Retail

Takayuki Minami is such a tireless creative force in Tokyo’s retail world that he makes it look effortless. For his latest opening, Graphpaper Tokyo, the fashion designer and creative director has created a mini development that incorporates a restaurant (Yose), art gallery, record shop (Vektor Shop), coffee stand and clothes shop (for his label Graphpaper). Yose offers a changing food menu, devised with some of Minami’s favourite places from around Japan. The upstairs space is dedicated to showcasing Graphpaper’s standard wear, “simple but not boring” apparel designed and made in Japan. Housed in a building that retains much of its vintage charm, the shop is one of many new arrivals breathing fresh life into the Sangubashi area.
graphpaper-tokyo.com

Hiroki Nakamura’s Tokyo-based label Visvim has garnered a loyal following over the years, so much so that first-day customers at its Ginza outpost were drawn from a lottery. Located on Showa-dori, the shop is housed in a three-storey building dating back to 1932. Beyond the tiled façade, the interior brings Nakamura’s love of Americana and Japanese craft to the fore, whether it be a vintage city map or the custom carpet lining the VIP room. Nothing is left to chance, making the act of perusing Visvim’s signature wares a truly immersive experience.
visvim.tv

The Azabudai Hills complex is home to Kyoto-based bookshop Ogaki Shoten’s first outpost in Tokyo. Designed by Gyoken’s Naoyuki Nomura, the book-themed interior spans some 1,000 sq m and includes quiet pockets for reading, along with gallery-style displays for exhibitions. There’s also an in-store café and bar, Slow Page, serving siphon coffee made with an in-house blend, along with whisky and curry rice. Aiming to connect people with books, there’s also a picture-book gallery lined with titles selected by a dedicated staff member. From the plush carpet to the low- level displays and benches, the finer details make it a family-friendly destination for readers of all ages.
books-ogaki.co.jp

In 2016, Japanese retail giant Beams celebrated its 40th anniversary by calling on top Tokyo firms, including Torafu Architects and Jamo Associates, to overhaul its six-storey shop in Shinjuku. Each floor has a different focus: the second features domestic brands such as Loopwheeler and limited-edition pieces from Beams Japan; the third has pieces from Beams’ collaborations with the likes of Porter. Once you’ve had your sartorial fill you can head to the upper floors, where the shelves are lined with photobooks and Japanese ceramics.

This is where you will find every issue of the magazine dating back to the beginning (March 2007), our annual look-ahead publication The Forecast, summer special The Escapist and business handbook The Entrepreneurs. The shelves are stocked with products that we have developed in collaboration with our favourite brands from around the world. You can also pick up a copy of The Monocle Book of Japan here, which represents the culmination of Monocle’s years of reporting throughout the country. It delivers a unique insight into the people, places and products that define Japan.