A circle of friends connected by goo-touch! The “FIST BUMP” corner of the radio program “GRAND MARQUEE” features people who live and enjoy Tokyo in a relay format.
On January 10, photographer Takahiro Otsuji introduced Tsuyoshi Otsuka, representative of Nippon Design Corporation and producer of “Nakameguro Area Management”. We asked him about his activities born from his desire to enliven Nakameguro, the charm of the city, and the source of his ideas in his work.
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“Nakameguro Area Management” was born to make Nakameguro a more comfortable place to live.
Celeina (MC): First of all, please tell us about “Nakameguro Area Management. What kind of organization is it?
Otsuka: I guess it is an urban development company that was created to make Nakameguro a more comfortable place to live.
Celeina: I understand that you were involved in the launch of the company.
Otsuka: I have lived in Nakameguro for about 15 years, and I used to organize a free film festival and the Nakameguro Block Party, an event that brought together apparel stores. I happened to meet some people from the government there, and they told me that they wanted me to get involved because they had no contact with people who were active in the city.
Takano (MC): You are working to make Nakameguro a better place, aren’t you?
Celeina: I only knew about the new stores and the recent atmosphere of Nakameguro. Of course there are historical stores, but what is the ratio of recent to traditional?
Otsuka: There are many stores that have been around for a long time, but because of the high land prices in Nakameguro, the turnover is very fast. The people who stay will stay forever, but if they don’t, they are gone within a year or so. That is why I hope to make the town a place where interesting people can stay for a long time when they arrive.
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Establishment of “Nakameguro Town Center,” a kind of general information center for the town
Takano: Mr. Otsuka, I understand that you have created a new store inside the Nakameguro Tsutaya Bookstore starting in 2022.
Otsuka: As an extension of the town development project, Tsutaya asked me to consult with them about an initiative that would be rooted in Nakameguro. The Nakameguro Tsutaya is right in front of the station and is like a gateway to Nakameguro, so we are creating a space like a general information center that introduces the city’s specialties and stores. So, rather than a store, it is more like we are creating a corner of the Tsutaya together.
Celeina: So that place is the “Nakameguro Town Center.
Takano: Do you come up with the plans from scratch, Mr. Otsuka?
Otsuka: Yes, I do.
Takano: Where do you get your ideas?
Otsuka: Our company is a production company, but now we are also involved in producing and branding, so I think we make use of the know-how we have accumulated there. However, when we are asked for advice, we place importance on the combination of what we can do and who we can find.
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Nakameguro’s charm lies in its downtown-like distance.
Celeina：It is like matchmaking. Do you continue such activities because you love Nakameguro? Or are you interested in revitalizing the city and want to do it in other places?
Otsuka: At first, I was thinking of revitalizing the city I am in and applying that know-how elsewhere. But now I love Nakameguro, where I live, and my main desire is to make it better.
Celeina：There is nothing better than love, is there?
Takano: That is a good keyword. Yesterday, Mr. Otsuji introduced you as “Nakameguro’s hidden chief.” What do you think is attractive about Nakameguro?
Otsuka: I think Nakameguro has a fashionable or new image when seen from the outside. But in reality, it is a quite downtown area, and I think it is quite rural even in Tokyo. I think the distance that is unique to downtown makes it comfortable.
Takano: I only visited the area once in a while, so I had an image of it as a fashionable place, but when I focused on it, I discovered that it is a warm and welcoming town. Now, I would like to send you a song. I asked Mr. Otsuka to choose a song that he would like everyone to listen to together on the radio at this time. Please tell us the reason for your song selection.
Otsuka: It was a song from an album that was introduced to me by a senior colleague when I used to be a DJ, and it was just so good. I chose a song that I especially wanted people to listen to: “Since I Left You” by The Avalanches.
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When I’m stuck at work, I use music as a guideline
Celeina: Another of your titles, Mr. Otsuka, is representative of Nippon Design Co. Please tell us about your work here.
Otsuka: Originally, we were a web, graphic, and event production company. Now, we mainly focus on producing and planning for urban development.
Celeina：I think you work very powerfully, Mr. Otsuka. Do you have a way to break through when you are stuck?
Otsuka: I guess I listen to music. Whenever I need to get pumped up or feel a little more depressed, I listen to songs that match my mood and use them as a guideline.
Celeina: Now, “FIST BUMP” is a circle of friends connected by goo touch, so we ask you to introduce your friends, but what kind of people does Mr. Otsuka introduce to us?
Otsuka: This is Shuntaro Takeuchi, a painter.
Takano: In a word, what kind of person is he?
Otsuka: Someone you see often. He and I both live in Nakameguro, so we often meet on the street.
Celeina: Tomorrow, I will connect with painter Shuntaro Takeuchi. Today we have Mr. Tsuyoshi Otsuka, representative of Nippon Design Corporation and producer of “Nakameguro Area Management. Thank you very much.
GRAND MARQUEE
J-WAVE (81.3FM) Mon-Thu 16:00 – 18:50
Navigator: Shinya Takano, Celeina Ann
