First public appearance of members wearing "WILD PEACE CLOTHING by TOKYO SKA PARADISE ORCHESTRA"!

Where Wild Peace is Headed

Atsushi YanakaLately, I've been thinking about wanting to convey the spirit of Skapara through various media. Our film "SMILE: A Journey of People Loving People" is being released on March 31st, and we're pursuing new endeavors like that, clothing, and of course, music. We want to create a "WILD PEACE" movement by cross-pollinating these different elements.

Takashi KatoThis clothing project, "WILD PEACE CLOTHING by TOKYO SKA PARADISE ORCHESTRA," isn't about promoting our music. So, even if you've never heard Skapara, it's perfectly fine to buy it just because "the T-shirt looks cool." We want the phrase "Wild Peace" to take on a life of its own and become a culture; that would make us happier.

YanakaThat's great. If, decades from now, something like "Apparently, there was a Skapara album called Wild Peace" comes about because of a different catalyst, that would be truly happy.

KatoLike, "Oh, *that's* what came first!" (laughs). But it's common to discover later, "Oh, *that's* the brand I liked," or "That's the melody I loved!"

YanakaMany clothing designers are big music fans. A lot of them are inspired by wanting their favorite musicians to wear their designs, and they all have dreams related to music. Meeting these designers made me re-recognize the power of music. For us, it's a sign of respect for the people who create clothing.

Work Driven by Friendship and Dreams

—How were the participating brands decided?

YanakaIt was through introductions at drinking parties with friends, or I would introduce them. But we've known each other for about seven or eight years now. We were all aiming for overseas expansion around the same time. Now, Skapara tours Europe once a year, and they also travel abroad multiple times a year. We've been inspiring each other as friends since back then.

—Although each piece of wear has a distinct individuality, there's a curious sense of unity.

GAMOIt's similar to Skapara's suits, isn't it? The fabric is the same, but each person designs their own, resulting in a variety of individual styles. It might be close to that feeling.

YanakaThe designers participating this time all come to our live shows and understand the "Wild Peace" concept. That was a huge factor. Every brand approached this without regard for profitability, and I'm incredibly grateful. My slogan for this year is "Work driven by friendship and dreams" (laughs).

KatoIt's easy to say, but actually bringing it to fruition is quite difficult. I've realized that firsthand. Seeing the wonderful finished products was incredibly inspiring. Also, seeing Mr. Yanaka's activities, how he can involve so many people, has been a great example. I want to develop that kind of antenna for connecting with people.

GAMOFirst, you have to put yourself out there and meet various people. Mr. Yanaka, for instance, immerses himself in crowds almost daily (laughs). But ultimately, it all comes down to physical stamina. Thinking about it that way, I feel I need to train my body.

KatoI want to be in a physical state where I can always participate. Also, my personal, behind-the-scenes goal for this year is "to get excited without drinking."

AllOoh, that's great! I get it! (laughs).

KatoBut when Mr. Yanaka first proposed this project, I was skeptical about how far we could take it with just the phrase "Wild Peace." All the brands involved are quite dynamic. I want to express my gratitude again to everyone from the participating brands.

YanakaIt's genuinely fun, both before the products are made and after. So, I hope our customers enjoy wearing them.

About the Best Album

—I heard a best-of album is being released on March 21st.

YanakaIt's an album where you can enjoyably learn about Skapara's history over the past 10 years. Kinichi Mochimaru, who selected the tracks, devised a non-stop track order, so it's a two-disc set that makes you want to return to the beginning once you finish it.

KatoThe non-stop track order is finally complete (laughs). But now that "Wild Peace" has been established, and we're selecting songs from the past 10 years with that in mind, the listening experience is different. I personally found new discoveries in each song. It's an album where you can feel Skapara's consistency. I think you'll grasp how sincerely we've approached music and moved forward.