Creation with A BATHING APE ® to cross again

-I would like to ask you about many things other than A BATING APE® (hereinafter referred to as BAPE). What were some of the episodes in your younger days? First of all, let's talk about your collaboration with BAPE. First of all, let's start with the connection between BAPE and you, Mr. Kuraishi. Looking back a little, when did it all start?

Kuraishi (K) "It was so long ago that my memory is a little fuzzy, but it must have been around 1996 (laughs). But I had been checking out NIGO and Hiroshi (Fujiwara) in the serialized pages of the magazines "CUTiE" and "Takarajima" at the time, so I knew they existed, and I felt that the culture they created was cool.

-When you were younger, what were your actual influences, such as clothing?

K "NIGO-kun and Hiroshi-kun are obvious, but in real life, I would say Shin-chan (Shinsuke Takizawa). I am related to Shin-chan, but he has always had a cool way of dressing. I used to ask Shin-chan for clothes and talk with him about various things. Then I was surprised to find out that he knew Hiroshi! I was surprised. It was really just a coincidence (laughs).

-The trigger was Takizawa-san, wasn't it?

K "Yes. I was introduced to many people from there, and when I returned to Japan, they took me with them to restaurants they knew. Also, I was living in New York at the time, so when they came to Japan, I walked around with them and showed them various places. I think we naturally became closer through these repeated visits.

-Is it surprising that people don't know much about your time as a study abroad student?

K "I didn't have any particular opportunity to talk about it, so I thought, well, I don't have to say it myself (laughs). (laughs) I spent a long time studying in the United States. When I was in New York, I went to a design-related vocational school. I also studied graphics there, but if you ask me if it actually helped me, I'm not sure.

-And as you deepened your friendships with Japanese creators, you ended up working for BAPE?

K "Well, when I came back to Japan after finishing my study abroad, I vaguely wanted to work for one of the brands that Shin-chan and other people I knew were working for. Then one day, when I met NIGO, he invited me to work at his company, Nowhere (BAPE's company). That was around 1996.

-And then what? What did you actually do when you joined BAPE?

K "We didn't have that many people at the time, so I did a lot of different things. But I had always wanted to do design-related work, so I often helped Sukeshin and Mankey, who were doing graphic design at BAPE at the time. I often helped Sukeshin and Mankey, who were doing graphic design at BAPE at the time, or did graphic work that they didn't do (laughs). (laughs) What I gained from that time was very significant. I think it is still an important element of my work today. Their sense of style was amazing, and I realized the uniqueness of BAPE's branding. In the end, I think I worked for BAPE for about six or seven years.

-After you left BAPE?

K “I assisted Hiroshi as a freelance designer and worked on product design for companies such as adidas, THE NORTH FACE, and KAPPA. Looking back now, I can say that I did a really wide range of work (laughs). I learned a lot from working with Hiroshi, especially in areas other than design, and I was always impressed by what he had to say. In the end, I had a very good time.

-And as time goes by, we are back to making things with BAPE again.

K “Through a fortunate chance, BAPE and I have decided to start a collaboration project starting with the 2025 fall/winter season. The name is ”BAPE PERFORMANCE ALL WEATHER by KAZUKI KURAISHI. It's a long name, so you can abbreviate it to BPAW. I spent about a year working with the current BAPE team, and we launched the project last season.

What are the features of -BPAW?

K "I hope to propose a product that can be categorized as outdoor and performance within the BAPE brand. I personally like snowboarding, and we held a launch event at Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort during our debut season (fall/winter 2025). The current BAPE line also offers snowboard jackets, but I wanted to create something more technical and authentic. We wanted to create something more technical and authentic, something that would satisfy even professional snowboarders. By adding BAPE-like graphics and details, we were able to create a product that is unlike anything else on the market.

-This is not a category dedicated to snowboarding, is it?

K "Yes, we are thinking of something that can be worn for snowboarding, skiing, and all outdoor activities. We also design our products with an awareness of proposing specifications that adapt to the living environment of the city. The basic premise of BAPE's real clothes is that they can be worn casually in everyday life. However, during the winter season, many of our products can be used for snowboarding. We are also developing snowboards produced in collaboration with Sims. Given my lifestyle, I can't avoid it, and if I'm going to do it, I want to be thoroughly particular about it.

-What can you tell us about the latest Spring/Summer 2026 season?

K: "This season, I'm wearing shorts with long-sleeved jackets and cut-and-sewns, which has a classic feel, but the materials and silhouette are modern. I am conscious of the street style that is typical of BAPE. The camouflage pattern, shark design, and other BAPE-specific details are slightly rearranged in the design, which is also a point of difference from the inline version. Some jackets are made of laminated fabric, which of course protects against rain, so they can be used at ski resorts or as regular street wear. I think the thin fabric feel is also typical of the spring and summer season."

I thought there was a lot to see in the footwear-related area as well.

K "We have created updated models of MANHUNT boots and BAPE STA that will ring a bell if you have been a fan of BAPE for a long time. It's not a "new to the old, new to the new," but I think you can enjoy them in various ways. Simple, but with an accent. I like footwear that gives form to this idea.

-Please tell us about future developments regarding BPAW.

K: “For the next fall/winter season, in addition to snowboarding-oriented products, we will develop products with a strong outdoor element that can be worn in town. We can follow the trend from the city to camping, from the city to festivals, and from the city to snow activities. That is the direction that BAPE and I are aiming for. The more we focus on design, the more we neglect functionality. That would be meaningless. Nowadays, ”functional beauty" tends to be considered as something solid and stripped down, but it is also fine to have iconic functional beauty with a sense of presence that has been built up over the course of history. I am personally interested in the next step that only BAPE can take.

Kazuki Kuraishi
Born in Tokyo in 1975. After graduating from high school, he went to New York to study graphic arts after snowboarding and biking in Colorado. After returning to Japan, he has been active as a brand director and graphic artist, mainly in the fashion industry. In fashion, he has worked as a creative director for adidas Originals, CASHCA, and KAPPA. He has also worked on album covers for Ian Brown and Tommy Guerrero. In 2012, he published a book titled "ODDS and ENDS," which introduces the items he has accumulated in his archive. He is currently developing his own fashion label 《A.FOUR Labs》, 《DUSTNATION》 with art director Tetsuya Nagato, and 《Studio Ar.Mour》 with James Lavelle of UNKLE. In addition, he has been appointed as a designer for "THE NORTH FACE"'s global design project from Asia starting from the spring/summer 2018 season. In addition, he is in charge of snowboard/freeski design for "DESCENTE" starting from the 2021/22 season. On the music side, he is also active in the band IS and ISM with NAOTO, who is also active in delofamilia. https://fawa.jp