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| 2005.11.9 Phenix Ltd. Kenichi Miyazawa |
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Akira always betrays us. He betrays us in a good way; and this betrayal is really fun.
I would like to share with you just a part of this “fun”.
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Wearing a T-shirt and a chino pants, he was a gentle boy speaking hardly anything but a “yes” with a smile. Ordinary. This was the first impression I had of Akira when I met him. It was after he graduated from high school and started to wear the PHENIX ski wear upon entering college, so it was 5 years ago spring, Akira at 18years old.
He was without rivals. I remember it being an unexpected first impression after hearing that he won the IAC with making a performance in the goal area, a pose of what was popular then (“INOCHI” pose).
Come to think of it now, his attitude was understandable meeting with a man 10 or more years elder than himself, but after that first meeting, the Akira figure was completely capsized. |
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Wearing a tank top and short pants, Akira appeared in front of me riding on his Super-Cub scooter saying “Tokyo is too hot!”. I do not know where he got it, but he came to our company on his scooter from his camp site in Fukazawa. The next time he came, he told us he left the scooter in Shibuya because it broke down during the run.
It was about this point in time that something in me started to realize there was something wrong.
It was also about this point in time that I realized things I definitely need in order to talk about Akira. |
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His particularities about “things” and “style”.
“Style” as not just the looks of it, but also the meaning of “style” on how to live life.
It is not persistent, nor is it pushy, but “Akira style”.
I cannot quite explain the beauty of being able to obtain this sensation just being with him but if I were to give an example, say Akira got a hold of a very rare pair of sneakers that a sneaker maniac would hardly ever wear but keep it in the box it came in and gaze at it once in a while. Akira would throw the box away, and wouldn’t hesitate to wear it on a rainy day. Things are there to be used. He would want to use things he favors. He will not act cool in a way that would make him uncomfortable. Something like that. |
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Just by this story he may seem like a careless person, but sometime a very sensitive and diligent Akira surprises me. Borrowing his own words, Akira is a cheerful indoor person. He checks up on the latest fashion on the internet or in the magazine and draws or cuts out and pastes images in a notebook that might be of some reference on what kind of attire he would like to wear next. When we meet to talk about ski wears, he brings a notebook and starts talking about his image, but he can’t find the cut out to describe it. It seems he pastes these images on the closest notebook he has with him, and owns several notebooks just like it.
Well, maybe he really is careless??
As a result of the meeting, an original ski wear is produced with tons of images Akira wants. It is a product of Akira and our designer’s synchronization. |
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Also, he is a genius at communicating. Being in the early 20s, most men would hesitate on how to become close to children whom they meet for the first time. Or rather, they might even choose not to come close to them. I only thought it was natural for Akira to be one of those men. Akira betrayed me with this notion as well.
At one ski camp, Akira was crowded with kids who wanted his autograph. I thought he would pass through them with easily making autographs, but he kneeled down and with making some jokes, he was talking to each one of them and signing the autograph. He made the trouble of kneeling down to the children’s height. His action seemed so natural.
It’s not hard to imagine the children in great joy. He brings people around him, utterly making them like him. He is a genius. |
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This season is the 6th winter season for Akira.
Let’s keep an eye on what Akira will show us.
I’m anticipating for his next betrayal. |
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