Yuta Watanabe has competed in DA many times. "He had participated before he left "haRu hair studio" and started his own business, but people said that the significance of participating in the tournament has changed dramatically since he became a salon owner. He reached the Sapporo Area Grand Prix at his fourth challenge. He will talk about his past experience and what kinds of ideas he would like to show in the coming "Of The Year" challenge.
Ⅰ．Efforts done so far
--Mr. Watanabe, you have been participating in DA for four times so far, but please tell us how you started out in the first place.
I used to work in a salon that emphasized its stylists to be "attractive in order to be loved", but I realized that there was something different in me. That's why I changed my work to a salon that participated in contests a lot. There, I became interested in DA for the first time, and then I participated in it. That was the story.
--What was your purpose when participating in the contest?
Of course, I had always wanted to "test myself", but at the beginning, it was because I was "interested in creative design". After all, it's always fun to work together with everyone on the team.
--Was the feeling that you felt when you joined it "the first time" different from what you feel now?
Well….It changed a lot after I opened my own salon. Not that I only want to improve my skills, but now I'm trying to improve the level of the entire salon. If the top guy shows some results, the atmosphere of the salon changes, and the staff became more motivated.
--So, you achieved an outstanding result this time. Is there anything new that you realized when you were in the contest?
I've been getting used to joining contests, so I didn't really feel that this was like "the contest", you know. To the end, we decided that this was going to be an extension of our "Salonwork". We aimed to come up with a design that the model, staff, and customers think as "cute".
--Does it mean "being creative as an extension of your daily work"?
I like the idea of truly focusing in the daily life rather than making creative designs through leaps and bounds. For me, "Realitive" is a sensation of half getting out of my head every day. Our salon tries to offer a style that can slightly change the daily life of our customers who come to the salon.
--Realitive means changing one's daily life. It's not just about hairstyle.
I agree. "I think that it is more of an idea rather than just a somewhat impressive hairstyle. It is a change that arises from the style. Since I am always changing myself, I feel that "Realitive" is my favorite word.
Ⅱ．Efforts during the area competition
--So you won the Sapporo Grand Prix this time. Could you tell us about how you came up with this work?
Panel A gives the feeling of being away from the daily life without actually referring to the contest. The style that I made was not very specific. It may be seen more in an everyday situation, rather than being shown as a still image. After all, I wanted to make the model happy. Well, in that sense, panels B and C do not change much.
--So, you mean that your design was made in a way so the model can blend into the daily life, right? What made you decide on the design?
Initially, I did not make an outright design. Of course, I do have some concrete ideas, but I feel that the atmosphere is right over there. The last decision was particularly true, and I tried finding the right moment by chance. I usually study to have a lot of options in my hands, so that I can judge whether it is good, bad, cute or fashionable when I see it. Rather than theory, you can catch the opportunity when you see one.
--I see... You can also say that having a good sense means having "selective eyes". Whether or not you can distinguish the good ones. It is crucial to improve your ability to catch the opportunity that you find every day, right?
That's why, during the contest, I often leave the place and observe the model. I leave the booth to observe and try to stop the work at the best time.
--How did you come up with the theme of your work?
What I always keep in mind is not to think "straight" all the time, but to create '"something a bit unusual". I try adding strange things and take away things that should be present conventionally. But I always put in mind that those unusual things should not compromise comfort. I understand that I have a lot of likes and dislikes, so I try to moderate, so I do not add or remove too many things.
--As a result, your designs are not disconnected from daily life.
Well, that's because I always have to be conscious of how the designs of my salon work look like in daily life. I do the same in contests, and the essence of a beauty salon is basically cutting hairs and make customers look cute on the spot. In that sense, a contest is just like working in the salon, cutting hairs to make someone looks great.
Ⅲ．Becoming an area representative
--What was your feeling when you were selected to go to the Area Grand Prix?
I was thrilled, of course (laughs). But I was happy as a team because I am not doing it alone. The assistant who supported me this time, Date, was originally a beautician in Hokkaido. She was working in a local community-based salon, doing all-purpose hairstyling for the local ladies and didn't know anything about Milbon's contest.
--Is that so? How did she come to work in haRu?
Well, one day she was invited by her friend to go and see a contest, and I participated in it. I guess she was impressed with my work and she came to me asking to let her work for me after the contest was over! She even said that she would move to Sapporo! (Laughs).
--Wow, what a coincidence...!
I believe that by having such a passionate person working with me in a contest, we will get a trophy. I told myself that we must win no matter what. It was a great sense of responsibility (laughs).
--That's an inspiring story. So, your next challenge is the coming "Of The Year". Can you tell us what kind of enthusiasm do you have for it?
All the contestants are genuinely amazing, and I do understand the high level of my competitors. Those coming from Tokyo and Nagoya areas have excellent skills. Meanwhile, other stylists in Sapporo have told me that they are counting on me. I really feel the responsibility, but after all, I cannot do something that I have never done in a contest, right? So I think it will be best to make something great based on my accumulated experience.
--There will be nearly 30 judges in the next stage, so it is going to be very difficult to analyze each one. It'll be wonderful if you can come up with something that you won't regret in the future, right?
I agree. I'm terrified and nervous because I never had this kind of opportunity. Maybe it'll be better to grab a tequila beforehand so hands won't shake (laughs).
--(Laughs) I believe it will be a tense situation, but I hope you'll enjoy yourself and do your best!
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
