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HOUYHNHNM

TWO ICONS CHATTING.

eri、Yuka, how have you been up to?
Photo_ Kisshomaru Shimamura
ENGLISH

Karaoke bar in Tokyo. eri, the designer of 〈mother〉and〈VTOPIA〉
who is also known as an owner of ‘DEPT’,
the vintage clothes shop in Nakamegurfo meets up with Yuka Mizuhara,
a well-known model and today, we hear her name many times as DJ too.
They became figures to represent culture scene in Tokyo by both showing us multiple talents.
They told us a lot of things freely including oneself and what you are into.
Dialogue or more likely chatting of two girls who also have a relationship in private.
You might find tips to live fun through their relaxed conversation with honesty.

What brought you two become close?
eri
I think it was a shooting of the ‘SOEN’ magazine about 3, 4 years ago as Yuka being model for my serial feature. It was just about when she’s started modeling.
Yuka
Mizuhara
It was 5 years ago when I start modelling so I was 1 or 2 years rookie.
eri
Also, we had a common friend who is precious to us.
Yuka
Ayana! She has her own world and a bit mysterious.
eri
She is settled but could be weird. Lol
Ayana Miyamoto?
eri
Yuka was originally her friend. Yeah it might have helped. When I make a friend, I don’t care much about age difference, but become picky for younger girl. I do usually hang around with boys so I kind of feel that I wouldn’t do well with girls. But Yuka is laid back and not too aggressive despite modelling in her age Lol. Generally speaking, a model in her age could be too energetic so don’t go well with me sometimes. Which includes subjects what we talk.
Yuka
Yeah, some time ago we bumped at lounge space of Daikanyama Tsutaya and talked forever.
Do you see each other a lot in private too?
eri
Yes, you come to my home huh?
Yuka
She made a hot pot to me. It was so yummy. I remember we were watching Star Wars while eating. Lol We’ve been both busy recently so I’m happy to see her today.
What do you usually talk?
eri
About paranormal phenomenon.
Yuka
Yes. UFO, UMA and the universe. Lol
That’s interesting.
What else do you talk about?
eri
We talk a lot of music.
What genre do you like?
eri
I like popstar’s tune of 80’s that my dad affect me. Prince, Madonna, Michael Jackson and David Bowie. Watching Cyndi Lauper’s music video at that time, looks just so fun. I don’t have that part for myself so simply adore.
You actually did music activity with Hajime Tachibana as LOWPOWERS. Yumiko Ohno from Buffalo Daughter was a member too. How did you team up that band?
eri
I’ve started learning the guitar, base and drum when I was 13. Hajime-chan and I was originally close in family level so one day he was like, let’s do band! Then we’ve released CD. The school I went was strict and didn’t allow me doing those activities so finished the recording and a tour in summer holiday. I think it was when I was 14.
Yuka
I’ve heard that story from eri-san. I can’t believe doing all that in 14 if it was me!
eri
I’m grateful to see chemistry born moment of various talented people at very close. I thought I must be focused though I was a kid and they work through with it. I think that my ability to socialize no matter of age is to do with adult people around me at that time.
Yuka
Active in summer holiday and that’s it?
eri
Piece of work left is an album and EP. Because we did a tour before we launch songs, Hajime’s followers came to the gig in like, ‘Hajime Tachibana is going to do something new’. Then they find out a small girl in center. Lol
Yuka
It sounds very fun. How did you make song?
eri
Ohno-san in base was most steady person and she was working on base of what Hajime-chan brought. There was a song that I made. Live was fun too. Though I was at junior-high school, that’s it. I was burn out. I took everything happened in 16mm film. After finishing the gig, we’ve destroyed all stage, then everyone gets outside and lie down on road to finish it up.
Yuka
I want to see that video.
eri
I think I have one at home so will rent it to you next time. Lol
Yuka, you performed in Summer Sonic last year, didn’t you? I’ve seen it　at site.
Yuka
Yeah, METAFIVE. I was so nervous and audience looked like vegetables to me. Lol I did what I could do, warm up audience as much as I can　without cause trouble to other members.
eri
But member of your band might let you whatever you do as they are all generous. Especially Gondo (Tomohiko)
Are you close to member of METAFIVE, eri?
eri
Gondo and I see each other many times at work field when I was early 20s. I did direction of the artist he was in charge. Some people were good to me because I knew Hajime-chan. Oyamada-san is senior of same high school and I knew TEI (TOWA)-san from a child. So, when I saw METAFIVE first time, I was like, ‘I kind of know this feeling’.
Yuka
They are all so nice to me and allow me face to variety challenges. Especially TEI-san kindly gave me an opportunity to start DJ. The trigger of me loving disc is TEI-san too. Oyamada-san is very stoic person and it’s cool to see when he works silently like ‘It must go like this’. I feel that I should absorb a lot and do more strictly every time when I experience different kind of music production site. These places are very inspiring to me.
Recently you were booked to ‘Montoak’ event and regularly play with Kenichi Aono-san at ‘ZERO’, aoyama. How long have you been doing DJ?
Yuka
About a year. A record I was given by TEI-san opened up the door.
eri
Still in analogue?
Yuka
Yes, but I combined it with PC software these days. Sounds played by analogue has originality and I try to enhance its strength by supplementary using latest technology of digital. I am spending more time at record stores to exploit new sounds more than ever. I feel like doing treasure hunt because I can find rare tunes that I would never meet over internet.
What tune do you play?
Yuka
I play standard tunes a lot that audience can dance. For Japanese ones, I play Tatsuro Yamashita, Tin Pan Alley, Haruomi Hosono and not mentioning, TEI-san. ‘Plastic Love’ of Mariya Takeuchi is my best tune. I play Soul, Disco and World Music too. I play music across genre as what’s good come to good after all.
Did you like those music even before you start DJ?
Yuka
I reckon my favorite music is rooted to my family. My dad was a music lover so I listened Soul and Rock music all the time at house when I was a child. Now, we send songs found at You Tube each other. My mom is an opposite and she likes Opera and Classic so I guess combining totally different sense of tastes of my parents consequently made me today. Just to tell you, my dream is playing at BOILER ROOM.
eri
BOILER. Awesome.
Don’t you do DJ, eri?
eri
Every once in a while. Last time I played very standard songs, themed ‘In school air’. Just party DJ. Lol Friends around me know music a lot but I’m not that much. I am more like listening same tune for while.
Yuka
Totally different from me! I’m interested to everything that I don’t know so when I face unknown things, I’ll try first anyway. Who do you get along with in DJ?
eri
Friends in overseas mostly. Total Freedom from New York. He is sweat person, giving me flower every time I see him. Also, VENUS X, a 28 years old DJ who organizes party called GHE20 G0TH1K. For LA, artists around FADE TO MIND label are all good friends. Well known one could be Kelela.
We see you hanging around with French Electro artists.
eri
ED BANGER and BROMANCE are close family friend. I think ‘just’ edgy, crazy person is not a special, but edgy with humane touch and generous person is attractive. I love them because they are all lovely. Come to that I went to see Brodinski at end of year and I found out he uses three tables at same time with USB. I wondered what’s inside of his head like so stared his play by side.
Yuka
How nice!
eri
And that he plays with dancing. He is the sexiest DJ of I’ve known. All his movement of tune and body is straight to his sensibility. It’s kind of wild. Simply amazing performance.
Where do you usually hang out?
Yuka
Don’t have a certain place, but I get up and hang around with friends. I like to transform myself by doing dress-up and make-up.
eri
I go only when I have oversea friend come over in Japan. Recently I play the card game at home. You know me, I’m not that socialize. Lol
Yuka
What game?
eri
Dixit for now. It’s exciting psychological game as getting some kind of prize at Germany.
Both of you like photography, right? Eri, you do shooting for work.
eri
Cessionary. I shoot professional wrestler some times.
Pro-wrestler!? Unexpected.
eri
Originally I’m fond of fighting sport and I thought pro-wrestling is all set up, but friend of mine who love this sport changed my interpretation. I have a lot of friends who are actually pro-wrestlers.
Yuka
Crazy! It sounds so fun!
eri
Pro-wrestling is an entertainment, but also fighting. It’s very thoughtful sport. There is foreshadowing drama between two fighters from months or even years ago of the match and that brings thrilling story whether winning or not.
Yuka
So dope.
eri
Taking account of all those conditions, how you fight and what skill you use to finish the match. What mic performance you give to audience at stage. Following all those drama makes me cry sometimes,,. It’s maybe close to feeling of watching a film. You can’t be a pro-wrestler by just having good coordination nor good looking. You must be good at speech and express yourself well at stage. So I’m excited when I shoot them because they are shining.
Yuka
Who’s your favorite?
eri
Katsuyori Shibata is the coolest by far. Most of pro-wrestlers wear super cheesy costume, right? But he doesn’t wear it at all. He comes out with black trousers and black elbow protector, that’s it. He is a man.
Do you get chance shooting girls?
eri
I get an offer through work sometimes, but I like when I’m shooting my friend most. I’ve been shooting since I am elementary school. As I was surrounded by crazy adults like my dad, Hajime-chan and Hiroshi (Fujiwara), I didn’t have friends. So I go straight to home, setting and lighting alone.
I feel a bit sorry if I imagine. Lol
eri
You should be! Shoot, develop and then I was like ‘Okay,,’. Though I don’t have much knowledge of photography, I love shooting.
Which camera do you use?
eri
Sometime I’m into half camera and sometime I’m into compact camera and so on. What I use most frequently is T3 of〈CONTAX〉.
Yuka
I have one too. I bought two to three years ago, but it’s broken. Maybe I’ve overused. I shoot every day’s happening as recording my memory for hobby. Clipped view dramatically changes depend on timing of I press shutter makes me interesting.
You are usually taken photograph, but do you ever want to take photograph for work?
Yuka
I’d love to do If I have a chance!
Do you have a favorite photographer?
Yuka
Mild Aldridge. I love his view of the world, which is pop and dreamy but somewhat real. Though It’s difficult express in words, I can tell his piece of work before asking. It’s cool for a photographer to have this much of unified aesthetic and signature. I’d like to present myself as specific Yuka Mizuhara’s world too.
Please tell us about Fashion too. I suppose you would wear vintage a lot, is that right?
eri
Yes, since I’m grown up and very recently I’ve started buying new clothing. Warehouse that stocked vintage was my play ground when I was kid and I liked to find eccentric clothes for myself from huge amount of vintage. Especially I like 80s. In my memory 90s should be much stronger but 80s has particular power to be adored. Clothes in that age are bizarre and eccentric like ‘Why isn’t there sleeve on one hand? What is this color, pattern and material?’ Although it should be difficult to spend every day in 80s style, I’m often aware of the feeling and should be learning from it as a person creating things.
Will you be aware of the trend?
eri
No I won’t. Maybe better to bear in mind the trend, but once you step outside to town, you’ll sell it straight ahead so I don’t think I should follow more than necessary. I have things that I’m addicted moment to moment so I’m rather busy digging that. Lol
Is it so as you are being owner of the vintage shop?
eri
Yes, it doesn’t change even now. I find vintage from a lot of crap when I do buying. But in this way, I can find items that beyond my imagination. You’d have a wider view by not having bias and it should be more fun when they are displayed at shop.
On the other hand, you make clothes 〈mother〉 and accessory 〈VTOPIA〉as your label. Would you ever feel difficulty to differentiate them?
eri
No it’s not so hard. 〈VTOPIA〉has clear concept of jewelry made in an imaginary country. I expand the world further by using for instance my favorite material such as moonstone, which is likely to evoke story.
Yuka
That’s your talent.
eri
It’s more like head trip. Imagination. 〈mother〉 is inspired by vintage clothes in many case. Though I used to set the seasonal concept and a specific figure, I don’t divide my collection by season no more and rather concentrate on single item now. What I’m trying to do is that take care of making clothes that I would be exciting if I find when digging vintage in future.
Yuka
There are almost identical clothes one after another. I think genuine clothes include designer’s personal mind with love and hand.
eri
So I only sell them at my shop. I might cause trouble to shops dealing with if I don’t follow the existing system like doing collection and exhibition, but if I prior that system, I have to do things that I wouldn’t want to do due to its inverse operation. That makes me losing purpose of creation. Although it was tough to end up relationships that I built so far, I don’t regret my decision.
Yuka
I think it’s more fun to pursue what you really like and buy them rather than just following the trend. I’m that type. Just to tell you that the jacket I wear now is from〈courreges〉and eri-san gave it to me earlier!
eri
I knew it’ll definitely fit Yuka so I’ve been thinking to present from ages ago.
Yuka, I suppose you have many chance to get to know trend through work of modeling.
Yuka
I think I can find out what I really like because of this wonderful environment to touch and wear many clothes through work. Luxury label is fantastic with its quality and mode proposal and besides, vintage has history of owners and warmth so both are essential for my wardrobe.
Do you have any favorite shops?
Yuka
‘SCENE’ in Shibuya! Men’s vintage items from brands like〈Calvin Klein〉or〈OLD NAVY〉are so lovely.
Changing the subject, Yuka, I think dyeing your hair to pink created a lot of different image.
Yuka
Yeah because I have pink vibes myself. But dyeing hair is pretty challenging for my work,,.
eri
Originally it was for a limited time only, right?
Yuka
Yes, an initial plan was only during summer holiday. But here I am, still pink. Lol
I was willing to honestly show who I am. I think it’s my distinctive identity that other models don’t have and it may have resulted getting more offers in particular work.
eri
There are quite a few in overseas. Fernanda Ly became it girl for a while ago and she still stands in the scene. It may be hard to survive in future unless you push your original identity forward like Yuka.
How’s reputation?
Yuka
I’m grateful if everyone likes. The biggest point is that I could have conscious of a feeling of ‘I have to stay focused on what I’d really want to do.’
eri
I imagine most of people would feel nervous if they live like us. Generally, you have to compromise yourself to others in order to make sure that you are right not only for work, but for lifestyle too. Luckily comparing to others doesn’t bother me because I feel comfortable to questioning to myself and find answer of it. Lol
Yuka
In nature I wish if everyone could do what they really want to do without wondering others. Then the world would so peaceful.
eri
It may be alright. My personal motto is ‘What one likes, one will do well’ so I get it. If you like a certain thing, you have to be better than others and be passionate about it. I would be disappointed to myself if I can’ score good performance. People say, ‘Eri-chan, you are always busy’ and I’m like ‘Of course I’m busy and you know what, I can’t afford the time.’
Yuka
I see you have your own pace. How many more years do you want?
eri
100 years will do.
Sum up what I’ve heard so far, Eri is designer, shop owner, buyer and photographer. Yuki is model and DJ. You are both multi-talented and it seems very modern.
Yuka
Thanks to people around me, I reckon I have a lot of luck on my circumstances.
I have a lot of people who I can respect. For music, TEI-san and everybody in METAFIVE. Family and friends for private. I’d like to keep improving myself through work with those wonderful people.
eri
You are so nice, encouraged, talented and ultimately so cute. Isn’t it everything? Lol
Yuka
Sweet girls are in everywhere. Lol So I want to sophisticate internal aspect and play an active role at expression field. My grandma’s used to be a dancer and she has passion for beauty. My mom loves Opera and she is very charming. My family was deeply involved to art and cultures, so I guess that’s how made me today. Kiko is an actress and I’m a model, but also I’d love to challenge many things such as singing.
eri
Are you not interested acting?
Yuka
I’d love to try if I had a chance.
Now everyone can deliver message about yourself through Facebook or Instagram that results new talent to be picked up dizzyingly. Do you have any thoughts on these circumstances?
Yuka
I’m happy! I think SNS is convenience tool that let me gaining information instantly. I like Instagram like everyone, but sometimes I feel it’s a bit shallow. Especially young generation seem to be depended on SNS more than necessary. Including myself though. Lol It’s just Instagram but I should be aware of its negative aspect too.
eri
I reckon it’s rather meaningless. Or in other words it’s all idol. How you use it clearly shows your intelligence.
Yuka
Fair enough. I get it.
eri
Even if you do in very good manner, little words you use shows what you really are. I admit that Instagram is essential and valuable tool in order to express yourself, but if you don’t have intention into it, becomes pointless. It’s important to use it wisely. I don’t care number of followers and l presume like 80% of my followers are anti-me so the way I deal with Instagram is like ‘Not being rude for anyone even people who don’t like me see my posts.’
Yuka, are you asked about number of followers because of your job?
Yuka
It’s just number of followers so I don’t really care about it.
eri
I recently got direct message from younger girls who are doing Jewelry label, called 〈Born From Rock〉saying that ‘We like your piece of work and they inspire us. Would you mind to check out our Jewelry?’ I don’t usually read direct message from someone I don’t know, somehow this message pulled my attention and I jumped to their account. Then I could see what they are trying to do by just looking thumbnail though number of followers in that account is small. Their aesthetic was fantastic regardless number of followers. We’ve started business with them and carry their piece at my shop though we haven’t met her yet.
Yuka
In the sense of making the world closer, Instagram is an essential.
eri
A kind of mess is one of good aspects of it. On the other side of phenomenon that the whole world reacts to a single post on internet, an individual movement gradually rise too. Trend of film picture is one of them, isn’t it? People may want tangible rather than digital. As train of thought of people who are a bit ahead of others is getting changed, consequently three or five years later would be totally different.
Do you have anyone caught your mind on Instagram?
Yuka
Mel Ottenberg’s posts are lovely and sometimes I get inspiration from it.
eri
I don’t really have one as 90% of my followers are friends. Gaspard from Justice is keep posting weird people on street at his personal account (only friends can see) and it’s super funny. Lol
Do you have anyone pull your attention in young generation, not restricting to SNS.
Yuka
NAKATA AKITAKA. Friend of mine who is doing a DJ and I get inspiration from his sensitive.
eri
Yasutaka Ochi for me. He manages a flower shop called ‘Diligence Parlor’. He is 20s but very matured as his name didn’t hit my head right away in this question. Lol He sees various things in his view through flowers and that’s why I like him. I trust him because he has his own consistency. I also like Alice Kunisue, one of my best friends living in Paris. She mainly does graphic design. She can think things in flexible as her view is flat regardless country or culture. She is cute, having a sense of humor, stylish and she is not bitch. Lol It’s very rare to meet this type of girl in Japan.
Finally, please tell us how you two see each other.
Yuka
She has so much depth! She is my adorable woman who gives me inspiration every time when I see her. I’m not good at associate with people wide and shallow so talking to someone like Eri-san is most fun.
eri
She is a cluster of all positive energy. Lol Even when Yuka is not talking, others around her are energized. I think that’s why people are attracted to her and she has many company.
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