A circle of friends connected by gut touch! The “FIST BUMP” corner of the radio program “GRAND MARQUEE” features people who live and enjoy Tokyo in a relay format.
On October 24, Naho Okamoto, a designer and representative of the jewelry brand “SIRI SIRI,” will appear. We asked her about the reason why she started making jewelry, the cultural differences between Switzerland and Japan, and Japanese manga, which she says is popular in Switzerland.
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The trigger for her jewelry making was her own metal allergy.
Celeina (MC): Naho Okamoto established her jewelry brand “SIRI SIRI” in 2006, using everyday materials such as glass and rattan. Currently based in Switzerland, Naho Okamoto has been recognized both in Japan and abroad, winning the “23rd Kuwasawa Award” in 2015 and being selected as a finalist in “THE LUXURY INNOVATION AWARD” in Switzerland in 2020.
Takano (MC): It is just the right time for me to return to Japan. For us, we are very lucky.
Okamoto: But I’ve been back quite a bit. During the Corona Disaster, I couldn’t come back at all.
Celeina: How often do you come back to Japan?
Okamoto:About twice a year, for about two months each time, so I spend about one-third of the year in Japan.
Celeina：Is it important for you to come to Japan to design and create products for SIRI SIRI?
Okamoto：Yes, it is. The design itself can be done in Switzerland, but SIRI SIRI uses Japanese crafts, so it is easier to be in Japan to meet the craftspeople and see the texture of the materials.
Takano: SIRI SIRI is very cool. It is stylish, but also has a bit of an organic feel to it.
Celeina：It has a warmth to it.
Takano: The materials used are a little different from other brands, and they are very particular about them.
Celeina：They are unique. I would like listeners to visit the “SIRI SIRI” website. I would like to ask Mr. Okamoto about “SIRI SIRI,” starting with the establishment of the company. What influenced you originally to start a jewelry brand?
Okamoto：My father was an architect and an abstract painter, so I knew that I would probably do some kind of design work in the future. I studied spatial design and architecture, and did a little interior design work, but I found out halfway through that I was allergic to metal. I also liked jewelry and fashion, so I thought I couldn’t make ordinary jewelry, so I decided to make jewelry from materials I could use.
There is a culture of experimenting with various materials in interior design and architecture, but when I started making jewelry in 2006, there was almost no culture of using various materials to make jewelry. So I decided to make jewelry using materials from interior design.
Celeina：I see. You found out in your own life that you could not wear jewelry because of a metal allergy, and you started your brand to remedy this situation, didn’t you?
Takano: It certainly feels like you are wearing a small interior.
Okamoto：That’s right. At first it was for myself, but I also thought that women like glass cups and basket storages as interior accessories, so I thought that if I made jewelry with materials that were close at hand, people would surely pick it up.
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Starting from studying abroad to establishing a base in Switzerland
Takano: You are basically based in Switzerland, but did you expand overseas in 2016?
Okamoto: I didn’t expand overseas, or rather, I just went abroad personally.
Celeina: I would like to ask you how that came about as well.
Okamoto：2016 was the 10th year since we launched the brand, and in the midst of my desire to continue to work as a designer for many years to come, I was a little concerned about whether or not I could continue to do so. I thought I didn’t need to study practical design anymore, but I wanted to delve a little deeper into my own design philosophy, so I thought I would like to study at a graduate school in Europe. But I couldn’t speak English properly, so I went to England to study English first, improved my English to a level that would allow me to go to university, and then applied to graduate school.
Celeina：You are very dynamic.
Takano: It is not easy to start with language study, isn’t it? Then you went to graduate school in Switzerland?
Okamoto: Yes, I did. There were several European countries where you can study in English, such as Scandinavia and the Netherlands, and Switzerland was one of them. The theme of the department I entered was “social impact,” so basically I was designing and researching social good things.
Takano: Have you been living in Switzerland for about five years now?
Okamoto: Yes, I have.
Takano: Is there anything that surprised you about living in Switzerland, or is there any difference between Switzerland and Japan?
Okamoto: There are many things that are totally different between Europe and Japan. Swiss people are clean and serious, and their temperament is similar to that of Japanese people. However, the way they live in society is completely different. In the summer, we don’t have air conditioners, so we go to the river to cool off.
Takano: It’s like “Fuji Rock.
Okamoto: That’s quite a shock.
Celeina: Does everyone, young and old, male and female, get in the river?
Okamoto: Yes, they are in the river. They are swimming, or rather, floating a bit.
Takano:But it’s nice to be so close to nature.
Okamoto: Yes, it is. I was born and raised in Tokyo, so I am very far from nature. Also, I live in the capital city of Bern, which is an old city and a World Heritage site. It was a coincidence, but I also wanted to live in an old city, so it is fun and totally different from Tokyo. I still think Switzerland’s nature is beautiful.
Takano: I can’t help but think about Switzerland. I would love to hear more, but let’s interrupt for a song. I asked Okamoto-san to choose a song that he would like everyone to listen to together on the radio at this time.
Okamoto：It is a German song called “99 Luftballons” by an artist named Nena. I think it is probably the most famous German song in Japan.
Takano: I still don’t have a clue about it.
Okamoto: Maybe you will understand it when you listen to it.
Takano:Let’s listen to it then.
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The comfort of a country where many cultures are mixed
Celeina: Ms.Okamoto selected the song “99 Luftballons” by Nena.
Takano: When I heard the song, I thought “This is it!” It’s catchy and nice.
Celeina: It is impressive. Ms.Okamoto, do you live in an area of Switzerland where German is spoken?
Okamoto：Yes, I do. Switzerland has four official languages, and I live in an area where German is the main language, with a little bit of French. There are also Italian and Romansh, four languages that are said to be disappearing languages that are a mixture of German and Italian. So the description on the product package is written in at least three languages.
Celeina：I have a question. In Switzerland, is it difficult to communicate in English, which you studied in England?
Okamoto：No. Even elderly people can understand me, so it seems that everyone can speak at least three languages (two languages plus English).
Takano: That’s pretty impressive.
Celeina: It’s amazing.
Okamoto: When I am in Switzerland, I feel that I need to study French a little more. If you are in a German-speaking country, German culture is strong, and if you are in a French-speaking country, French culture is strong, so there is a mix of many different cultures, and it feels good not to be in one place.
Celeina：It’s an environment where you can come into contact with many different things, rather than having one fixed thing.
Okamoto：It is very neutral. Politically, it is a neutral country, but it is also very neutral in terms of culture, and I like the sense of transparency.
Celeina：I like that. Japan is an island nation, so there is quite a difference from Switzerland.
Okamoto：Japan has one language and a diverse culture, but it is based on the basic Japanese culture. Switzerland is totally different and there is no conflict. Switzerland is a country that was created from a disjointed state to begin with.
