PARCO has released its new “HAPPY HOLIDAYS Campaign” advertisement.
This ad, created as part of the special project celebrating PARCO’s 55th anniversary, honors Haruomi Hosono’s 55 years of music activities. It features photographs from his childhood through his time with Happy End and YMO, leading up to the present. The ad showcases a “historical mandala,” directed by Naohiro Ukawa, that incorporates the iconic motifs and characters of internationally acclaimed artist Keiichi Tanaami, continuing his artistic vision. The commercial, with Ukawa as the creative director, brings Hosono’s 55-year history to life through generative AI technology, animating his images alongside Tanaami’s motifs. It also includes a newly composed song by Hosono and narration.
This collaboration marks the first between Tanaami and Hosono, and it became one of Tanaami’s final projects before his passing in August. Naohiro Ukawa, Tanaami’s top disciple, plays a significant role in this project.
Naohiro Ukawa
An incredibly deep, psychedelic, and pure cultural mandala!!!!”It is a tremendous honor for me to participate as a creative director in the momentous anniversary of PARCO’s 55th year. This visual combines the artwork of my mentor, Keiichi Tanaami, who sadly passed away shortly after celebrating his 88th birthday, with the historical evolution of Haruomi Hosono, who also coincidentally marks his 55th anniversary in the same year as PARCO. The history of PARCO, which has continually led Japan’s pop avant-garde culture since the post-economic growth period, resonates with the 55 years of time flowing through this mandala, revealing cultural truths… This visual world forms a complex, three-dimensional structure that embodies a multi-verse.
By utilizing both hand-drawn artwork and CG, as well as hand-crafted animation and generative AI, I have sought to channel the spirit of my late mentor and his artistic style, ensuring the legacy of creative expression is engraved within this mandala. This project encapsulates the essence of <55th anniversary x 55th anniversary x Holidays x Requiem>. This visual realm has reached an incredibly deep, psychedelic, and pure ceremonial domain, representing a microcosm of post-war Japan’s alternative culture where fine art and pop culture intertwine!!!!!!! Congratulations to PARCO and Haruomi Hosono on their 55th anniversaries!!!!!! And massive R.I.P. to my mentor Keiichi Tanaami…
Shinji Nanzuka
This project was developed collaboratively by Ukawa and Tanaami while he was still alive. Tanaami, who never compromises on his creative vision, entrusted his materials exclusively to Ukawa, allowing him complete freedom. Unfortunately, Tanaami passed away before witnessing the finished work, making it one of his final projects. However, I believe it has become a masterpiece that exemplifies the strength of the mentor-student relationship between Keiichi Tanaami and Naohiro Ukawa, modeled on Haruomi Hosono, who brought transformation to Japanese pop music.Haruomi Hosono
It’s a coincidence that both the founding of PARCO and my music career share the same 55-year timeline. I created this music with a prayer for “happy holidays.”
Additionally, as part of this project, two documentary films featuring Haruomi Hosono, NO SMOKING and SAYONARA AMERICA, will be screened on November 7 (Thursday) at WHITE CINE QUINTO on the 8th floor of Shibuya PARCO in Tokyo. There will also be a talk event titled HOSONO CINEMA HOUSE featuring Hosono and Ikuko Harada. Furthermore, a special program dedicated to Haruomi Hosono will be broadcast on November 9 (Saturday) on Naohiro Ukawa’s platform, DOMMUNE.
