Tomoki Ukozawa | Defining a Cool Man: Part 6 - Tomoki Ukozawa x Shuya Okino

Tomoki Sukezane | Defining a Cool Man

Part 6: Tomoki Sukezane x Shuya Okino

Congratulations on the release of your solo album.

Shuya OkinoThank you. Tomoki also contributed.

So, let's talk about the cover and inner photos...

Tomoki SukezaneThe shoot was in early September this year. I went in with the image of taking black and white photos with a clear blue sky, but unfortunately, the weather was bad, and the sky was gray all over, even though it was daytime. The photographer had never used a strobe before (laughs), so I was thinking on the spot what to do.

Was the camera your beloved Leica M6?

SukezaneYes. Then the photo assistant suggested using a strobe, and since the background was dark, we decided to use daytime sync. That worked out well, making the background fall away nicely. Well, luck is part of skill, isn't it? (laughs)

OkinoHahaha.

SukezaneAt first glance, it doesn't look like it's next to Aoyama Cemetery, does it?

OkinoIt looks a bit like New York, doesn't it?

SukezaneThe person at the lab who developed the film said the same thing.

From the album "UNITED LEGENDS." Photo by Tomoki Sukezane

OkinoRight, I met Harvey Keitel in NY!

SukezaneWhere was that?

OkinoOn the streets of NY.

SukezaneWas he walking?

OkinoI'll tell you the street Harvey walks every morning at 9:30 (laughs).

Photo by Emiko Fukuda

SukezaneYou know that movie "Smoke"? In the movie, there was a scene where he walks through an intersection every morning at 8:30.

OkinoHarvey seems like the type of person who would do something like that.

SukezaneHe really seems to live his life like his roles in Scorsese films, like "Mean Streets."

OkinoLately, I've been running into people by chance quite often. It happens when I mention their name or listen to their music. In NY, I met Mary J. Blige the day after listening to her music. I was there for an interview for a talk session, wearing a suit, white shirt, and tie. A female photographer was saying, "Shuya looks like he's from Reservoir Dogs today," and the person I was interviewing said, "Harvey walks down that street every day." I couldn't believe it, but then Harvey walked by, wearing a hood over his sportswear.

SukezaneThat's amazing.

OkinoLately, I've been experiencing coincidences wherever I go.

[Harvey Keitel]
An American actor born in 1939. He is from Brooklyn, New York. He gained attention for his role as a pimp in "Taxi Driver" and is a renowned and versatile actor who has appeared in many notable films, particularly in the crime genre. He also produced Quentin Tarantino's directorial debut and served as executive producer. Despite a decade of rejections from the prestigious Actors Studio, he is now its president alongside Al Pacino and Ellen Burstyn. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1991.

[Smoke (1995)]
A humorous and heartwarming human drama that tells various stories revolving around three men who gather at a Brooklyn cigar shop. Starring Harvey Keitel, directed by Wayne Wang. Winner of the Golden Bear at the 1995 Berlin Film Festival and ranked second in Kinema Junpo's Top 10 Foreign Films of 1995.

[Mean Streets (1973)]
Directed by Martin Scorsese. Starring Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel, and others. Harvey Keitel vividly portrays a 27-year-old man living with his mother after his father's death in New York. The film depicts the loneliness, friendship, and setbacks of young people exploding with life in New York.

[Reservoir Dogs (1992)]
The directorial and screenwriting debut of actor-turned-director Quentin Tarantino. Harvey Keitel is credited as a co-producer and also plays the role of Mr. White, the lead. A violent action film depicting the downfall of a criminal group after a failed jewelry heist.

How did you two meet?

SukezaneI think the first time I met Okino was about 12 or 13 years ago.

OkinoI actually approached you first.

SukezaneIt was at Laforet Harajuku, wasn't it?

OkinoA staff member from the club I run was modeling at a Laforet event, and you were in charge of styling, so we met there.

Photo by Emiko Fukuda

SukezaneIt was a Mod Night, right? Tadanobu Asano performed, and there was a fashion show. It was a unique and interesting event.

OkinoI was a big fan of yours even back then, so I was introduced to you, but it was just a brief greeting. Later, we met again at a talk event at Shinjuku Isetan.

SukezaneThere was a talk show before a fashion show where Mondo Grosso performed live, and Okino and I did four sessions over two days, twice a day.

OkinoIt got more and more exciting as we went on.

SukezaneThe third one was the best.

OkinoThe audience was really into it, and someone even suggested, "Tomoki, why don't you form a talk unit and go on a national tour?" (laughs).

SukezaneYoshiro Shimoda, the director, also praised us quite a bit (laughs).

You are both from Kyoto, aren't you?

SukezaneIt's easy to talk because he understands the punchlines in our conversation. He plays along.

Okino(Laughs).

To be continued in Part 7

SHUYA OKINO
UNITED LEGENDS
All songs composed by Shuya Okino (KYOTO JAZZ MASSIVE). The first solo album, featuring 10 major vocalists and 10 major trackmakers, is a masterpiece of crossover/club jazz!!
Styling & Photography: Tomoki Sukezane

GENEON / GNCL-1097
3,150 yen (w/tax)

UNITED LEGENDS / SHUYA OKINO

01. THANK YOU feat. NAVASHA DAYA for FERTILE GROUND
Sound produced by KYOTO JAZZ MASSIVE

02. SHINE feat. DIVINITI
Sound produced by DJ KAWASAKI

03. IF IT IS LOVE feat. CLARA HILL
Sound produced by PIRAHNAHEAD

04. SUMMER LOVE feat. NICKY GUILAND for HEAVY
Sound produced by SEIJI for BUGZ IN THE ATTIC

05. LOVE IS THE KEY feat. JOSH MILAN for BLAZE
Sound produced by PHIL ASHER

06. A MILLION TEARS feat. COURTNEY DENNIE
Sound produced by DA LATA

07. TURN IT UP feat. MELISSA BROWNE
Sound produced by AFRONAUGHT for BUGZ IN THE ATTIC

08. PIECES OF YOU feat. YUKIMI NAGANO
Sound produced by DEGO+AKWASI for 2000BLACK

09. BEAUTIFUL SADNESS feat. CARLEEN ANDERSON
Sound produced by DOMU

10. WHAT WOULD I DO WITHOUT YOU? feat. VIKTER DUPLAIX
Sound produced by MARK DE CLIVE-LOWE