旦ナビ

「Three stores that let you find your way back to yourself」

2018.10.01

In this edition, we welcome Keita Motoji, second-generation owner of Ginza Motoji. After graduating from high school, Motoji-san studied fashion at a university in London and then moved to France. Returning to Japan, he joined Motoji in 2009. As the company’s Creative Director he has launched an original collection, “Ginza Motoji Men’s Kimono,” and has engaged in the manufacturing and designing the visual concept of the brand.

We went for a stroll in Ginza to complete the mission proposed by Motoji-san, “three stores that let you find you way back to yourself.”

A store with many small surprises

Our first stop was “WEWILL,” a fashion brand located in Ginza1-chome, on Showa-dori. The store opened just recently in July this year on the first floor of the Kawasaki Brand Design Building, which has a 86-year history.

Launched by designer, Hidetaka Fukuzono, the brand manufactures its products entirely in Japan, using only domestically made textiles and carefully designing the details of each product. Its functional designs allow the wearer to make “new discoveries.”

The simple interior of the store with its walls painted in white offers customers a space where they can feel naturally relaxed.

At the back of the store, we found a T-shirt with “GINZA” largely printed on it. The T-shirt, sold exclusively in Ginza, comes in three colors – black, grey and white. The letters “GIN” are printed with reflective material.

This backpack was jointly designed with PORTER. A large capacity backpack opening vertically, it is a user-friendly product.

Motoji-san tried on some pieces that caught his eye. Known for being able to change into a kimono in just two minute, he was as quick as lightening.

The dressing room with a tatami floor is only one of the carefully designed details of the store.

The store character, Azunyan, will greet you at the door. You may also enjoy searching for the different versions of Azunyan that can be found in the store.

WEWILL GINZA
1-20-17 Ginza Kawasaki Brand Design Building 1F, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Store hours: 11：30 – 20：00
Closed irregularly
http://wewill.tokyo

A communication space creating dialogue through one book

Curious to visit “a bookstore that sells only one book,” we headed for Morioka Shoten.

Morioka Shoten is also located in Ginza 1-chome, on the first floor of Suzuki Building, a historical art deco building that was constructed in 1929 (Showa 4) and is currently designated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government as historical architecture.

We talked with Mr. Yoshiyuki Morioka, the owner of Morioka Shoten, which sells only one book during a given period.

Morioka-san originally ran a bookstore and gallery in Kayabacho, and through the events and talk shows held in commemoration of new publications, he felt the possibilities that one book held in terms of creating diverse dialogue. In 2015, he opened a bookstore that carries only one book, determined to start something new and challenging.

One book is displayed for one week, during which he hosts talk sessions among other events.

I asked him if it wasn’t stressing to have to change exhibitions from week to week, and his answer was that a week was the perfect length to convince people that something is a limited time offer. His concept is to arouse a feeling of specialness similar to Japanese “ohanami,” or cherry blossom viewing.

When we visited the store, the book that was on exhibit was a collection of works by cinematographer, Mikiya Takimoto,.

Morioka-san chose Ginza, a leading area of Japan, because back in the early history of Suzuki Building, the entire building was home to Nihon-kobo, the publisher of “NIPPON,” a magazine of ads targeting overseas audiences. He felt that by using a building sacred to Japanese publishing, he might be able to absorb the philosophy and concept of communicating aspects of Japan to the rest of the world.

Stimulating dialogue focused on one artist. It was a pleasure to meet　a special bookseller who generates various encounters between people from one book.

Morioka Shoten Ginza Store
1−28−15 Ginza, Suzuki Building 1F, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Store hours: 13：00 – 20：00
Closed on Mondays
https://soken.moriokashoten.com/

An exquisite yakitori bar loyal to its original recipe since the 1940s

Our final stop was Torimasa, a yakitori bar on the same street as Mr. Motoji’s kimono store that he often goes to.

Hanging in the entrance of the store, which has an old time atmosphere, is a “noren” curtain with the store’s name painted out by Shizuka Ijuin. It is obviously a store valued by many loyal customers.

The restaurant was established soon after the end of World War II and embraces an old time atmosphere that allows one to unwind. There are ten counter seats in the compact restaurant.

The young owner greeted us as we walked into the restaurant, located behind Ginza Mitsukoshi Department Store.

The restaurant becomes busy at 5:00pm, just as it opens. It is always full of regular customers, such as Shizuka Ijuin, who have been loyal to the restaurant for quite a long time.

As an appetizer, we had chicken tenderloin sashimi, a healthy and savory dish with the white scallion giving it a special accent.

In between dishes, we enjoyed Japanese pickles handmade by his mother and chicken wings, one of the most popular dishes on the menu.

The miso served with the yakitori is also seasoned by his mother to perfection and would pair well with sake. The chicken wings were also perfectly grilled – crispy and yet juicy. They purchase their chicken from a specialty shop in Tsukiji.

The standard course consists of seven skewers of chicken, soup, pickles, grated daikon radish, and chicken tenderloin sashimi for 3,000 yen (without tax).

Torimasa is a special restaurant managed by its second- and third-generation chefs and mother.

I enjoyed the opportunity to eat at a chic yakitori bar that I would be proud to be able to introduce to someone.

Torimasa
4-8-13 Ginza, Kaibokukai Kaikan Building 1F, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Store hours: 17：00 – 22：00
Closed on Sundays and holidays (Closed when a national holiday falls on a Saturday)