2020 marks 30 years since the fashionable specialty store Barneys New York arrived in the United States. They have stores all over Japan, including Ginza, Shinjuku, Roppongi, Yokohama, Kobe, and Fukuoka. The Ginza main store celebrated its 10th anniversary this October. Katsuhiko Taniguchi, creative director and director, has been in charge of the window displays, which are the face of the store, for 15 years since the store opened. The ``way to walk around Ginza'' of a person who enjoys both play and hobbies despite his busy schedule is full of unique tastes.

I was born and raised in a downtown area.
With humor and style
Enjoy Ginza

Taniguchi was born and raised in Arakawa Ward, Tokyo. His father runs a toy factory in a place with a strong downtown atmosphere, similar to what is told in rakugo. All the adults around me were funny people, like my husband and Yotaro, just like the ones in Rakugo. For a child living in a downtown area in the 1960s, he says, ``Ginza was a different world.Eating in Ueno or Asakusa was a very urban experience.'' Now, in Ginza, he creates windows that symbolize Barneys' world view, entertaining passersby. "It's a little far from the station, so it's a slow walk. Many people take their time to look at it." People who are unique to this city, such as the owners of long-established stores and madams from Ginza, look out at the seasonal microcosm that spreads out through the windows and discuss their impressions. It's also fun to listen to them.

I was given a cantera and a key,
Let's go to the wine warehouse.
Enjoy eating and drinking without worrying

Recently, Mr. Taniguchi has been frequenting an area in Ginza called Kobiki-cho, the old name of the area behind Kabuki-za. During the Edo period, the town was home to many woodturners and had many playhouses. Even now, when you walk through the neighborhoods that still retain their names, such as Kobikicho Street and Kobikicho Nakadori, you can see everything from Irish pubs to French bistros, croquette shops with long lines, and Japanese sweets shops. There is a free and peaceful atmosphere of opening a shop.

Another feature of this town is that there are many Italian restaurants. Among them, Mr. Taniguchi recommends ``Brace e Vino Gigino'', also known as ``Gigino'', which has an extremely unique exterior. Focusing on the day's seasonal seafood, meat and vegetables from all over Japan, charcoal-grilled, there are also classics such as fruit and prosciutto appetizers and tomato spaghetti, as well as over 100 types of wine. ``It costs XNUMX to XNUMX yen per person to eat and drink a lot.It's not unnecessarily expensive and is good value for money.It's also fun to look for wine in the wine cellar while holding a cantera in hand.'' Ever since the owner of the barber shop I frequent in Ginza recommended it to me, I've been coming here often.

A stylish adult way to play
Learn and know Japanese dance
Creativity of Edo

There is another reason why I often come to Kobiki-cho. She has been learning Japanese dance for the past two years, and has had more opportunities to wear kimono, so she is stocking up on tabi at a store called Musashiya Tabi Store. Japanese dance lessons are held once a week. Three men, his brothers and sisters, a fashion designer and a writer, go to Iriya's master. Blessed with friends, she quickly fell in love with Japanese dance and practices, and is also obsessed with wearing Japanese clothing. I ordered kimonos and setta, and visited the downtown area in search of Japanese accessories. The fun and expansion of the circle of people that began with dancing never ends.

"Learning new things at almost 60 years old. It's really refreshing and fun. I also learned about beautiful movements. Above all, through dance, I was exposed to the sensibilities of the Edo period, and I learned how creative and wonderful the designs and creations of the time were. The more I know, the more interested I become.” Right now, I am working hard every day to practice Kiyomoto's auspicious performance, which I will perform at next year's review party. Barneys New York is based on the concept of "taste, luxury, and humor." This is where Mr. Taniguchi's stylish and unique sensibilities, raised in downtown Tokyo, are sprinkled throughout, and he has grown greatly in Japan, celebrating his 30th anniversary next year.

Katsuhiko Taniguchi
Creative director and director of Barneys Japan.
Born in Tokyo in 1959. He was born and raised in Arakawa Ward, and moved to Nerima Ward when he was a junior high school student. He was good at drawing and crafts, so he went to art school. After working for an apparel company, he joined Barneys Japan in 1990. He is in charge of everything related to the store image of Barneys in Japan, including the windows of all New York stores, general floor displays, store design, and advertising visuals.

Brace e Vino Gigino
Brace is charcoal grilled, and vino is wine. A hidden Italian restaurant whose motto is "good food, little by little, at a fair price." Reservations are recommended as there are 16 seats at the counter and tables.
Suzuki Building 3F, 11-6-2 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
03-6264-1129
平日 17：00～24：30（L.O23：30）、土祝 16：00～23：00（L.O22：00）日曜定休
https://brace-e-vino-jijino.com/

Ginza Musashiya Tabi store
A small but classy and elegant store specializing in tabi socks. Founded in 7, craftsmen still make tabi socks in the shop's workshop. It is used by kabuki actors, Japanese dancers, tea ceremony performers, and kimono lovers. Patterned tabi socks and colored tabi socks are also available. They also have ready-made products with precise dimensions and provide courteous customer service.
2-13-12 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
03-3541-7718, 03-3541-7446
Monday-Saturday 8:00-17:00 Closed on Sundays
https://dry-goods-store-80.business.site/