Interview with Nigo by BEAMS. Go Nigo go.

BEAMS
What is it that you've been bitten by lately?
NIGO®
Japanese culture. At home, I wear a pair of shoes with a sandal thong like the ones usually worn backstage at a Kabuki performance. And I secretly visit a tiny shop in Kyoto and often go to watch traditional Kyogen stage performances. Even though I hadn't really been interested before, Kyogen is just as interesting as Kabuki. I wish young people would go to watch these performances more often. When I go to that kind of theater, I can hardly find a young person. I am afraid that Japanese culture does not take root with them anymore. A lot of things will disappear easily in our traditional culture as well as in our fashion culture if we are not attentive to our past. I think this is a great matter of concern.
BEAMS
What can you predict about the future of Japanese fashion?
NIGO®
More and more, I think the cultures like 'URAHARA' will start to disappear. People will align more along the comforts of major brands. In Japan, young people seem apathetic while other Asian cities have raised a generation of empowered youth, something I`ve found traveling the region. For example, the scene in Beijing or Shanghai could change in the time of one month. A deserted street could be reborn as a crowded stylish boutique lane full of young people who bought something unique and hold varying shopping bags in each hand. This situation is reminiscent of when ＜APE＞ launched their Hong Kong location. At first, the area seemed to lack a shopper`s spirit, but at some point, that was flipped entirely. We have to warm Japan up from now on, don't we? We have to make young people come out of their bedrooms. So, let's continue to produce interesting products and make that the catalyst to driving people to enjoy life together.