Nanae Ubukata

Fashion Model




──Your goals for 2012?



Honestly, and with a gentle touch.

Her Morning Elegance

Oren Lavie

Adrenaline Music



Comforting music with visuals (music videos).
Time flows gently.

Amiga, the Little Alien

Author: Enrique Barrios
Tokuma Shoten



A bestseller translated in 11 countries. A wonderful book that reminds us of what's truly important. Momoko Sakura's illustrations are also charming.

Paris

Director: Cédric Klapisch

Distributor: UGC Distribution



An ensemble drama set in Paris. It feels like you can hear the very breath of the people living in Paris. A film I want to watch when winter comes.

Naoki Ishizaka

Photographer




──Your goals for 2012?



To broaden my field of expression.

TOKiMONSTA



Not necessarily the best, but if I had to pick a better one, it would be 'TOKiMONSTA.' She's an artist based in Los Angeles, and her music, which is hip-hop based with dubstep elements, has beautiful and easy-to-listen-to pop melodies.

Natural Stories

Author: Naoya Hatakeyama

Sankei Shimbun Publishing



A comprehensive photo collection featuring mines from around the world and his hometown, Rikuzentakata. Perfect moments, compositions, and light, without a single flaw.

Melancholia

Director: Lars von Trier

Distributor: Broadmedia Studio



A story about the end of the world, but it's completely different from the typical expressions seen in panic movies. It feels like Lars von Trier's ideas and philosophy are being visualized. The visuals and composition are superb.

Yuko Nagayama

Architect




──Your goals for 2012?



A year to encounter new life.

It will be a year full of new things, but

I want to take on challenges and enjoy them.

Between Life and the Non-Living

Author: Shinichi Fukuoka

Kodansha Gendai Shinsho


Seeing the sincere efforts of various researchers tackling the fundamental question of 'what is life?' makes me reflect on my own creative process.

Eternity and a Day

Director: Theo Angelopoulos

Distributor: France Eigasha



The final sea scene is piercingly beautiful and deeply memorable. It makes you contemplate life itself. It resonates in your heart long after viewing.

Hidenori Kumakiri

Designer, "beautiful people"




──Your goals for 2012?



I want to work hard with energy, positivity, and a cheerful spirit, while staying healthy.

Wasting Light

Foo Fighters

Sony



My favorite rock band. They are a huge and successful band, yet for their latest album released last year, they used a completely analog recording method in their home garage, creating a new and cool sound that harks back to the roots of rock. They're coming to Japan in March, and while I'm busy preparing my collection, I'm thinking of going secretly without telling my staff (laughs).

Matatabi Abitatama

Author: Haruki Murakami

Shinchosha


A collection of palindromes by my favorite author, Haruki Murakami. Words that read the same forwards and backward. The accompanying explanations are also very amusing. Lines like 'Yes, I did it... I lied' are masterpieces. Actually, I'm thinking of creating clothes based on this concept.

Sympathy for the Devil (One Plus One)

Director: Jean-Luc Godard

King Records



Godard can be a bit challenging, but... this documentary captures the recording of the Rolling Stones' famous song 'Sympathy for the Devil.' The clothes the Stones wear are stylish and fun, and watching the song evolve and refine is cool. It inspires me to see how things are made.

Tamae Hirokawa

Designer, "SOMARTA"




──Your goals for 2012?



I want to actively approach the world
with a global perspective.

Nijiko

Masakatsu Takagi

Epiphany Works



Like a music box slowly opening, it evokes memories of past joys, sorrows, hardships, and affections, enveloping them all to bloom like a soft, large flower. It's a song that stirs nostalgia and leaves a small, touching impression.

Never Let Me Go

Author: Kazuo Ishiguro

Hayakawa Bunko



This story made me deeply contemplate the nature of life and human existence, and the definitions of the world I usually perceive. The subtle psychological portrayals of the characters' quiet yet intense inner changes profoundly moved me.

Tangled

Directors: Byron Howard, Nathan Greno

Walt Disney Japan


It's a classic tale of a young girl, confined to a tower, who ventures out into the beautiful and stimulating world upon reaching adulthood, embarking on an adventure and growing. What makes it enjoyable are the unique and spirited characters. The animation's gorgeous and beautiful art and motion are also highlights, making it a film you can lose yourself in.