Acting as a freelance stylist since the 1960s, Yasuko Takahashi says "Yakko-san" to continue active in the front line. He began activities before being recognized as a stylist in Japan and warmed friendships with domestic and foreign big musicians and actors such as David Bowie, T. Rex, Imawano Kiyoshiro, Hotei Tomoyasu, and accomplished a work remaining in history I have done it. Mr. Yakko will look back on the history of activities over about half a century based on Omotesando and send a message to young creators who will take on the future culture.

When I realized it, I became a stylist.

_ Although I joined Dentsu after graduating from university, I heard that he left the company right away.

In my school days, girls getting employed after work was much harder than it was now. Still I felt like I wanted to do something, I went to a copywriter training center at the Kubota Public Research Institute (present advertisement conference company). I entered Dentsu after graduation from university from the edge that the lecturer at that time was a copywriter of Dentsu .... I quit in eight months. At that time, I got acquainted with an advertising production company called Leman who was in the Harajuku central apartment, and I often went to play at the weekend, but at the party I was invited to the party, "Would Yakko come to my house?" I decided to move. I felt like I was drunk, did he invite me, "Oh, is that so?" (Laugh). Well, in the 60's it was such a time.

There was no clear reason for changing jobs, and in Reman there was no idea of ​​"let's do this." In the beginning, I still could not feel confident about living by my own power. However, there was only the thought of "I have to do something". Looking back now, it seems that it was attracted to the atmosphere that seemed to be enjoyable by a member who was aware of it rather than a company that does not know what he is doing big and big.

_ What kind of work did you do in Reman?

Harajuku Central Apartment 1st Floor Coffee Shop "Leon" (circa 1977)

Leman was a small company, but it was a very nice place. Everyone was very close and I was suffering from writing a copy and my senior helped me secretly. If I think I have to do things I can do, go out early in the morning and clean up, seniors of the art director will put on songs with a pleasant classic, or drink at dinner at night and twist Dancing ... .... At that time, the creators gathered in the central apartment, many advertising production companies, editorial offices, studio and so on were included. On the first floor there was a coffee shop named León, and when I got in there, I talked about dreaming like "take over the advertising world". The work I'm doing was something simple.

Originally I was working on copying, but I do not like to write sentences anyway. Since it was a small company, it was often said that "prepare this" at the time of shooting, searching for clothes and furniture and running around. It was wonderful that I was praised at such a time as "I am attentive". Even though the copy was at all (laugh). I kept doing such things for about 2 or 3 years, and when I became freelance, I did not name either copywriters or stylists. Because there was not enough achievement to say yet. After that, I often get a job as a stylist, and I felt like "I became a stylist if I realized it."

Jacco sitting on the sofa. "In the latter part of the 1960s, at the office of Shinpei Asai at the Central Apartment, Mr. Asai kindly placed my caller just getting freelanced" (Takahashi). "Upper right)" In 1970, Renown Yueie, CM was very popular, my wife in front is Kathy Nakajima, which is his debut, and my personal belongings from New York are active in styling "(Takahashi) Bottom right) Pink Dragon companions. "My left man is Masayuki Yamazaki, who made a store called King Kong in Harajuku, finally made a" Pink Dragon "like a castle" (Takahashi).Photo offer = Yasuko Takahashi

Realized photo session with T · Rex and David Bowie.

_ Is there a chance that triggered the decision to live as a stylist?

In 1969 when I was doing the work of the stylist, I got to work in New York for about 40 days. Although I could not speak English very well, I went to the stylist of a styling division of a creative advertising agent called DDB (Doyle Dane · Burnback) every day and watched the job for the first time in a while. Through this experience I felt that I am good through my way of doing things. Before traveling to the United States, there were unfounded ideas such as "I am doing a more splendid work abroad", but what I am aiming and what I am trying to do is wrong, actually witnessing the site I was able to have confidence that it was not.

What kind of circumstances did you work with a super-big musician like _T · Rex or David Bowie?

Yoshimoto Kanzai of fashion designer helped to make a fashion show in London and I got acquainted with the locals. After that, photographer Masayoshi Pota told me that he wanted to shoot T · Rex, he followed the street of London and contacted the office of T · Rex, asking "Please let me capture". Surprisingly, I liked Mr. Uchida's surreal work and received OK on the spot. David Bowie feels the same way. I was walking around with Mr. Pota and London, I found a very nice person's poster and I knew David Bowie for the first time at that time. I and Mr. Pota also love at first sight, "Let me take it absolutely". When I looked at the record company and called me, I was told that I came to the office, when I showed Mr. Pota's work, it was OK. On T · Rex and David Bowie's shooting, of course I had my job done as a stylist!

_ While being a stylist, you are doing jobs like a producer. What was the secret that made such a big job successful?

How to express as a stylist has changed significantly with the times. In general, I think to think of a job of preparing costumes as a stylist, but I think that in terms of connecting the people with others, it was sometimes not established as a profession at the time. Also, there was a side that I could compete straight at the time than now. Even if I call the office of a big overseas musician in this era directly, I can not get it easily. However, even though the way of expression is different depending on the times, I think that curiosity without intolerance is important. There is some gap, so you should not think it is impossible before you do. Even I could not do it or I could not do such a thing at all, I was desperate enough to say "I can die if this happens." Then I realized the photo session with T · Rex and David Bowie, because I was young and cute at the time (laugh). Because, if such a girl came all the way from Japan, you can not usually refuse (laugh).

Retrospective exhibition "YACCO SHOW" was held at Shinjuku · Beams Japan from January 14 to February 2017. On the wall of the venue, a lot of pictures showing Yakko's 50 years of activities are posted. Through photos, you can see the goodness of Mr. Yakko who is loved by big musicians.