Life in Tokyo
The Lives and LifeWear of Seven Residents of Tokyo.
W. David Marx
Writer
- W. David Marx／Writer
- Born in Oklahoma, USA. In 2015, David published Ametora: How Japan Saved American Style, which analyses Japanese men’s fashion from a sociological perspective on the basis of extensive research. Already translated into Japanese, Taiwanese, and Chinese, it will soon be made available in Korean. Marx has lived in Tokyo for 17 years. His new house, completed last year, was designed by architect Tamotsu Teshima. The split-level layout gives the house an organic three-dimensional feel, perfectly suiting his family of four. David, who stands tall at 193 cm, strives for the perfect fit in his suits and shirts as well. Our special-order service* allows him to dress in suits made just for him.
*Service not available in Australia
Klara Blanc
Project Manager
- Klara Blanc／Project Manager
- Born in Paris, France. Seeing a Japanese brand on the runway while in middle school was a formative experience for Klara. Since then, her interest in Japan has only grown, leading her to study abroad at a Japanese university. After finding work as a digital editor for a fashion brand in Paris, she realised that she wanted to live in Japan again and returned. Today, she works at a creative agency in the Tokyo metropolitan area. As a personal project, she also runs the website “Parisienne in Tokyo.” Introducing classic literature like The Pillow Book and The Tale of Genji and offering culturally perceptive analyses of Japanese-language concepts like “kikubari” and “honne and tatemae.” She has a way of making academic content readily accessible. Her goal is to shed light on the gems of Japanese culture that are rarely discussed overseas.
Nina Hyvärinen
Dancer
- Born in Helsinki, Finland. Starting ballet at age nine, Nina later joined the Finnish National Ballet, one of the most famous ballet companies in the Nordics. As a principal dancer, she performed in The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and many other ballets. She also appeared in contemporary works by renowned choreographers like William Forsythe and Jiří Kylián. Since leaving the company, she has worked as a freelance dancer and choreographer. Three years ago, her husband’s work as an embassy official brought their family to Tokyo, where she has been teaching ballet and contemporary dance. Fascinated by all forms of traditional dance, she has taken part in Japanese dance, Noh, and the Awa Dance Festival. Her hope is to continue using dance as a way to connect with the local spirit of wherever she happens to be.
Arnold J. Ndzengue
Junior High School Student
- Born in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The son of a Cameroonian father and an American mother, Arnold is trilingual, speaking Japanese, English, and French. Hooked on basketball since age ten, he plays on the intramural team at school, as well as on two other club teams. Though over 190 cm, his position is point guard; and while this may be tall for a point guard in Japan, Arnold is the playmaker for his teams. After completing junior high school, he hopes to go to high school in the United States. His current goal is to witness the high level of play in the homeland of basketball and to develop the endurance to stand up to the strongest players. Even if he continues growing, he’ll be able to dress comfortably in UNIQLO, thanks to the extensive range of sizes.
Hyo Kuwabara
High School Student
- Born in Tokyo. Hyo began surfing at age ten, learning the basics from his surfer parents. To train on days when he couldn’t go to the beach, he started skateboarding, which soon became his passion. As he worked on tricks with his friends, he made remarkable progress. His source of inspiration is skate movies. Hyo is especially drawn to classics like Photosynthesis, saying that in every way, from skate style and fashion to video editing, these old-school videos are fresher and more stylish than anything today. His dream is to follow in the footsteps of Jason Dill, featured in Photosynthesis, and start a skate company with friends sharing his worldview.
Courtney
Model
- Born in Kanagawa, Japan. Courtney’s father is American, and her mother is Japanese. Interested in analog media like records, zines and film cameras from the perspective of youth culture, she frequents the Shibuya art gallery 16(Sixteen) to collect information. She also makes her own zines, using the Risograph printer set up in the gallery. Inspired by The New York Testament, a zine where Dawn Kim collages images from religious tracts found in the NYC subway system, she is developing her own collage project from photographs she takes herself. To Courtney, Tokyo is a place where she can encounter new modes of perception. She hopes to draw upon the knowledge and experience she gains here as she expresses herself through music and art.
Alana Burton
Product Manager
- Born in Cheshire, England. In 2014, Alana began working for a global athletic apparel manufacturer. Having worked previously as a Merchandising Manager, since 2018 she has been based at the company’s Tokyo office, where she works as a Product Manager. This means a lot of busy days. To unwind on her days off, she heads for the vintage stores and record shops of Nakameguro, Shimokitazawa, and Koenji. Her native Cheshire abounds in open gardens, even against the backdrop of a nation so rich in horticulture as England. When she wants to relax, she heads off into a park carrying a book and stays for hours, taking it easy. Her hobby is running. She loves to run outside and explore the unique cityscape of Tokyo, where historic buildings coexist with modern architecture.
Photography by Seishi Shirakawa Styling by Akio Hasegawa
Hair & Makeup by Kenichi Yaguchi, Naomi Hashida Editing by Shigeru Nakagawa
