In 2024, PARCO celebrated 55 years of cultural impact and innovation. To mark this milestone, the year has been filled with special events, including a unique program featuring Yumi Matsutoya and PARCO Bunkasai, organized by Mirai Moriyama and Jin Ohnishi. A standout initiative, PARCO RADIO WAVE, brought together PARCO and five radio stations in a creative collaboration. The theme “Re:Memories” encapsulates the idea of revisiting and sharing PARCO’s rich history of promoting diverse cultures, using radio as a medium for storytelling and connection with listeners.
On November 18, 2024, J-WAVE’s GRAND MARQUEE took a deep dive into PARCO’s influence with Nariaki Obukuro, a London-based singer-songwriter known for curating Shibuya PARCO’s BGM and hosting DJ events. Obukuro shared his personal journey with PARCO from childhood to present day, as well as his aspirations for his future as a DJ, exploring how this iconic space has shaped his musical path.
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Memories at Urawa PARCO
Celeina (MC): Welcome to J-WAVE’s GRAND MARQUEE. Today, as part of the PARCO 55th anniversary project, we have Nariaki Obukuro as our guest.
Obukuro: It is true; it might be the first time we’re talking directly. You’re joining us remotely from London today. How is the autumn season there?
Celeina：It is true that this may be the first time for us to talk in person. You are speaking to us remotely from London today. How is autumn in London?
Note: Nariaki Obukuro leads FLIP SIDE PLANET, which has a segment within GRAND MARQUEE.
Obukuro: London is already in winter. Right now, it’s 9°C, and it’s expected to reach 12°C later, but the skies remain cloudy. No matter how many years pass, I never get used to this cold.
Nariaki Obukuro is an artist born in Saitama, Japan and lives in London, England. Founder of TOKA Inc.
Takano (MC): How long have you been living in London now?
Obukuro: It’s almost been six years, so it’s been a while since I last spoke Japanese.
Takano: Today, I’d like to talk a lot with you, Mr. Obukuro, focusing on PARCO as our key theme. Thank you for joining us.
Celeina: When did you first visit PARCO?
Obukuro: There was a PARCO in front of my hometown station, Urawa, and I started to become aware of it in high school. When I began commuting by train, PARCO became a symbol of the nearest station. I would stop by Tower Records or go to watch movies.
Celeina：What kind of movies did you watch back then?
Obukuro： I can’t really remember. Recently, I went to see Shin Evangelion: The Movie, especially since I worked on a remix of Utada’s famous song “Beautiful World (Da Capo Version),” which was used in the film’s ending.
Takano: With movie theaters and performance venues, PARCO is definitely a hub for culture.
Obukuro: The Urawa PARCO also has a library, so I often borrowed books there. (※)
※Editor’s Note: The Saitama City Central Library is located on the 8th floor of Comnal, the station building where Urawa PARCO is situated.
Takano: That’s wonderful. When I was in high school, I used to go to the PARCO in Kichijoji. I bought things like miscellaneous goods and clothes, and they even had a flea market on the rooftop. It was always fun to watch.
Celeina: For me, I think my first experience was going to the Shibuya PARCO when I was in upper elementary school.
Takano: It’s clear that PARCO is an integral part of the city.
Obukuro: Each store has its own regional character, too.
Takano: It would be interesting to compare them across different cities.
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Nariaki Obukuro’s Link to Ikebukuro and Shibuya PARCO
Takano: So, I heard that after starting your career as an artist, you’ve been involved in various creative projects with PARCO.
Celeina: In 2019, you worked on the music for the campaign movie celebrating Ikebukuro PARCO’s 50th anniversary. Did you used to visit Ikebukuro PARCO?
Obukuro: I used to commute to university using Ikebukuro Station, so I visited there quite often. I mostly just wandered around, but that was the most enjoyable part.
Celeina: Since you used Ikebukuro PARCO during your student days, it must have been quite meaningful for you to be involved with the campaign movie.
Obukuro: I was really happy that the opportunity came my way. It was very touching to have been remembered since my debut, and I’m very grateful for that.
Takano: By the way, Ikebukuro PARCO is said to be the flagship store of PARCO.
Obukuro: Oh, so Ikebukuro is the flagship store.
Takano: Considering that, it seems like a perfect match for you to have been involved in the 50th anniversary campaign after using Ikebukuro PARCO.
Celeina: And in 2023, you also curated the in-store BGM for Shibuya PARCO. The reason you took on that role was because of your involvement with the program “FLIP SIDE PLANET,” which is familiar to listeners of “GRAND MARQUEE,” right?
The music radio show “Music Hub,” hosted by Nariaki Obukuro, began airing on J-WAVE in November 2017. In July 2020, it was revamped and became “Flip Side Planet” with new members. From January 2022, Obukuro took on the role of curating the in-store BGM at Shibuya PARCO for a year. In November 2023, he hosted the DJ event “PLAZA” at Shibuya PARCO.
Obukuro: That’s right. As a member of “FLIP SIDE PLANET,” I created playlists for the in-store music and had them played for a year.
Celeina： What were the key points you focused on when creating this playlist?
Obukuro: I believe the areas where music is most audible are the restrooms, smoking areas, and escalators. People who frequent PARCO are often highly attuned to music, so I wanted to create moments where they would notice, even just for a second, that “music is playing properly.” Instead of well-known hits, I chose hidden gems, like tracks found as the seventh song on an album.
Takano: That’s great. Having had the chance to air “FLIP SIDE PLANET,” I was really impressed by the breadth of your musical selections. When you played a song by Motoharu Sano, it was truly moving.
Obukuro: Thank you. Since “FLIP SIDE PLANET” is pre-recorded in London and broadcasted, I don’t get the direct feedback that comes with live shows. So, I rarely have a chance to hear how people are listening to the show. For eight years, it felt like broadcasting into the void, so hearing feedback like this is really rewarding [laughs].
Celeina： I imagine you’re constantly taking in new music. How do you go about discovering new sounds?
Obukuro: Lately, I’ve been digging through records a lot. Of course, I use streaming services too, but I find that I come across a lot of great music through records.
Celeina： Do you have any favorite record spots in London?
Obukuro： There are many great record stores, and I’m part of a DJ community that plays records, where we often exchange information.
Takano: I’d love to come check it out sometime.
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Shibuya PARCO’s 50th Anniversary DJ Party: A Resounding Success
Celeina: Returning to your connection with PARCO, I heard that in 2023, you held a DJ party to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Shibuya PARCO. I understand it was a large-scale event that utilized the entire venue. What was it like?
Obukuro: I DJed with Rintaro Sekizuka, who runs the Vinyl Delivery Service, which ships Japanese records to London, using the ComMunE space on the 10th floor of PARCO. It was overwhelming with so many people, but it felt amazing to play such loud music right in the heart of the city. Plus, ComMunE has a semi-outdoor setup, which added to the sense of freedom and made it a really enjoyable experience.
Celeina： ComMunE has a unique atmosphere. When planning the party there, what aspects did you prioritize?
Obukuro: There were many live events happening on other floors of ComMunE, so I could feel the festive atmosphere from the PARCO staff. I played my DJ set in that same spirit. Also, I mainly used records for the DJ set. I think young people don’t have many opportunities to listen to records, and it’s rare to experience them at high volume. That’s why I wanted to create an experience where people could truly feel the power of records at full volume.
Celeina： I’ve never experienced the sound of records at such high volume myself.
Obukuro: There’s something about records that digital DJing can’t replicate. The physical kick of the drum hits your chest, and you can feel the sound with your body. Once you experience that, it changes the way you listen to music.
Celeina： I’ll definitely be at the next event. You’re currently based in London, but are there any cultural venues or influential spaces there similar to PARCO?
Obukuro: PARCO is so unique that I can’t think of any commercial facility that compares. PARCO has culture at its core, with a foundation built around spreading that culture. You don’t get that kind of environment in shopping malls. On the other hand, I feel that some select shops and independent stores in the city have a similar vibe.
Takano: Once again, I appreciate PARCO.
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The Power of Context: Why We Listen to DJs
Takano: PARCO has adopted the theme “KEEP TURNING” for its 55th-anniversary logo. This theme expresses the evolving lifestyles and the blending and diversification of values. One of the most striking phrases within this theme is “transformation.” How do you perceive the changes happening in the world?
Obukuro: Over the past five years, starting with the pandemic and followed by wars and other extraordinary events, it feels like we are living in an unimaginable world. The changes in the world have been so rapid that it feels like I’ve become a witness to history. In a time when I don’t know where to start, I feel fortunate that I can express myself through making music. Recently, with the U.S. presidential election, I was surprised by how many people hold values different from mine. It really makes me realize just how small my community is.
Takano: Depending on where you live, there are different perspectives, and the fast-paced changes in the world surely have a significant impact on artists. It changes not only where you draw inspiration from but also how you express it.
Obukuro： I’ve been listening to a lot of older music, and I feel that the message hasn’t changed. For example, around the time PARCO opened in 1969, albums like The Beatles’ Abbey Road (1969), Led Zeppelin’s Led Zeppelin (1969), and Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) were released. The song “Money” from The Dark Side of the Moon feels like it reflects current times, and it’s interesting to think that PARCO was born in an era when such music was being created. 1969 was also the period of the Woodstock Music and Art Festival, when anti-establishment hippie culture was thriving, and you can feel that vibe in the music from that time. When making music, I draw inspiration from the past and am constantly challenged to think deeply.
Takano: Works born in 2024, influenced by the chaos of modern times, may also be talked about 50 years from now.
Obukuro: I think it’s the role of DJs and music lovers to make that happen. If you think about why people listen to DJs, it’s because certain songs shine in specific contexts. A track that may not resonate when listened to on its own can gain new value when placed within the flow of surrounding songs. I feel that the role of a DJ is to rediscover and highlight that value. That’s why I pay attention to the order and timing of songs in FLIP SIDE PLANET, and I had the same intention for the PARCO party.
Takano: DJs also create and deliver stories through their sets.
Celeina： That’s such a beautiful insight. Finally, could you share what you hope for from the future of PARCO?
Obukuro： At the PARCO in Urawa, I’ve noticed students studying in the library and many families visiting. I’d be happy to hold DJ events in an environment where people of all ages gather.
Celeina： That would be great at Shibuya PARCO as well!
Obukuro： I’d love to do that in Shibuya too, but I also want to bring DJs who are active in local areas slightly away from the city centers like Urawa and Kichijoji. With the decreasing number of live music venues, I hope the music they play is passed down to the next generation in various places.
Takano: It would be exciting if different cultures emerged from each PARCO location.
Celeina： We look forward to your future activities and the future of PARCO. Thank you very much for joining us today, Mr. Obukuro.
PARCO 55th Anniversary
The ever-changing scenery of daily life. The blending and diversification of values. The complexity of rules and laws. In this society that transforms in the blink of an eye, we want to create unknown moments of excitement. The ordinary and the unconventional continually switch places. At the heart of this chaotic world, PARCO continues to evolve today.
Ikebukuro PARCO 55th Anniversary Special Site
https://ikebukuro.parco.jp/page/55th_anniversary_link/
