OWN INTERVIEW CONTENTS Vol.12 Daiki Shiroma (Fumin Yugi Lion Manager)
OWN (hereinafter referred to as O), please introduce yourself again, Shiroma-kun !
My name is Shiroma Daiki (hereafter referred to as S) . I was born in 1992 in Okinawa Prefecture. My previous job was editing a street culture magazine called " Ollie ." That's when I met Ochiai-san. After that, I became the manager of this music bar, "Fumin Yugi Lion" ( hereafter referred to as Lion ) .
How many years has O Lion been open ?
S We started business in July 2020. So this year marks our second year since opening.
That's right.
What made you go from Ollie to becoming the manager of Lion ?
S: I originally came to Tokyo to promote my hometown of Okinawa. I've had that idea in mind since I was editing Ollie . I became a magazine media person, connecting artists and doing projects that only I could do. While doing interviews and planning, I once again felt the importance of being on the scene, and I started to think that I wanted to do a job that involved being involved in the scene. That's when I heard that Lion was starting up, and I thought I'd like to give it a try. I had no experience working in a music bar, let alone a club, but I had the image of it being more of a music scene than a drinking place, so I thought I'd give it a try.
Please let me know if you have any concepts for O Lion.
SThis shop is run by a company called en one tokyo , which also manages a total of 10 art galleries, including Gallery COMMON , BA-TSU ART GALLERY , and The MASS . The idea came from one of these galleries to offer music and food and drink, so we started with the goal of connecting the dots between art, food and music. The space can also be used for after-parties for events held at each gallery. So, conceptually, we value the image of it being a place where cultures come together. Also, because we are a company that manages galleries, we try to keep the shop clean. We clean extremely frequently.
The interior is really beautiful. Oh, Lion's interior has a really unique atmosphere.
S: They really pay attention to that. You could say that art is incorporated into even the smallest details. Even the toilet signs were drawn by Shuntaro Takeuchi, and there are works by a photographer called Shiga on display. Two One in New York drew the kanji for Shishi Yoshine, and there are also works by YouthQuake 's Bobby Yamamoto and Futura. The entrance is also a work by an acrylic artist called Yuki Nakajo . There is art scattered everywhere, and you can feel the art just by being there.
The bar counter is also amazing ! It's very distinctive.
It all started with the idea of creating a bar counter using the escalator at a certain department store.
As a result, we decided to name the store after the lion statues that are in a certain department store.
Although it's packed with a lot of different elements, it looks very cohesive.
Although it is packed with various elements, I tried to keep it as simple as possible. It has a neo-like feel, but it also incorporates classic Japanese culture.
The toilet's interior is decorated with decorated trucks and vinyl books, creating a unique style.
I think that's the case.
OPlease tell me what Shiroma's job is among those lions.
My title is store manager and I am also in charge of managing staff and accounting. Recently, I have also been handling COVID-19 subsidy procedures. Most of the staff are inexperienced.
It's a lot of work, so it's tough, but I've learned a lot. It will be beneficial for me in the future. I do almost everything involved in running the store myself.
O Lion seems to be particular about its store staff as well.
S : That's true. Our staff is full of interesting people. Everyone is doing something on their own. Singers, models, actresses, actors, beatmakers, etc. People who express themselves. I think Lion is so lively thanks to the staff. This is something I think when I visit other stores, but stores where the staff are friendly make you want to go back again. That's why I make sure to dress well when I'm at the store. I get a good haircut, and when I'm feeling pumped, I wear a durag.
That 's definitely true ! If the store staff are sloppy, the reputation of the store itself will drop.
SAlso , this is just my personal opinion, but I aim to create a place where everyone can feel comfortable. That includes customers and staff. It is a night club, after all, and there are bound to be some problems when alcohol is involved, but I make sure to stop that and make sure everyone has as much fun as possible. We don't have any security either.
O Now that you mention it, there really isn't any security !
S: That's right. So if there's a problem, I'll stop it myself. Powerful words
is "You'll be banned ! " ( lol ) .
O (laughs ) . So, it was a difficult time to hold events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but how was Lion ?
S: I didn't know what the right answer was, and it was certainly a difficult time. From a company perspective, they wanted to reduce the number of business days, but Lion is a venue that has worked hand in hand with artists, so we tried to hold as many events as possible. As I said before, we started this business out of respect for the people who work on the ground. We want artists and customers to be able to connect with more people through Lion, and that's the best part of having a venue, isn't it? So we tried to keep it open as much as possible.
Recently , a lot of young artists have been working with Lion.
S : That's true. I'd be happy if you could do well at Lion and get more people to love music. It's interesting how many young customers and artists these days listen to both hip-hop and house music. Unlike my generation, there are a lot of kids who say that the first hip-hop they heard was trap, so I feel like they're part of a new generation. I ask these kids to tell me about current trends and try to communicate with them.
As someone who is always watching the action at O Lion, what do you think the current music scene is like ?
S: I feel like hip-hop is too popular. There are more and more people who are really good at rapping, but I think they're just competing on skill and lack individuality. So I can see the good and bad sides of the current hip-hop boom. I'm interested to see how it will change in the future, though. There seem to be a lot of kids who are interested in forming bands. Also, as I said earlier, I think the fusion between house and hip-hop is new and interesting. It's great that something new has been born from this.
That 's exciting ! So, switching gears, what did you think about the launch of OWN ?
With S Brand, of course the product is important, but I also think the type of person behind it is important. I thought this was a brand that really reflected that. In April 2021 , the OWN launch party was also held at Lion, and I thought it was interesting that the crowd was completely different from the usual. I'd been listening to Ochiai-san talk about OWN since the launch, and I remember thinking it felt more like watching the launch of a media outlet than the launch of a brand. I thought that OWN 's unique selection of people to connect culture and people was a new way of doing things.
That's an opinion only a former editor can have. I'm happy about it. What do you think of the product ?
S: I have OWN 's #03 blue frame, and I actually wear it often. It looks great ! I didn't have frames like that, so it was a novelty for me. I like that they have a solid feel, so they don't look cheap. Also, I love not only the glasses, but also the OWN 6-piece eyewear case . It's simply convenient for storing glasses, and I feel like storing my glasses securely in the case increases the value of the glasses I own. I thought it was an item that appealed to men.
Thank you for the great recommendation ! Finally, if you have any information, please let me know !
Please check S Lion's social media for event announcements, which will be updated regularly. Also, we'll be holding an OWN party at Lion on April 28th , so please come along !
In addition to the best DJs, there will also be a live performance this time. Please check social media for details.
[INFO]
Sleepless Lion
〒150-0001
GEMS Jingumae 7th floor, 6-19-17 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
