Mochida and I go back quite a long way. We’ve known each other since the time I was running Philosophy Store ※1, so it’s been about 20 years now. As you’re now launching a bookshop and gallery called NONLECTURE books/arts, to start off, could you tell us again about the name ‘NONLECTURE books/arts’?

Yes, of course. Each time I’m asked about the name I’m reminded that this is actually one of the most important stories to tell, so I try to explain it properly every time.
The word “NONLECTURE” itself comes from E. E. Cummings ※2, who is often called a giant of modern poetry. In 1952, he was invited to Harvard University to deliver a series of six lectures as part of the prestigious Norton Lectures. Normally, in a lecture like this, the speaker might talk about their creative philosophy or the techniques of writing poetry. But Cummings himself hardly spoke about such things at all. During the lectures, he never said things like “This is how poetry should be written,” or “This technique is important.” Instead, he simply spoke calmly and continuously about how he had lived his life and the kinds of thoughts he had while confronting the world.
In the end, the record of those talks was published under the title “i: six nonlectures”.
I also got a copy of that book and read it. The content itself is wonderful, of course, but more than anything I was deeply drawn to his approach. He wasn’t trying to teach anything or hand down a method. He was only offering his way of living and his stance toward the world. I found that sense of distance really appealing.
When I started thinking about what to name my shop, or rather, this space, the word “NONLECTURE” came to mind immediately. I don’t intend to teach anything here or give lectures. Instead, I hope it can be a place where people encounter the traces of someone else’s thinking and choices. That’s the kind of place I want it to be.

I see, the origin of the name, I personally love it. Can you tell me more about the concept of the space called ' NONLECTURE books/arts'?

A really big hint in thinking about the concept came from the idea called ‘Meadow and Amusement Park’ in a book by the architect Jun Aoki. What’s written there, I felt, accurately reflects the current state of ‘use of space’ in Japan. Aoki says that much of Japanese architecture and urban space has become like amusement park attractions. In other words, the purpose and way of enjoying them are decided from the start, and users just follow that set path. On the other hand, a 'meadow' is not like that.

A place like that vacant lot that appears in Doraemon.

Exactly. There’s a drainage pipe to lie on, where Nobita can take a nap, Gian might suddenly start a recital, or they play baseball there. You can do anything or do nothing at all. It’s like a multipurpose open field where you can play in any way you like. I want ‘NONLECTURE books/arts’ to be that kind of meadow-like space. It’s a bookstore, a gallery, and can host events, but it’s not limited to any one of those. Visitors have the freedom to decide how to use it in the moment and I want it to be a space with room to use freely.

Even lie down around the bookshelf and read?

(laughs) Right, right! Like something you might often see in bookstores overseas. At NONLECTURE books/arts, we’re planning to install a large bookshelf along the wall by the entrance, so I think the center will end up being a fairly open space. Still, I’d like to consciously keep a sense that it’s not the kind of place that’s easy to define.

Did you have a designer involved in the space’s design?

Yes. We asked Mr. Suzuki from Suzuki Kougeisha ※3, who used to work at D&DEPARTMENT. As for the overall tone, we decided to base it on the color of the rust-preventive paint on the steel columns.

I see, that burgundy color that looks like surfacer.

Exactly. That slightly industrial, yet warm color feels like it suits this place. The main bookshelf is being made by Tsuyoshi Sasaki, who used to be a messenger and is now a woodworker. The central area will be set up so that works can be displayed in a gallery‑like way, and on the wall opposite we plan to hang vintage posters. In the back area, there will be exhibition works reflecting the worldview of Goldwin, which supported this opening, alongside a curated selection of art books on natural science and philosophies of nature that connect to the brand’s philosophy.

And today, we’re having a planning meeting to do something together with ‘NONLECTURE books/arts’ and ‘STUMP MAGAZINE.’ Do you have any ideas?

Well, we haven’t completely decided what would be most fitting for this space yet. But, for example, I think it could be interesting for you to invite a guest you’re personally interested in and hold something like a public interview. Because you have really have a wide range of interests, not just fashion, but also photography, art, music, architecture, the idea could be that everyone can casually listen in to a conversation between you and that person.

So it would be something like a public conversation, I guess. We’ve done it a few times before. Back when you were at BOOKMARC, we had a session with photographer Chikashi Suzuki ※4 and Tetsuya Suzuki ※5, the editor-in-chief of HONEYEE.COM.

Yes, I think someone like Chika Suzuki would fit really well. The conversation would probably be lively too. Others from your network could include Mr. Takizawa or Sk8thing. It might also be interesting to have a panel-discussion format where the audience can, in some cases, participate. In terms of hands-on participation, we could also consider a silkscreen workshop."

Yes, true. When we released Taro Hirano’s ※7 photo book through SIGN ※6, there were also various related events ※8 organized around the exhibition itself.

That was really moving, wasn’t it? Experiences like that don’t just leave an impression of the work itself, they stay in your memory along with the atmosphere of the space. Also, considering that ‘NONLECTURE books/arts’ is a bookstore, I think it could be nice to publish a tabloid-style paper with STUMP MAGAZINE.

Producing a tabloid paper is a great idea. For STUMP MAGAZINE, before the website was launched, they actually released a “0th” pilot issue in tabloid format, so the next one would become Issue 1.

This is a bit of a side note, but… back in the 1990s, when I was young, I used to collect Columbo ※9 videos. When a British friend stayed at my place, he kind of laughed and asked, “Why are you collecting this?” For him, Columbo seemed like entertainment for old people. But for us Japanese, the melancholy, the subtle gestures, and each line really stick in your mind. I thought it would be interesting to have a project that introduces things like that, that are very meaningful to individuals but hard for outsiders to appreciate.

I see. ‘Individual person.’ It’s quite a leap, but maybe it’s something like a Criterion ※10-style presentation, like ‘Film industry insiders select ◯◯’ or similar. As a fashion industry insider, I haven’t really touched on that scene until now. Maybe it would become something like a curated selection of books, like what Mochida and Hiroshi Fujiwara did for PHILOSOPHY ZINE.

That’s a perfect fit. I'd love to make this a reality.

A public conversation, a silkscreen workshop, a screening of video works, a music live performance, the publication of a tabloid paper, and a Criterion-style project: if we package these six exhibitions together and hold them as a six-part series called SIX EXHIBITIONS, it naturally connects to the origin of the shop’s name, SIX NONLECTURES.

That’s a great idea. The preparation would probably be pretty tough… but if it comes together, it’s bound to be a lot of fun.