Mr. Kura who achieved the area as a veteran stylist. While having paticipated in various contests across the country, he was awarded grand prix in the third DA with the thought that it might become the final contest. We approached from such desire of Mr. Kura to the philosophy of life.
Ⅰ．Efforts up to now
--We heard that last year was the third time you participated in DA, but while participating in various contests, what was the reason for deciding to participate DA?
I really felt that DA is not only what I will simply complete creatively like the regular contest, but also the contest which is an extension of salon work. Then, it was the trigger that I thought, if I participated, I would be able to see my current position in salon work.
--Last year you won the Area Grand Prix in Kanazawa, and before last year you participated in Osaka Tournament. With what kind of feeling, did you participate?
I wanted to be inspired somehow and participated in Osaka Tournament, but during that I realized that my scale of selecting works was going crazy and decided that I would revise myself from zero once more.
--After such Osaka Tournament, what kind of things did you become aware of last year's tournament?
As I participate in the tournaments, things like my lifestyle and direction, are getting determined. But I began to feel strange with the contest itself, like I would put my values close to the judge's values one of these days. I want to aim at such a style that, as my lifestyle is this, so I express it and lead it to the result. Not to think about the result, but want to create something that couldn't lie to my values.
--Expressing your style will lead to what could not be lied to yourself.
Yes. Now I like being in the mountain of Hida, so I'm living there. That’s why, I want to create a design that allows me to "just be myself and with confidence", not complex to city nor trend, etc. I cannot make a sharp, edgy one. I like the kind of gentle things that are familiar with body and swing in the wind. I want to comlete at the point where it keeps the edgy sense but somehow sweet.
--You mean that you want to be particular about what you can do because of this area.
Yes. However, in this DA I had a feeling that it will be the last time to participate in the contest, and I have the feeling that I broke my policy a little, if anything. I'm in the midst of the pleasure of winning award and the guilt of having a little lied to myself (laugh).
Ⅱ．Efforts in Area Tournament
--Could you tell us about the work of Kanazawa tournament that you won Area Grand Prix?
First of all, when I first met the model of Panel A, I felt that her face is very nice when looking from the left angle. I wanted to express straightly not only her original beauty and her surface parts, but also her way of speaking, personality and lifestyle. Though she has manish impression, she likes fashion and makeup so much, then to express her gap well, i finished it with only color and simple cut, without trying so much.
----what kind of concept is it in design?
As the theme common to A, B and C, I referred to the expression of "80's" when my sensitivity was refined. About A, it expresses "80's" by simple wolf feeling and square-shouldered jacket.
--In Panel B, the model is different, isn't it?
Yes. However, its concept is common, while keeping taking over the manish feeling of Panel A/C, I expressed "80's" in the shape of an inverted triangle, like regent hairstyle. From the thought of narrowing the color, I dared to make the hair black. And, red and white of "80's". Pink which is mixed with those.
--What about REALITIVE of C?
Centering on "80's", Form is male-like in order to make the best use of the gap her manish feeling and her femininity of Panel A. Also, while consulting with my wife, I finished the tone difference to bring out the contrast which is familiar, not too vivid.
Ⅲ．Became an Area Representative
--Please tell us about your feelings when you won Area Grand Prix while thinking that the contest might be the last for you.
Because I was just aiming at Grand Prix, I was relieved to be evaluated straightly. This time, I had the theme as "Future's evolution that accepted decline". I have become no longer able to take up the trend sensitively, which might be the decline, what you call. But I try to feel this is my personal evolution. In that sense, I'm glad that such feeling came out as a result of Grand Prix.
--You mean that the direction you aimed at was not wrong, don’t you?
And another, I am simply and honestly glad that I can make another design in the final. This time, I hope that I will be able to create something which I can feel satisfied, regardless of the result.
--What exactly does it mean that you accept your decline?
I was originally working in Tokyo, after that I had a complex for doing hair stylist in the countryside and bottling me up to get the results in the contest, my hair stylist life was fighting those things. Under such circumstances I could build my identity, I think, it has been past few years for me. The way of working which I was seeking to shrink the living world, could also be seen as decline. However, thinking of reverse evolution and work to make people within my reach happy. I think that it will finally enrich my heart too.
--It means that your fans who are now with you, will become your bigger fans. Well, please tell your heart to your current fans toward Final of July.
I think that it would be cooler to say to seek for the result, but I want to leave the scar in such a meaning that some of the judges would say, "this is somehow good". I will only have to compete with what I have built up.
--How do you capture now the contest, Mr. Kura?
In old days, I was scared that my staff see I was lost. But it got easier after overcoming it. You may not win every time. But we shouldn’t lay the blame at judge's sensibility, I think that we can share good time with our staffs only by accepting our own loss.
--So, you would like to encourage the current young generation to partcipate in the contest positively, wouldn't you?
Yes. At Beauty Schools, you can challenge variously in Cultural Festival, but it might be difficult for young people not to be able to challenge as soon as they enter the salon. In that sense, I think it would be good if you could do with a nuance like participating in Cultural Festival. In your twenties when your values are not determined, you should try to challenge more and more and touch the various values.
--What about the time when you get older?
In the age of to some extent having family, getting own customers and presenting own style, if the direction is not determined, I think that some waste would be born. So, after the thirties, you had better participate to understand your standing position and build your own identity. It is also important to review your own skills comprehensively and objectively, then you can also accept your loss.
--That’s because you have walked in that way, there is what Mr. Kura is now! Well, what do Mr. Kura's customers now?
I feel that my customers comes to me to seek not only for the elements to change their appearance, but also for the sense that their heart will be rich and their day will become fun by cutting their hair.
--You mean that you want to be a hair stylist who can provide such a richness.
I always hope that I can create the design which can be felt by all five senses. If my cut can enrich one day of my customers, it is my happiest.
--We could hear Mr. Kura's unique story which approached deeply to view of life. Thank you for today.
Interview List
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Keeping up the hard work as the area representative and doing for all members!
arte HAIR
小林 圭介
（KOBAYASHI, Keisuke）
NAGOYA Area
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The refined sense of style and skills from having been through many contests
Be fine
藤木 豊和
（FUJIKI, Toyokazu）
OSAKA Area
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The fourth year attempt with due to the unrelenting “passion”.
bianca
岩渕 愛実
（IWABUCHI, Aimi）
TOKYO Area
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A fresh breeze brought by a rookie who joined the company last year
bianca
MAI
TOKYO Area
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I want to surpass myself in the area competition of the Grand Prix Final.
CERES HAIR STUDIO
JUUN LAI
MALAYSIA Area
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The passion of my challenge in lock step with my wife towards the DA.
Commune
関口 和行
(SEKIGUCHI, Kazuyuki)
TOKYO Area
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A unique, original style prepared by backward counting.
Daisy
矢冨 カレン
(YATOMI, Karen)
FUKUOKA Area
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Always evolve along with the number of encounters.
favorite garden
宮内 走
(MIYAUCHI, Kakeru)
HIROSHIMA Area
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Not affected by trends, find "my likeness".
Fer,
倉 大祐
(KURA, Daisuke)
KANAZAWA Area
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Possibilities in the idea of “REALITIVE”.
GODHANDS
元德林
(BENSON)
CHINA Area
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Consistently be a part of the "Salon Work".
haRu hair studio
渡辺 ユータ
(WATANABE, Yuta)
SAPPORO Area
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Keep on challenging, keep on learning.
Little Secret
王怡文
(WANG, I-WEN)
TAIWAN(CHINA) Area
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Aim for the first Korean victory.
MARUNI HAIR
LEE
KOREA Area
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Came to know the nation standard so especially want to be the top this year!
Nico
佐々木 由香
(SASAKI, Yuka)
SENDAI Area
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Her rival is the owner, Yoshida, who participated last time.
Oto
森山 保奈美
(MORIYAMA, Honami)
OSAKA Area
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DA is an extension of Salon work.
R’oti
河野 哲也
(KONO, Tetsuya)
NAGOYA Area
