Since the birth of Shibuya PARCO in 1973, Shibuya has been a birthplace and a point of renewal for various Japanese cultures, including fashion, art, and music. The phenomenon of sensibilities born from a place influencing urban development transformed Shibuya into a truly unique locale.

 

NONLECTURE books/arts also cultivates sensibilities that can only emerge from this specific environment by fostering connections across diverse elements.

 

The name "NONLECTURE" is derived from the 20th-century American poet E.E. Cummings' lecture series, "i: six nonlectures." It was named in homage to Cummings' stance of rejecting conventional lectures to speak about his own way of life. The name embodies the concept of a space not for teaching, but for encountering words and works serendipitously and receiving them in one's own way.

 

 

The representative is book director Tsuyoshi Mochida, a professional who has been involved in the world of art books for a quarter of a century. The store features approximately 1,500 foreign books, organized into shelves of international art and vintage books, alongside a space composed of six distinct content areas.

 

The first is the bookshelf, showcasing foreign books selected with a unique perspective. The second is an exhibition area introducing the philosophy and background of the sponsoring outdoor wear brand, Goldwin. The third, a CAFE BAR, offers coffee, natural wines, and craft beers curated by "kokiliko," led by food stylist Makiko Yoneda. The fourth area presents and sells art, photography, vintage posters, and ephemera, with items available for purchase. The fifth is dedicated to hosting talks, book launch events, and signing sessions with authors and artists. The sixth area will feature original and limited-edition products developed in collaboration with artists and brands.

 

 

Goldwin, with its purpose to "inspire challenges and expand the possibilities of people and nature," views clothing as a device for integrating humans and nature. They found resonance with NONLECTURE's approach of fostering dialogue through books and art, leading to their sponsorship. The permanent exhibition area showcases the company's relationship with nature and the background of its manufacturing processes.

 

NONLECTURE books/arts aims to be a space where meaning evolves with the accumulation of time, rather than a venue for consumption or fleeting trends. The exhibitions and bookshelf contents change with each visit, and the roles of author, reader, and viewer are not fixed. It strives to become a place rooted in the everyday fabric of Shibuya, where new relationships and experiences are forged with every visit.

 

 

Mochida commented as follows:

 

"NONLECTURE books/arts, opening in the heart of Shibuya, is a free space unbound by convention, neither a bookstore nor a gallery. The name is inspired by the legendary lecture series 'i: six nonlectures' by poet E.E. Cummings, who rejected conventional lectures and spoke of his own way of life.

 

"Furthermore, the concept of an 'open field' from architect Jun Aoki's book 'The Open Field and the Amusement Park' provided inspiration for this space. We aspire for it to be a place where visitors can freely discover their own ways of spending time, much like an open field, rather than a predetermined 'amusement park.'"

 

 

"The store features approximately 1,500 foreign books, selected based on my quarter-century of experience with art books, alongside vintage posters and original items. It's a space where you can seamlessly enjoy art exhibitions, music, and talks while holding a glass of natural wine, craft beer, or coffee."

 

"We want this to be a place where you can find your own way to enjoy things, free from existing rules and marketing. We hope you'll spend your time freely, encountering new perspectives through books and art."

 

In this space where three distinct entities—NONLECTURE, Shibuya PARCO, and Goldwin—intersect, how will people and objects, and people and people, encounter and interact? New culture may emerge from the accumulation of these interactions.

 

A.E.E. Cummings' "i: six nonlectures" is a collection of lectures delivered at Harvard University, yet it rejects the conventional lecture format, instead discussing the importance of "living as an individual" through his own life and experiences. It is characterized not by explanations of theory or knowledge, but by an emphasis on the attitude of feeling, thinking, and living as an "i (individual)" rather than being swept along by the "most people."

 

A.He widely engages in sourcing and curating foreign art books, curating photography and art exhibitions by domestic and international artists, and arranging book launch events and signing sessions. He managed "TOWER BOOKS" on the 7th floor of Tower Records Shibuya from 1998, handled foreign book sourcing for the "Daikanyama T-Site" preparation office from 2008, and directed the bookstore "BOOKMARC Harajuku" by fashion brand "MARC JACOBS" from 2014. In March 2026, he opened "NONLECTURE books/arts" on Shibuya's Spain Slope.