shu and joe

The first week of May is a national holiday in China, so we headed out of town for a bit of retail relaxation in Tokyo. Retail tourism may sound odd, but the stores in Japan are so much more than just containers to move products. The country has really embraced the idea of creating a shopping experience - a prime example being Herzog and de Meuron’s Prada epicenter in Aoyama. (incidently, HdM is currently working on the National Stadium project for the 2008 Beijing Olympics).

Another shop that caught my attention with its retail concept and execution was the Tokyo Hipsters Club, a massive 2-storey space that includes a bar, art gallery, library, lounge space, balcony and plenty of floor space for product. Visually, quite appealing, but perhaps, a case study in concept stores gone wild: vintage “revolutionary text” line the bookshelves, the 2nd floor gallery features rotating exhibits dedicated to counterculture luminaries like che guevara, allen ginsberg and ho chi minh. This coupled with the space’s unfortunate name and brand statement (”The Home of Resistance”) may explain why the shop was empty on a busy holiday afternoon.

In contrast, the BBS shop impressed with its intimate size, clever execution (see below, headphone jacks built in to the glass facade so that passers by can plug in to 1 of 3 iPods and sample new music), smart brand mix and artwork from Brooklyn-based Brendan Donnelly.

After getting worn out on window shopping, a visit to Tokyo’s Mori Art Museum in Roppongi HIlls seemed like it would offer a pleasant break. Two exhibitions are currently running: The DaVinci Code (a look at the making of the film) and Berlin/Tokyo (a look at the intersection and influence these two cities have had upon artists from each location). We opted for the later. The standout piece from the exhibit had to be Candice Breitz + Alexander Fahl’s “Thriller” (2005). 15 Michael Jackson enthusiasts were gathered through an ad placed in a German newspaper, then invited to record themselves singing and dancing to classic Jackson tracks. The results are projected along a wall and played back in unison.

Painfully cute warning on the subway.

In addition to the retail spectacle (both in the stores and on the streets), another highlight of Tokyo is without a doubt the food. Amazing. They’ve got more cuts of tuna than a butcher has beef. With the guidance of Melinda and JP, our local hosts, we couldn’t go wrong. Their knowledge of sake also made for a wonderful introduction to the drink. Here they are, getting some info on our options for the night.