanded its reach internationally. In this first part of our conversation, we primarily asked him about his creative process.
Ito & ObanaThank you for joining me.
ItoBoth of our names contain the character for 'flower,' don't they?
ObanaIt's nice when the characters in a name look beautiful together. Though my name is hard for foreigners to remember.
ItoIs that so?
ObanaIt wasn't until Daisuke Matsuzaka emerged that people started remembering 'Daisuke.' And with the Obama effect, it's been smooth sailing since. 'Obama' for 'Daisuke' (laughs).
ItoFor people overseas, it might sound like 'Obama' (laughs). The vowels are the same.
Daisuke Obana, designer for N.HOOLYWOOD.
ObanaYes. They hear 'Obama' even when I say 'Obana' (laughs). My son, born last year, is named 'Taizo,' and names with a 'Z' are well-received overseas. Speaking of which, I recently saw an acquaintance signing their name using the sounds of numbers, and it reminded me of that feeling. So, I created a perfume where my name is represented by the numbers '087.' When people ask overseas, 'What does that mean?' I say, 'It's my name' (laughs).
The fragrance "Six Scents." Named "#087."
The box also features a portrait of Obana.
Relocating to NY Last Season: What Prompted the Change?
ObanaIt was around the 10th year since starting the brand, so I had a desire to do something more aggressive. I had presented collections in Paris a few times since around 2007, but the European atmosphere didn't quite suit me.
ItoDid it feel too insular?
ObanaYes, it had an insular impression. Of course, there were various stimuli and impactful encounters, but I felt it wasn't a place where I could truly compete. Once I decided to close that chapter and move to a city I loved, New York, things progressed rapidly. In the end, we received unexpectedly good reviews, and it all settled well, but it doesn't feel real... (laughs).
ItoWhat was the theme of the collection?
ObanaI wondered what to do for the first show in New York, but I went back to my roots and thought about what I've always found simply cool. That's when I decided on a theme like chasing criminals. The catalog was also created to evoke the theme of "POLICE PICTURE." We presented it as an installation rather than a show... If I started explaining, it would take about 20,000 hours (laughs).
From the 2010-11 Autumn/Winter catalog. Motifs of crime photography.
The 2010-11 Autumn/Winter catalog and lookbook.
Ito20,000 hours. Wow (laughs).
Obana(Looking at the catalog) This is the image of arrested criminals having their mugshots taken by the police.
ItoIt really is!
Daisuke Obana and Reika Ito.
ObanaFor the installation in New York, we used a large, square space and created a slit about 30 centimeters wide on one wall, separating the models' space from the viewers'. Guests peered at the models through this slit. Behind the audience, models dressed as criminals would appear, and we'd take photos like mugshots – flash from the front, then turn them, flash again.
ItoThat's interesting. Have you always liked this kind of photography?
ObanaYes. I've always loved pulp materials found lying around, things I'd stumble upon in American recycle shops or flea markets, things that seemed to have no particular meaning. Before, I was drawn to things with a strong indie spirit, and frankly, I was skeptical about works by very famous photographers. Now, I've come to accept that 'good is good' (laughs).
Spiritual Dialogue Vol. 11 | N.HOOLYWOOD's Daisuke Obana
Reika Ito's Vision of Her Guests
“A King Living This Life to Bring Light of Hope and Joy” (Part 1)
Someone Who Trusts Intuition and Acts with Full Effort
—Do ideas like these come to you easily, Obana-san? Or do you prefer to develop them carefully?
ObanaI spend a great deal of time on them. A week before presenting a collection, all the items are completed and ready. I don't leave things to the last minute. I hate last-minute rushes. I'm the type who pursues the beauty of readymade items when everything is complete, so if things aren't thoroughly refined early on, the overall atmosphere at the end just doesn't feel right.
ItoYou're the type to value your intuition at the moment and then go all out, aren't you? (laughs)
ObanaExactly. In meetings, I choose what strikes me most at first glance. I often forget which one I chose by the next meeting (laughs).
ItoYou have no memory of it? (laughs)
ObanaMy assistants tell me, 'You chose this one' (laughs). But if I look at something twice and it still strikes me the same way, I decide on it. I'm someone who thinks a lot about historical context and timelines when creating something, but for everything else, it's purely intuition. ... So, what do you think of my vibrations?
ItoThey are incredibly strong.
Daisuke Obana and Reika Ito.
ObanaIncredibly strong, you say?
ItoYes, strong. Actually, before our talk today, I did a remote psychic reading yesterday, and just as I sensed, your energy is incredibly powerful. Meeting you in person and speaking with you confirms that powerful energy.
ObanaReally? To put it simply, my brand has become quite well-known in Tokyo. But I also have a very contrary side, so I can't easily switch my mindset to 'I'm mainstream!' The brand is getting famous, people around me are enthusiastic, but I prefer to keep things more low-key and I'm not the type to put myself out there saying, 'How am I doing?' I have my doubts. However, after discussing 'mainstream' with photographer Mr. Kishin Shinoyama, I began to truly feel that 'I must face being mainstream with responsibility.'
ItoIt's like a mission for this lifetime. You have a significant social role to fulfill on a global scale.
ObanaReally!?
Reika Ito
ItoYou were born with such a mission. You decided on it before you were born. It's not about becoming mainstream, but about being someone who *must* become mainstream. If the goal were simply to become mainstream, it would be fleeting and disappear quickly. But in your case, 'mainstream' serves as a foundation for what you do in the world. You need to gather influence and the support of many people to fulfill this great role. Being mainstream is the soil for that. You are someone who lives for the world, so you will only become more mainstream from now on (laughs).
ObanaUnderstood. I will do my best to fulfill this mission that I cannot escape!
Daisuke Obana | OBANA Daisuke
N.HOOLYWOOD Designer
Born January 28, 1974, in Kanagawa Prefecture. After dropping out of vocational school in 1992, he worked as both a buyer and shop manager at a vintage clothing store. In 1995, he was involved in the launch of "go-getter," a select shop for vintage clothing. Doubting the value of vintage clothing at the time, he began creating remakes and original designs. In 2000, he established his own brand, "N.HOOLYWOOD." He presented his work in Paris in 2007, opened a store in Hong Kong in 2008, and has been presenting his collections in New York since the 2010-11 Autumn/Winter season.