HHV Portraits

Face Oka

HHV Portraits show members of our community dressed and styled by themselves to show their true character. From leather footwear to sneakers and slip-ons, hoodies to mohair and parkas, our community is dressed to impress. Working in fashion, finance or freelancing, we will highlight different individuals monthly and share the versatility our community has through their thoughts and feelings about where they are, what they are wearing, and much more…

Who are you, where are you from, what do you do and what do you do when you are not doing that?

I’m originally from Tokyo, Japan, and I work as an artist.
Outside of work, I spend my time playing video games, watching TV, and going treasure hunting at secondhand shops — honestly, not much has changed since I was a kid. lol
That said, I’m constantly looking for things that could inspire my work, so the line between work and free time is pretty blurry for me. Also, I love watching soccer, so no matter how late at night or early in the morning it is, I always watch games of my favorite team.

Are you currently working on any interesting projects that you can share with us? Also what has been your favourite project to work on?

Of course I’m continuing with my usual style of work, but recently I’ve been taking on new challenges to better communicate who I am as a creator. Lately, I’ve been making my own puppets called KIDDING HEADS and filming videos with them. I dream of the day they become world-famous celebrities. lol

As for memorable projects… honestly, none really stand out. lol
I guess I’m more focused on enriching the future than looking back on the past.

What inspires you to be you and dress as you do? Are there people, music/musicians, or specific places that influence you?

I’ve been influenced by various artists from different eras, so it’s hard to pinpoint one specific person. But the artists I admire all tend to express themselves through diverse styles and mediums, without sticking to just one thing — that has definitely influenced me.

When it comes to fashion, the first person that pops into my head is Jane Birkin. I like her effortless, unpretentious style. Music-wise, I listen to all kinds, but I particularly like J-POP because I can understand the lyrics easily since they’re in Japanese. As for places — I started off influenced by American culture, but recently I’ve been more drawn to European culture.

Still, as an artist, I feel that simply copying others isn’t enough, so I try to mix in the essence of Japan, where I was born, into what I create.

How does living in Tokyo/Japan shape your style choices and styling/clothing essentials?

In Japan, and Tokyo especially, even if people admire something, there’s a tendency to avoid copying it outright — and I think that mindset has really influenced me.
That goes for both fashion and art.

Do you see yourself looking to European brands and designers for inspiration?

Definitely. I especially like classic brands with long histories.
Compared to American brands, European brands and designers often have a unique elegance — that’s what I love about them. I think I’ve grown to appreciate them even more as I’ve gotten older. Though I still enjoy the bold, carefree vibe of American styles too.

Do you have any plans to visit Berlin/Europe in the near future?

West Ham, my favorite soccer team, is in London, so I think I’ll be going to watch one of their matches. I also have friends in Berlin ;-), so it’s definitely one of the cities I want to visit soon.
So Berlin folks — please give me some work so I can come visit! lol

For a person visiting Tokyo for the first time what stores/designers/locations would you recommend they have to see?

I love vintage clothes, so Harajuku and Shibuya are obvious choices, but I also highly recommend Koenji. Also, since my studio is nearby and my friend runs it, I recommend a store called BACK DOOR in Yoyogi-Hachiman. As for designers, I recommend Taku Midorikawa, who runs the brand midorikawa. You can find his stuff at BACK DOOR too.

If you have a friend in Japan who owns a car, I also recommend checking out thrift shops in the suburbs.

What’s next? If you had to predict a trend for the next few years, what would it be?

For now, I just want to spread happiness around the world with the KIDDING HEADS puppets I’m making. I’m not exactly young anymore, so I don’t really keep up with youth trends, but I have a feeling messenger bags and slightly oversized one-shoulder bags for men might become popular.

Also, I recently made a V-neck long-sleeve haori (a kind of jacket) and wear it every day — I think that style might catch on too!