The BEAU MAGAZINE ボー・マガジン in your hands.
This is a guidebook themed around 'conscious luxury' from France.
All 196 pages explore eco-consciousness, and you will discover curated content by the best creators and the latest addresses. We are pursuing the 'beauty' of our era.
This inaugural issue is a collector's edition and is sold exclusively at Tsutaya Bookstore in Japan. It is sold with a QR code, allowing you to read Japanese summaries of several selected articles.
Please enjoy.
Charlotte Roudaut/ Editor-in-Chief シャーロット・ルドー
12 pages
BEAU MAGAZINE First Issue
We boldly believe that there are innovators in the world who can change it. We want to spotlight those who take positive action amidst the crises and shortages the world faces, who may be a bit stubborn or eccentric, and tell their stories.
We have met people who are actually crafting new ideas for the future, distinguishing ourselves from the nonstop news that floods with information. We will focus on and introduce people who do not escape reality, hold big dreams, and take action to overcome doubts. We want to show the true faces of generous and human activists who propose new values. We will support curious and creative people who turn crises into opportunities for social change. And we want to revive a new consciousness of beauty and share that 'beauty' with everyone.
This magazine can be seen as a platform for a community gathered to express freely.
Please enjoy.
Charlotte Roudaut Editor-in-Chief
15 pages
THE DRAWING / EIKO MAEKAWAI need to make space for new clothes, so I'll donate the clothes I don't need.
What you don't need, we don't need either.
The textile waste generated in Europe (clothes, shoes, sheets, etc.) is 12 kilograms per person per year.
30 pages
ART & CULTURETHE COMMITMENT
Journalist-PHILIPPE AZOURY Paris
Patti Smith The positive voice
Patti Smith is not just a singer; she is a 'voice' that raises people's awareness. She is also a musician, poet, writer, and photographer. In recent years, she has developed a habit of taking the stage to advocate for environmental issues. What concerns her is environmental destruction and global warming. 'Beyond politics, religion, and economics, the environment is the only element we can all agree on. Everyone wants clean water and air, and a healthy environment for children.'
These are the words she declared when she participated in the Pathway to Paris event in Paris in 2015. The founders of this event, which was held to raise awareness about the urgency of climate change measures, are Patti's daughter Jesse Paris Smith and cellist Rebecca Foon. This event, held at the Trianon theater, gathered musicians, activists, artists, scholars, and politicians, and was also live-streamed. It was held in conjunction with the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, featuring performances by Tom Yorke, Flare, and Bill McKibben, co-founder of 350.org. 'We need to focus not only on what has been destroyed but also on what can be maintained and rebuilt. It is never too late to improve things,' said Patti.
How did she become interested in environmental issues? Was it triggered by her meeting with the Dalai Lama? 'When I met the Dalai Lama, I asked him this. What is the most important issue that young people should focus on? He answered, “Not the freedom of Tibet, but the protection of the Earth's environment.” It took me a long time to truly understand the meaning of his words.' (From L’Humanité magazine, 2012)
Patti, who loves poetry and literature, is the type to write new books or read her beloved Rimbaud's poetry collection in a place away from the urban noise. In fact, she has not participated in social events where rock and pop superstars gather, such as the charity project 'Band Aid' in the 1980s. It can be said that Patti Smith became genuinely interested in environmental issues due to the influence of her daughter, Jesse Paris Smith. Until the 2000s, neither Patti nor her late husband (the great guitarist Fred Sonic Smith) nor their daughter had any particular interest in this issue. It was when her daughter turned 15 that she began to focus on environmental issues. When Jesse Paris Smith was trying to write an article for her school newspaper and couldn't come up with content, she left home in the middle of the night to buy a newspaper in search of ideas. She found a long article addressing global warming and its disasters and researched the issue extensively. Furious, she met with her school teacher the next day to ask why this topic was not being addressed in middle school. Ten years later, Jesse Paris Smith and Patti reunited at Pathway to Paris and together energized the festival. For this large event gathering green activists, Patti Smith maximizes her connections and aura.
We held concerts and conferences in London, Paris, Buenos Aires, and Montreal, and we had a poetry reading at the Metropolitan in New York. Then, on April 26, 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown, Patti, Jesse Paris Smith, and Rebecca Foon hosted the Pathway to Paris virtual live streaming festival, with concerts and discussions broadcasted through Pathway to Paris's Instagram. Esteemed participants included Cat Power, Johnny Depp, Jim Jarmusch, Ben Harper, and Michael Stipe. In June of the same year, on World Environment Day, Patti, Jesse Paris Smith, and Rebecca Foon organized a virtual festival with 350.org, and on October 31, 2021, they held a new Pathway to Paris event during COP26 in Glasgow. The last song Patti sang that day was "People Have the Power," a classic from her 1988 album Dream of Life, co-written with her late husband Fred Sonic Smith, which is now considered one of the most fitting message songs for discussing environmental issues.
The 'Evidance, Soundwalk, Collective & Patti Smith Exhibition' will be held at the Pompidou Center in Paris until January 23, 2023.
Pages 38 - 41
ART & CULTURE
LE PHÉNOMÈNE
Journalist - EKO SATO Tokyo
Photo-ANJU
A challenge to a new book cultureIn a time when everything is becoming dematerialized, books are a window that blossoms human curiosity, and there is a person advocating for physical contact with books. This pioneer is Mr. Munetaka Masuda, the founder of Tsutaya Bookstore. It all began in Osaka in 1983. After spending ten years developing in a fashion manufacturer, Mr. Masuda decided to leave his job, following a certain intuition, and founded TSUTAYA.
At the core is the 'lifestyle proposal.' I launched TSUTAYA, which mixed music record and movie video rentals with book sales.
While working in fashion, I came to the realization that 'people are not seeking fashion, but rather the style they want to become, in other words, a lifestyle.' The most prominent expression of lifestyle is found in culture such as film, music, and literature. However, at that time, one had to buy records to listen to music, which was expensive for the younger generation. I wanted to make it so that everyone could freely listen to music, just like munching on cabbage.' On March 24, 1983, the first store opened in Hirakata City, Osaka, and the number of accessible and casual TSUTAYA stores rapidly increased.
On December 5, 2011, Daikanyama Tsutaya Bookstore was launched, creating a buzz. Daikanyama is a very quiet area, being a high-end residential district. It is located in the city center, where famous designers' luxury boutiques coexist with shops of young avant-garde creators, making it a bourgeois bohemian town. It is a high-cost area where middle-aged and older people live, and also a place where creative entrepreneurs dream of investing.
Since its grand opening, Daikanyama Tsutaya Bookstore has quickly become a popular spot in the city, and it still retains that status. This site had been unused for years and looked like a forest. Imagine the dazzling gaze of those seeing this brand new building for the first time after construction. Approximately 12,000m2 of land. The 55m long Magazine Street connects three buildings, spanning both indoors and outdoors. The architecture was designed by Klein Dytham Architecture, who later gained attention for their three-dimensional facade design of the Cartier boutique in Osaka. The sophisticated facade of Daikanyama Tsutaya Bookstore is beautifully composed of the initials of TSUTAYA, a small 'T,' and the visual identity was created by Kenya Hara, the artistic director of Muji. It is a spacious, elegant, and bright building. By creating a massive bookstore, did Mr. Masuda aim to build a business model that goes against the realities of the economy?
Of course, the highlight of this bookstore is not just the facade that captures the attention of passersby. Innovation continues inside. Here, employees do not mechanically shout 'Welcome.' Everything is meticulously designed to stimulate the comfort and curiosity of customers. The selection of products displayed in the store is sharp. The latest books, nostalgic music from the past, the latest indie magazines that are unknown in France, and rare records are sold—items that cannot be found elsewhere. No matter which booth you look at, such as the section on nature books, there are many new discoveries to be made. 'Currently, more people are buying books and magazines online. However, because it is a physical space, you can discover what you truly need. Tsutaya Bookstore offers experiences that cannot be replaced by the internet,' says Mr. Masuda. Tsutaya Bookstore proposes new discoveries with each exploration. In the Starbucks Coffee located inside, and the lounge 'Anjin,' you can enjoy books before purchasing, drink coffee while strolling around the store, or sit in various chairs and armchairs placed throughout the store to read.
Attention is also paid to the balance of light, with countless ingenious ideas implemented. There is a commitment not only to natural light but also to the store's interior lighting. Sunlight streams in through large glass windows, creating a soft glow inside the store. 'In the “Magazine Street,” where magazines from around the world are lined up, we use platforms with lanterns. These lanterns beautifully illuminate not only the books but also the people reading them. At Tsutaya Bookstore, the visitors themselves are also beautiful elements that create the landscape,' says Mr. Masuda.
Tsutaya Bookstore has achieved great success, with currently one in two Japanese people holding a T-point card. The franchise headquarters, Culture Convenience Club, now operates four Tsutaya bookstores in China and opened a Tsutaya bookstore in Malaysia last July.
The Daikanyama Tsutaya Bookstore, considered one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world, has won various international awards, including the 2012 World Architecture Festival Awards and the 2013 Wallpaper* Design Awards.
In 2017, we took the concept a step further and opened a new store in Ginza. This area, once frequented by writer Yukio Mishima and painter Tsuguharu Foujita, is a blend of luxury and culture, akin to a mix of the Champs-Élysées and Saint-Germain-des-Prés. The new bookstore is located on the 6th floor of 'Ginza Six' and is dedicated entirely to art. Mr. Masuda aims to democratize art, and at the Ginza Tsutaya Bookstore, there are sections dedicated to books, magazines, exhibitions, and even a corner focused on Japanese crafts.
Always a step ahead, Mr. Masuda recently opened a co-working space 'SHARE LOUNGE' at Tsutaya Bookstore, located across from the Shibuya Scramble Place, with 'the individual era' as a keyword.
"During the pandemic, Tsutaya Bookstore saw an unprecedented demand for humanities, especially philosophy books. I believe the keywords for the coming era are 'intellectual capital' and 'individual'. People are not assigned roles by companies or organizations; instead, they decide their own roles, and those with roles create communities and generate value together," he says. At TSUTAYA and Tsutaya Bookstore, they are developing a new type of workplace that inspires such individuals. In Shibuya's 'SHARE LOUNGE', you can enjoy breathtaking city views, freely accessible books, and a variety of snacks and drinks.
If Mr. Masuda is launching a new concept far from the city, what dreams does he hold?
I want to create a space that can support individuals and co-creation among individuals. If possible, I hope to create such a co-creation space somewhere in a forest. I believe that being in a forest allows one to face oneself. And a rich natural environment has a positive impact on intellectual production. I dream of creating a place in such a forest where independent individuals can actively collaborate with someone to create new value.
Pages 50 - 51
ART & CULTURETHE IMMERSION
Journalist - EKO SATO Tokyo
A philosophical approach to forestsBaptiste Moriso is a philosopher who tracks wolves and leopards. He learns the logic of how wild animals occupy territories and coexist with other animals by following their footprints and fur.
In his new book "S'ENFORESTER", he studies the relationship between forests and humans while exploring the forest with the same approach. The forest of Bialowieza, which he visited to write this book, is located between Poland and Belarus and is said to be one of the last primeval forests in Europe. While almost all of the continent's forests were cut down during the Middle Ages, Bialowieza is the perfect place to study the original state of forests. Moriso set out on a journey with photographer and geographer Andrea Olga Mantovani to explore and understand this environment, which resembles nature from over a thousand years ago. All species, including humans, share one or more ancestors and inherit their descendants. However, according to Moriso, the forests that have nourished us and shaped our habitability are now being ignored. In classical and Western notions, humans are superior to organisms and nature. He questions that perspective and speaks of the necessity to rethink our existence as biological beings through this book. This book is one that will change the way we see the world.
Pages 68 - 70
LOCKERS
THE SUCCESS STORY
Journalist - LAURENCE DELEBOIS New York
Eco-friendly and friendly laundromat"Celsius" is a cool and eco-friendly laundromat that has never existed in New York before. Founders Corina and Teresa Williams grew up in a house built with ecological materials and were raised on organic food.
The idea for this project was born when Corina moved to New York. As a correspondent for the German version of Harper's Bazaar, while searching for an apartment, she noticed that most rental apartments in the city did not have washing machines. "New York is famous as a city where dreams come true, but it's a city where you can't find a clean and comfortable laundromat. That's when the idea of launching a comfortable laundromat came to me." Corina involved Teresa, who was working as a designer in London at the time, and together they launched this project.
It's not uncommon to open a new restaurant in New York, but opening a laundromat is a big challenge. I often get asked why it took three years to launch. It was the time needed to obtain the necessary permits, find partners, and locate equipment that is efficient and consumes little energy. It also took time to find the best location to open the laundromat.
Ultimately, the place the sisters chose was Williamsburg, an area where creators and entrepreneurs gather. They were able to open a cool laundromat that rivals the Brooklyn vibe.
Teresa designed the organic coffee booth on the first floor with wooden pallets, and the staff's aprons were made by designer Inga Lena, who creates environmentally friendly, locally made clothing. A patio was created for waiting customers, and the pop-up space inside regularly features young creator brands. Every Friday, a two-hour DJ event organized by customers is also planned. It is a clean and cozy laundromat that is popular on Instagram. Even though the sound of dryers can be heard in the back, it is, in a way, a new style of club that is friendly to the earth.
Pages 94 - 97
HOSPITALITES
LA FILERE
Journalist - CHRISTELLE GILABERT Rouen
The best wheatA vast wheat field located about 10 kilometers from the city of Rouen in northern France. Despite it being harvest time, no agricultural machinery is in sight. About 15 people are busy bending over with sickles in hand.
Founded by gardeners, teachers, musicians, and engineers, this organization has been conducting participatory harvests every year since 2019. The TRITICUM association was established to raise awareness among local residents and citizens about the importance of ancient wheat. For this organization, cultivating ancient wheat is extremely valuable for protecting soil and life in an unstable ecosystem.
"We are thinking of solutions for a warming planet. Due to industrialization, ancient seeds and the know-how associated with them have almost disappeared," explains Simon Bridon, the founder of this association.
In the case of ancient wheat, precise work is required at each stage of processing from field to table. Since this work varies depending on quality and timing, it can only be done by hand. Mechanization is impossible, but it is more economical in terms of materials and energy. "Even if we inevitably use tools, it is important to use tools adapted to the soil and environment," says agronomist Valentin. "Advanced mechanization cuts off the delicate connection between humans and the land," adds seed artisan Luc.
These seeds are more rustic and resilient, with deep roots, allowing them to grow with less water. They are also more nutritious and tastier.
To find seeds, the TRITICUM association directly interacts with the seed storage facilities of the French Agricultural, Food and Environmental Research Institute and nearby farmers. Currently, they have been able to collect 200 varieties of seeds, and this diversity contributes to both the regeneration of life and the autonomy of farmers. The exploitation of modern wheat is patented by entrepreneurs. In the case of ancient seeds, there are no rights, and no royalties need to be paid. The TRITICUM association, which now has over 200 members, is reintroducing varieties and collaboratively trialing this project with the help of farmers, artisans, citizens, and researchers. In March, they gathered eight bakers to make twelve types of bread together.
This is the strength of the association. With this global approach from seed to finished product, we bring all stakeholders, including consumers, to one table. In this way, farmers, millers, artisans, researchers, and citizens participate and work together in a participatory harvest.
Pages 94 - 97
HOSPITALITESLA TABLE REGENERATRICE
Journalist - EMMANUELLE DASQUE Lisbon
Waste 0% Cooking 100%There is a unique restaurant called "SEM" in Lisbon. Run by New Zealand genius chef Georges McLeod and his Brazilian partner Lara Espirit, this restaurant transforms and recycles everything from vegetable peels to decorations without wasting anything. For these two, who are a bit of inventors and foodies, the key to the future lies in recognizing consumption from a different perspective.
"Waste is nothing but a lack of imagination." This is the words of the founder of London's first zero-waste restaurant, 'SILO'. It was a restaurant where Georges worked for several years and inspired him to establish his own restaurant in Lisbon. Georges often quotes this phrase. "SEM" means "not" in Portuguese. In English, it corresponds to "WITHOUT". This bistro is located on a hill in the tourist area of Alfama, where large jars ferment plants and fruits on the shelves of the open kitchen. The floor of the wine bar is made from recycled soles of old sneakers. And this restaurant has no trash cans. The only one is the kitchen composter.
"We maximize the use of food. Therefore, we do not throw away freshly cut onion and carrot peels in the composter. They are used for sauces and soups. When I was attending cooking school, I was made to practice peeling vegetables perfectly. If I failed, the carrot was immediately thrown in the trash. I couldn't agree with that approach at all. Perfectly cut carrots are meaningless. Texture and flavor are more important than shape, right?" says Georges.
This restaurant makes its own bread, butter, and ricotta. "We spent six months searching for and selecting farmers and producers who practice regenerative agriculture. We regularly discuss with them and think together about better ways to recycle. For example, with the oyster farmers, we considered the following: we return the shells of the cooked oysters to the farmers, and they return them to the coast. In this way, the oyster shells become an excellent habitat for new marine life," Lara explains.
Since opening in 2021, 'SEM' has joined the ranks of Portugal's top 100 restaurants. Customers also support the restaurant's philosophy of 'joy of taste and consideration for the environment'. 'We must have a different way of thinking about the world. And it starts from our plates,' says Jorge.
104- 105 pages
LES FOOD-TROTTEURS THE SOCIAL FOODShirley Gallié and Mathieu Zouhairi are also known as The Social Food. They share two passions: delicious food and travel. No matter where they travel, they sniff, taste, and eat, sometimes with their hands, discovering local ingredients with their own eyes. They return home with many recipes and various chefs' secrets. The first installment of a series that The Social Food will report for Beau Magazine is 'Hitsumabushi', a traditional Japanese dish where leftover grilled eel is chopped and placed on rice. The best restaurant they experienced during a month-long food trip is 'Atsuta Horaiken Honten' in Nagoya, a place they fell in love with at first sight.
- Shirley Gallié and her son in Tokyo
- Grilled eel
- Suitcase upon returning home
- Charcoal fire remnants
- Inside a train in Nagoya
- Rolling eel fillets onto skewers
- Delivery to the restaurant
- Soaking eel fillets in eel sauce102 pages
102 pages
LE BEAU DE…
Journalist - CHARLOTTE ROUDAUT ParisPhoto: THE SOCIAL FOOD
Alexandre Gauthier
A two-star chef at La Madeleine sous Montreuil (Pas-de-Calais). Alexandre Gauthier, the owner of 'La Grenouillère', creates innovative culinary experiences using local ingredients. His creations and beliefs are expressed through gastronomy. The knife is the very 'face' of the chef. Alexandre Gauthier gets to the heart of the matter.
In Japan, it is said that it takes 40 years to become a skilled sushi chef. The cutting of ingredients is interpreted as a sacred act. My knife was gifted by Takamura Hamono Seisakusho, and the Takamura family has been producing exquisite knives for seven generations. Each knife takes dozens of hours to create, shape, polish, and assemble by hand, and all of these processes are completed in an atelier in Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture. My Damascus knife is made by layering hard copper and soft copper in the blade. This creation technique has been built up over generations from our ancestors and is a sword-making technique passed down since the samurai era. It requires high precision and infinite patience, and its delicacy and sharpness are also its characteristics. I never lend it to others and never part with it. It fits in my hand, catches my movements, and sometimes anticipates them. In fact, a knife is like a writer's quill. It is undoubtedly my own signature.
136 - 143 pages
INTERIEURS
LES FAISEUSES
Journalist - EMMANUELLE DASQUE Lisbon
Photo: SANDRA VUCKOVIC
Portugal New WaveThey create collaborations, showcasing savoir-faire while weaving connections between their country's traditions and the modern world.
As designers or architects, they are modernly inheriting the legacy of craftsmanship that has long been rooted in the Iberian Peninsula. It is beautiful and authentic.
The Portuguese women's community introduced here has been preserving the culture of their country's artisans for several years. They vote for passionate young designers and reconnect creations through 'handwork'. Driven by a passion for beautiful and authentic things, they share the same sentiments. We went to meet these activists.
They were born just before and after the revolution of 1974, a time that marked the end of nearly 50 years of dictatorship. Under the dictator Salazar, women were required to learn handicrafts. In Portugal, basket weaving, textiles, and ceramics still remain in abundance.
In an era where traditional craftsmen are gradually disappearing, they are each working in their own way to pass on know-how and secure the next generation of artisans. By focusing on local and sustainable materials, each object tells a new story through their eyes.
Pages 138 – 139
Felipa AlmeidaCurator and collector
Her studio resembles a labyrinth filled with treasures. It showcases traditional dolls, hand-painted plates and candle holders found in southern Portugal, as well as new works created in collaboration with young designers and artisans. Each season, this collector and curator selects a theme and displays vintage objects alongside original products created for that occasion. This passionate vintage hunter, born in Lisbon, has spent the first 30 years of her life abroad. 'I have a unique connection to my culture. I can talk to artisans because I speak Portuguese, but I always feel like a novice when I discover works I've never seen before.'
Page 140
Fátima Dulki & Astrid SuzanoA duo passing on know-how
Passa ao Futuro from the past to the future. This is the name of a non-profit organization introduced here. Its founders, Fátima Dulki and Astrid Suzano, are Portuguese-American architects. Their mission is to create links between local artisans and international designers. They hold exhibitions, workshops, and various ateliers in different villages to share their know-how. They have already achieved significant success, including a rattan armchair called 'Pico'. This chair, designed by Miguel Soeiro, is handwoven by Fernando Nelas. The lamp called 'Tempo' is designed by Christian Haas and produced by Isabel Martins. Each piece comes with a small name tag that describes the working hours, origin, materials, and features.
Page 141
Rosa Pomar
Yarn activist
Rosa Pomar spends her time traveling back and forth between the Serra da Estrela mountains and her yarn shop “Retrosaria” in Lisbon. The granddaughter of the renowned painter Júlio Pomar, she was mainly influenced by the rebellious and intellectual women in her family. Majoring in medieval history, she dreamed of becoming an illustrator but channeled her passion for wool and knitwear into her work. Her book on Portuguese knitting techniques is a bestseller. Currently, she offers about ten types of 100% natural Portuguese yarn.She says, “I produce handmade yarn in collaboration with breeders' associations and small factories.” At the same time, she also sells original knitwear.
Additionally, as an activist, she fights against the situation where endangered breeds of sheep are threatened by the rise of more productive foreign imports. “What I want to emphasize through my collection of yarn balls is an alternative way of consumption. My message is 'Less but better.' I want to focus on consuming high-quality items, even in small quantities.”
142 – 143 pages
Catarina PortasThe Pioneer
For 15 years, Catarina has been a woman fighting for the protection of the country's cultural assets.
I grew up surrounded by various traditional objects that my mother scoured at fairs and markets. It left a deep impression on me, and I am still drawn to the beauty of handmade items.
Catarina Portas has been actively working as a guardian of cultural heritage in Portugal for 15 years. A former journalist, she has breathed life into many iconic old brands and sparked discussions.
Colored pencils from the manufacturer Vialco, toothpaste from the manufacturer Cuto, and soap from Confiança, among others. These products are sold in the iconic store she established, “Vida Portuguesa.”
Currently, she has launched a 400m2 concept store in Lisbon in collaboration with a platform called Portugal Manual, which gathers the best designers. This place, once a foundry, has transformed into a store specializing in crafts, featuring old pottery, carpets woven from T-shirts, and traditional hand-embroidered costumes.
For sale. This bright space, belonging between shops and museums, will soon open a café. In this concept store, yesterday's know-how and tomorrow's creations crossover.
144 – 148 pages
THE IMPERFECTSThe imperfect
THE SIGNS OF TIME
Symbol of the era
Photo: DENIS BOULZE
Styling: CHARLOTTE HUGUET
I love things that are unfinished. I'm drawn to broken things.
― Charlotte Huguet
What is perfect beauty?
Restored, sewn, re-glued, patched, reused, and repaired, various items come back to life. An ordinary object with visible signs of processing is reborn into something special through a new perspective. And the story continues to be written...
- Vintage plates
- Tights cut with scissors
- Burnt linen kitchen towel
vase, made by Marion Graux Poterie - Ribbon attached with glue made from Petit H fabric
- 「AstiéRestored pitcher from "De Villat"
- Irregular vintage forks
- Repetto shoes with holes
- Next page: Vintage tank tops sewn together
"I like things that are efficient." - CHARLOTTE HUGUET
178 - 180 pages
Welcome to Varam AirlinesHis bestseller book "Paris VS New York" is undoubtedly positioned as one of the recommended gifts from 10 years ago. But that was before Varam Muralitharan visited Japan.
He discovered Japan, fell in love, and felt that this country was the place that suited his tastes the best. Japan is truly a country where his passion is concentrated.
And now, Varam Muliatian has published a poetic anti-guide, "Va au Japon (Going to Japan)". It is a book that gathers personal impressions of Japan.
In March 2020, during the lockdown period when he couldn't go outside, designer Varam Muliatian, who was confined at home, imagined a new style of travel. He picked up a pencil and began to draw illustrations about Japan, the country he missed the most.
Japan, where measures against COVID-19 were stricter than in any other country. "Honestly, I thought I might not be able to return again..." he recalls.
His first visit to Japan was in 2013, when the Japanese version of the bestseller "Paris VS New York" was published.
I was 33 years old. I asked myself why I had waited so long to get here. There was so much passion, so much packed in. Typography, signage, graphic design... all the elements that inspired me to do this work were in Japan.
Moreover, Japan also existed in his childhood. The 1980s' "Goldilocks (Glendaie)", Tamagotchi, Casio calculators, Pac-Man, Olive and Tom sparked his imagination.
Through the virtual world, I felt a sense of nostalgia for a world I already knew. It was a mysterious, charming, and modern laboratory-like world.
How did he depict Japan seven years after his first visit?
The source of the idea is shiritori. A word game for children, where the sounds gradually leap, like "three", "small", "cats". Starting from Isamu Noguchi's washi lamp, with each page turned in response to the echoes, images and words evoke episodes and the story continues. After two years from the conceptual sketches, "Va au Japon (Going to Japan)" was published. The book's title also implies taking readers to Japan in a real sense. With a sense of a long journey, you can experience the living scenery visible from the Shinkansen window through his illustrations. About the futuristic style of the Shinkansen, he says, "It has more stability and quietness than the TGV." And Varam further expands his dreams. Dreaming while looking out the window as a child was his favorite time. He loved all the scenery visible through the small windows of trains, boats, and airplanes.
"Initially, I wanted to express a tribute to this country and declare my love for Japan through illustrations, but the pencil began to get more and more absorbed, and gradually expanded." Varam says he is still enjoying this creative process.
Readers gradually become companions on his journey, and also become Varam himself.
I caught a taxi, the door opens, everything is automatic, everything is like magic.
And to the destination, Osaka. "To enjoy visuals like a movie set"
Even though this guidebook has no addresses at all, as I read various episodes, I feel as if I have visited the places introduced by Varam. I feel like I have gone to the inn he stayed at. "Suddenly, I feel an illusion of being in a Kitano Takeshi movie. It feels like I've entered a dimension that transcends the boundaries of existence and time," says Varam.
The joy of wandering Naoshima to experience the best of contemporary art, sleeping in a capsule hotel to feel the ultimate familiarity of a typical Japanese person, and savoring beautiful kaiseki cuisine...
Is it really necessary to see everything realistically in order to dream? Isn't that uncertain?
HIS PASSPORT TO JAPAN
His passport to Japan
Duration of stay
At least 3 weeks
*Means of transportation.*
*Train, my own feet, and subway.*
*Favorite words.*
*'Excuse me,' Japan always uses words of apology.*
*A ritual as a Tokyoite.*
*Going to 'Teppen'*
*At an izakaya in Nakameguro, everyone starts singing when fresh fish is served through a hidden door.*
*A walk that I absolutely recommend.*
*Cherry blossom trees along the Meguro River.*
*The feeling when I returned.*
*The gap between body and consciousness.*
*In Japan, the atmosphere changes dramatically depending on the place.*
*I always feel new when I come back from Japan.*
*Page 183*
*Sara Lin & Christophe Lemaire**Their music is deeply connected to their collection.*
*It is an expression of themselves and a connection to time.*
*They explore avant-garde electro, new wave, garage, and afro-rock psychedelic music.*
*A diverse selection of music worldwide by a fashion creator duo.*
*You can enjoy playlists through Spotify from the QR code on the page.*