We Held a Party for BAPE®'s 15th Anniversary

— I'd like to ask NIGO® about the differences between the fashion and party scenes in Tokyo and overseas. You've attended high-profile parties abroad, such as the MTV Awards, the opening of Madonna's "Gucci Fifth Avenue," andLouis Vuittonthe opening of their Paris boutique, haven't you? What do you think is the biggest difference between parties in Tokyo and those overseas?

NIGO®I think the scale of spending and the caliber of guests at overseas parties are incredible. They invite as many celebrities as they can, and everyone shows up. And you can feel that all the guests are genuinely enjoying the party.

TOKYO SistersThat might be true. You can really feel that everyone knows how to enjoy a party. That's probably the biggest factor in making a party lively, isn't it?

— What do you think is lacking in Tokyo's party scene?



SistersThat might be true in this regard as well. No matter what kind of party we go to, we don't feel much of a difference anymore. Is it the way they are produced, or the people who attend... We've been feeling this recently, and we hear it often. Perhaps we're not getting much stimulation from parties anymore.

— We heard that a few months ago, you hosted a private party inviting members of Teriyaki Boyz, Pharrell Williams, and Japanese celebrities. Why did you decide to throw a party?

NIGO®BAPE® celebrated its 15th anniversary in April this year, so we held a celebratory dinner and a small party afterward to express our gratitude. While parties can be effective as a promotional tool, this time it was a completely private affair. No cameras, no red carpet. The dinner was held at NOBU TOKYO, and we invited 100 guests from Japan and abroad. It felt more like a large dinner party than a party (laughs).

SistersThat party was quite the talk of the town. I'm sure your feelings of celebrating BAPE®'s 15th anniversary were well conveyed to the guests.

Champagne Chosen with a Focus on "'93"

— What were the highlights of that party?

NIGO®I was particular about how I invited people. After personally confirming attendance, I sent invitations only to those who could make it. So, the attendance rate was good. Almost everyone came.

SistersIt's amazing that you invited them yourself! Confirming attendance with each guest personally. That host's sentiment is conveyed through the invitation method, isn't it? It makes us think about what a party truly is!

— What was the point you were most particular about, NIGO®?

NIGO®This time, since the dinner was held at NOBU TOKYO, I asked the owner-chef, Nobu, to attend. That kind of thing really livens things up, doesn't it? Also, I just wanted everyone to drink a lot (laughs). Alcohol is absolutely essential for a party, right? Since BAPE® opened in '93, I chose Dom Pérignon, Mouton, and d'Yquem, all from the '93 vintage.



SistersHow luxurious! Wonderful! We always say that alcohol is crucial too. We strongly agree (laughs).

— Who were some of the guests who attended?

NIGO®Many were friends (laughs). Due to venue limitations at NOBU TOKYO, we could only invite 100 people for the dinner, but we held an after-party, and many people came to that. I personally called nearly 300 people to confirm their attendance, which was quite a task (laughs).

SistersWhen brands create guest lists, there are sometimes disputes over numbers, but it seems NIGO®'s party list went smoothly. I suppose it's because it was your own party. But that's also thanks to your production skills...

— What are the responsibilities of a guest invited to a party? And what about the host?

NIGO®As a host, my only thought is that they should have a good time. But to be honest, I mostly just drank (laughs). The content of my speech after dinner at NOBU was simply, "Please join me at the next party" (wry smile). After that, of course, we all moved on to the party together (laughs).

SistersThe host's greatest responsibility is surely the desire to make everyone have a good time! And a host who gets happier the more you drink is the best for guests. From now on, we definitely want to go to NIGO®'s parties!