On July 10th this month, "FAMIMA PARK AZABUDAI" opened next to Azabudai Hills.
This new type of convenience store has been a hot topic, featured daily on social media and in the news.
Convenience stores, once solely for purchasing bento boxes and daily necessities,
eventually evolved to allow bill payments and parcel shipping, and now
"convenience store meals" and "convenience store sweets" are so popular that
they have become an indispensable part of life in Japan.
The newly opened Famima Park Azabudai by major convenience store chain "FamilyMart"
is a "select shop" convenience store, offering not only conventional products but also a rich lineup of original items.
What's more, the store's design was supervised by none other than
NIGO®, the founder of "A BATHING APE" and "HUMAN MADE".
He was a driving force in the Japanese fashion scene of the 1990s and is one of the people who created modern Japanese pop culture.
Surely everyone knows him.
Personally, I wasn't deeply involved with A Bathing Ape or Ura-Hara fashion, so I'm not overly familiar with them,
but what surprised me most about this Famima was that
the store's design was handled by Mr. Katayama of "Wonderwall".
With Japan's top architectural designer and fashion creator collaborating, their new proposal is bound to generate buzz,
especially since they've been working together since A Bathing Ape's first store.
However, what makes me even happier than the talk about these two is that
Mr. Katayama of Wonderwall also designed our tenant space.
I imagine many of the people working in our tenant space might not know this, but
"The SOHO", like its exterior, is meticulously designed to create a distinctive spatial experience.
It's occasionally used for dramas and commercials, so many of you might have seen it somewhere.
On weekends, families enjoy relaxing in the open atrium on the first floor, and people come to take photos,
with many spending their time leisurely.
Being able to occupy such a wonderful office building is what makes me happiest and proudest.
While there are many office buildings in Tokyo, some are considered architectural masterpieces.
It's enjoyable to tour such office buildings, but
for now, please do come visit The SOHO!