INDEX
Aiming to create a town where new things are born like in the past.
Takano: You also started a brand called “DA.YO.NE. (Plus Dayone)” in 2019, what is this about?
Yonehara: Basically, it’s a project, and it means that when I collaborate with various people, it’s a plus, and it also means “plus da yone”.
Takano: So it has “Yone” in it, Yone-san.
Yonehara: VERBAL gave me the name. We talked about how DA.YO.NE. would be good, and he said, “I will use it” (laughs).
Celeina: That’s good (laughs). And as I mentioned earlier, you opened “tHE GALLERY HARAJUKU” in July this year, right?
Yonehara: Yes, it opened. （You asked (Celeina) to visit us, didn’t you?
Celeina: Yes!
Takano: What kind of place is it?
Yonehara: It’s next to a flower shop in the middle of Tonchan-dori in Harajuku.
Takano: What kind of things will you exhibit?
Yonehara: I am also an agent for artists, and one of them is an artist named gata-san, who does all the IP for the brand “BENCH AT THE GREENE. After that, we continued with gata-san’s solo exhibitions.
Celeina: Starting with gata-san, what came next?
Yonehara: We had an exhibition by a digital artist named “Kasumi Ranchi,” and then we did another pop-up for the brand “Ben Davis. Since it is in Harajuku, we are trying to make the space available to a variety of people, rather than putting up expensive works. Like with “egg,” we wanted to create a hub so that many high school girls could participate.
Celeina: I see. tHE GALLERY HARAJUKU requires reservations or something? Is it open to everyone?
Yonehara: Of course. No reservation is required, and viewing is free. Harajuku used to be full of people hanging out in clothing stores and other places, and you could have fun without spending money. I wanted to create a place where people don’t have to spend money to have fun.
Takano: And it is also a place where people can meet each other.
Yonehara: Yes, that’s right. Right now, there are only consumers, or people who buy and sell things, and I don’t think that kind of town is interesting.
Celeina: I would like to strip away that part of the town, even if only a little.
Yonehara: There has to be something that comes out of it. It’s not that the countryside is bad, but I think the reason it is difficult to create culture in the countryside is because the buyers and sellers are divided. Because there are so many people in the countryside, there is a lot of miscellaneous things that could have been created, but I don’t think it’s a good situation to have something that is not being created anymore.
Celeina: Now, I would like to send you a song around this time. Yone-san has chosen a song that you would like everyone to listen to together on the radio at this time, right?
Yonehara: Yes, it’s called “Storm” by a band called OTYKEN. They are a Siberian mixed-music band, and they are very popular in Russia and Europe, but there is no information about them in Japan. Some of their songs have been played millions of times, but I think it’s strange that no one knows about them, so I make sure to check out their music. It’s a great song and I hope everyone will listen to it.
Celeina: Yone-san, we have heard a lot about you, but do you have any plans for the future?
Yonehara: From tomorrow, August 4 (Fri.) to September 5 (Tue.), a solo exhibition by an artist named SIMON, “LIEN POP,” will be held at DA.YO.NE. GALLERY on the 7th floor of Hankyu Men’s Tokyo in Yurakucho.
Takano: You are very busy. Is your main source of information on Instagram?
Yonehara: Instagram, follow me (laughs).
Celeina: Yone’s Instagram, everyone, check it out (laughs). Now, “FIST BUMP”, today we welcome Mr. Yasumasa Yonehara and Mr. Yone. Thank you very much.
Yonehara: You are early (laughs). Thank you very much.
neuronoa solo exhibition “FEEL’EM ALL
DA.YO.NE. GALLERY
2023.9.06~10.3
https://www.instagram.com/plus_dayone_gallery/
tHE GALLERY HARAJUKU
tHE GALLERY HARAJUKU
Period: September 6 (Wed) ~ 18 (Mon)
Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays *Open on Monday, September 18 (national holiday)
Hours: 11:00~19:00
GRAND MARQUEE
J-WAVE (81.3FM) Mon-Thu 16:00 – 18:50
Navigator: Shinya Takano, Celeina Ann
