2014/10/03
Cheeky Parade interviews celebrities! Vol.8 Ryo Ishikawa edition
Chikipa is going overseas to hold the final show of their tour in New York. Before they took such an unprecedented step as an idol group, an interview project was launched, “Before the NY show, let’s learn the secret of overseas expansion from people who work all over the world!!! Cheeky Parade, learn about Japanese culture!”`
The members of Cheeky Parade then became journalists and interviewed celebrities who play an active role globally in their own field while representing Japan.
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This time, Cheeky Parade leader Sekine together with Mizorogi and Mariya went to interview Ryo Ishikawa, the president of Seno Corporation. He started his own company when he was 24 and established fashion brands one after another including “VANQUISH.” Ishikawa keeps creating the next generation movements by developing brands such as Gonoturn, a company that makes Japanese masks and has been collaborating with many artists including Cheeky Parade.
Sekine: We Cheeky Parade will be holding a live show in New York in October. We started the project to talk with people who play an active role globally! We would like to interview Ryo Ishikawa-san who always supports us with many different projects including Chikipa collaboration mask. We always learn so much from him! Thank you for your time!
Ishikawa: I’m happy to see you guys! Thank you for having me.
Sekine: First, Ryo-san, what made you decide to start the company?
Ishikawa: Actually, I was a salary-man from 20 and 24. I guess I was impertinent or something and was hazed by my senior colleges. I was frustrated and that triggered me to work hard. I became the top salesman in the company from 21 to 24. Because of that experience, I thought I could at least take care of myself if I become an independent.
Chikipa members: That is amazing!
Sekine: After starting your own company, you must have had many opportunities to go overseas for business. Do you see any difference between Japan and overseas regarding fashion?
Ishikawa: Almost no girls wear heels except for Japanese. Lol
Chikipa members: What?!
Mizorogi: Really?
Ishikawa: Yeah It’s true! They only wear heels at a party! Japanese girls are the only ones who wear heels on a routine bases. Also, everything is rational. You can buy anything with credit card. You don’t even have to sign it a lot of times. Shopping is very speedy overseas.
Mariya: Do you speak English a lot when you are abroad?
Ishikawa: Yes I do. I learn English when I go abroad. I look up vocabulary that I don’t understand. But your ears start to become accustomed to English and able to understand.
Mizorogi: Are there any words we should know that you recommend?
Ishikawa: “Thank you!” And we Japanese often say, “Gomennasai” (I’m sorry in Japanese,) but it’s a bit strange overseas. Because if you didn’t do anything wrong, you don’t say sorry. You should say “Excuse me” in stead. Also it’s good to remember “No thank you.”
Sekine: I see. That’s true!
Mizorogi: By the way, how did you come up with the idea of Gonoturn? We are collaborating with the company as well.
Ishikawa: I was looking through many girls’ Facebook page and realized that the world is full of selfies. So I tried to think of something photogenic beyond language that anybody can understand and could become a trend. So I came up with the mask idea.
Sekine: Yeah, masks are a unique culture of Japan! Cool!
Ishikawa: It’s cool right? I thought I was such a genius! Lol
Mizorogi: Absolutely! You are genius!
Ishikawa: You girls should definitely wear that mask in New York! I Everybody is gonna be asking you, “What is that?” “Where did you come from?”
Sekine: Yes! We’ll have that mask on when we go to New York. So, Ryo-san, did you have any struggle or turning point in your career?
Ishikawa: Well, I’m doing what I like so, I don’t have many struggles. There is no use for the president of the company to worry, so I never get stuck at work. I think that the most worthless thing is time to think. If someone asks me out, I go out right away! Lol.
Chikipa members: Ha ha ha! Lol lol.
Mariya: Ryo-san, tell us about your future prospects.
Ishikawa: I only live for now, so that is a difficult question. Lol. But time is not endless so I want to make many people think, “Wow, somebody so interesting came from Japan.”
Sekine: That’s awesome! To conclude, can you give any advice to us before going to New York?
Ishikawa: For play or work? Lol
Sekine: Both!!
Ishikawa: The important thing is to live as a person. Places we think are special are common place for the people who live there. Just say, “thank you” to them as a person and don’t put too much pressure on yourself or fire yourself up too much. No matter where you come from, everybody is human. Just be your usual self when you encounter people.
Sekine: I understand! We’ll work hard in New York!
Chikipa members: Thank you!
■Ryo Ishikawa Profile
He is the president of Seno Corporation.
Born in 1975 in Kanagawa. Grow up in Shizuoka. He moved to Tokyo when he was 20 years old. He started to work in the apparel industry. After working for a company for 4 years he started his own company. He launched an apparel brand when he was 24 and developed many popular fashion brands for teens and twenties males. He is the founder of “VANQUISH,” an overwhelmingly popular fashion brand in Shibuya 109 men’s floor, etc. He is also the president of Seno Corporation, their operations cover a range of areas including clothing and general merchandise, wholesale and distribution (online sales and store sales,) store development business, media development business and licensing. While working as the president of his own companies, he also appears on Internet shows and writes serially in a magazine.
■The collaboration products with gonoturn, that supports the New York tour, will be out soon!
Cheeky Parade × gonoturn triumphant return from New York event will be held!
Cheeky Parade × gonoturn special event will be held in VANQUISH SHIBUYA 109 MEN'S on November 2nd.
More information will be available at the gonoturn website and the Cheeky Parade website as soon as it’s ready.