Interview Magazine – Hiroshi Fujiwara Interview by Fraser Cooke
Interview Magazine
Hiroshi Fujiwara Interview
by Fraser Cooke
Dubbed the “Godfather of Harajuku”, Hiroshi Fujiwara witness the changing times and style in Japan, and was a force of change advocating new direction for the Japanese culture which was lost in the economic bubble burst. After Japan’s economy receded from its former glory, people’s spending style changed, and kids who were brand slaves before revolted against the same status signifying brands that ruled the culture years ago. It was during this time that Fujiwara voyaged to London and New York, and brought a new culture back to Japan. Since then, Fujiwara had become an indispensable force and helped shape Japan’s urban culture into the way it is today. Many of Japan’s established players were connected by Fujiwara. For instance, BAPE’s NIGO who was Fujiwara’s assistant linked up with Jun Takahashi of Undercover to open NOWHERE. Today, aside from being a part of design collective, Fragment Design, which is internationally recognized by major forces around the globe such as Nike, Levi’s…just to name a couple, Fujiwara is also one-third of Honeyee.com, a site he created with Visvim’s Hiroki Nakamura and SOPH.’s Hirofumi Kiyonaga.
It is almost impossible to carve an accurate profile of Fujiwara, whose life has not only certainly been colorful and influential, but if it can be done to the closest degree of macabre precision, there is nothing like engaging the help of Fujiwara’s friend, Fraser Cooke to execute the interview. Cooke and Fujiwara sat down, and talked about everything from how Fujiwara ended up in New York City and London and became one of the first DJs to bring his own records to gigs; how Fujiwara started wearing Stussy; and, even shared their thoughts about karaoke. Check out the full interview at Interview Magazine, and the interview is featured in the magazine’s April Issue as well. Also, if you haven’t read it yet, Freshness has also featured Hiroshi Fujiwara and Fraser Cooke last year, so check that out as well!