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May 11, 2015
20th Anniversary of 'dictionary's' Launch: A Conversation with Koichi Kuwabara (Part 2)
Congratulations! freepaper『dictionary』 Celebrates 20th Anniversary
Club King Presents: A Conversation with Shigekazu Kuwahara (Part 2)
Emerging from the world-weary, nihilistic atmosphere of the Vietnam War era, Shigekazu Kuwahara spent three years with 『Rolling Stone Japan』, gradually becoming a driving force in subculture and street culture.
This is the second part of a special interview celebrating the 20th anniversary of the free paper 『dictionary』.
Photo by UZAWA Kay
The 20th Anniversary Issue is Filled with Many Sentiments
──Having listened to your story so far, I feel I've come to understand the origins of your connection with music.
Shigekazu KuwaharaI’m glad I love music. When I listen to an album and find even one song that makes me go, “Wow!”, it energizes me and makes me want to do something too! Recently, I’ve seen a movement where young people are gathering and starting to create incredible things.
──Please tell us about some recommendations.
There’s a music label called AKICHI RECORDS. Listening to good music sends a jolt through me. It’s like the joy of moving forward, that feeling of a current running through you is beyond words.
──That feeling hasn’t changed even as you’ve gotten older, has it?
For this 20th anniversary issue of 『dictionary』, I visited Gen Tarusui’s home. His son, Reo Yoshida, was the photographer, and Kaya Uchida was the model. It really brings tears to my eyes. Everyone has grown up so quickly. Reo is even photographing his father. These pages are possible precisely because 20 years have passed.
──What does 『dictionary』 mean to you?
If I had only thought about my own life, I might have done something different. Hajime Tachibana once said, “Designers can see the cutting edge of the times.” I thought that was just normal. When I’m walking down the street and catch my reflection in a window, I’m struck by the fact that I’m not walking as my current age. I sometimes think, “Ah, I haven’t changed from back then.” Of course, to others, I’m just an older man walking (laughs), but I have these moments of objective realization. Inside, I haven’t changed from the feeling I had when I was eagerly searching for records and wandering the streets.
──I understand completely.
Meeting Kenichiro Mogi was wonderful because, while I intuitively understood that “new things are stronger than old things,” I couldn’t quite articulate why. But when Mogi explained that “the brain’s response is clearly different when looking at something for the first time versus the second time,” it made perfect sense. There’s a value in “take one” in the world, and although 『dictionary』 has been running for 20 years, we are still pursuing the value and excitement of “take one.”
──What’s next for 『dictionary』?
At clubking, we’re creating various media, including print, web, and podcasts. The digital library for 『dictionary』 uses a wiki engine, allowing for contributions. We have a faint hope that something new is already being born there as a new life form.
──So it’s also a cross-media strategy.
To link these media in a subtle, guerrilla fashion, you have to be lurking in many places (laughs). Even if you get hit by the carpet bombing of major media, you can still say, “Are you still alive!?” (laughs). We want 『dictionary』, including its contributors, to be a place where people who wouldn’t normally meet can connect.
──Thank you very much.
『dictionary』 Issue 122
Distribution begins Tuesday, June 10th
Feature: "mother"
This issue explores the concept of motherhood (present in both men and women) that is essential in today's world, through various perspectives, including conversations between Ayumi Tanabe and Meisa Fujishiro, and Kaya Uchida and Kenichiro Mogi. It also proposes items needed by families today, such as the organic cotton wedding dress on the cover.
Club King Official Website │ http://www.clubking.com/
＜Cover Credits＞
Art Direction: Osamu Ohashi (thumb M)
Model: Ayumi Tanabe
Photography: Shin Suzuki
Wedding Dress Production: Takashi Okano (FOR)
Corsage Production: Naomi Okano (la fleur)
Hair & Makeup: Sachiko Narita (SHIMA)
The Library Where You Can See Everything from Club King's 『dictionary』 20th Anniversary
DICTIONRY LIBRARY
DICTIONRY LIBRARY │ http://dictionary.clubking.com/index.html
CLUB KING (Club King) 【Dictionary 20th Anniversary Commemorative】 Reproduced Cover Artwork Design T-shirts are available for purchase on the web shopping magazine "L'HOMMEZ".
