Japanese retailer PARCO Co. Ltd. is celebrating the 55th anniversary of the PARCO shopping complex with a special ad featuring musician Haruomi Hosono, the late visual artist Keiichi Tanaami — who died in August at age 88 — and his first disciple Naohiro Ukawa.
Carrying on his mentor’s legacy, Ukawa directed the HAPPY HOLIDAYS Campaign that also marks Hosono’s 55 years in music, with an epic historical mandala blending rare photos from his childhood through to his works with Happy End, YMO, and up to the present day with the iconic motifs and characters by the internationally acclaimed artist and graphic designer Keiichi Tanaami.
“I feel greatly honored to have been asked to participate in this memorable 55th anniversary of PARCO as creative director,” Ukawa says. “This project is a cultural mandala that visually fuses artwork by my mentor Keiichi Tanaami, who passed away suddenly shortly after his 88th birthday, with the historical transition of Haruomi Hosono, who also miraculously celebrated his 55th anniversary in the same year as PARCO. The history of PARCO, which has continued to lead the pop avant-garde culture of Japan since its period of rapid economic growth, resonates with the 55 years of time flowing through this mandala, and a cultural mantra emerges… This visual world has a three-dimensional structure with a complex interweaving of such multiverses.”
Ukawa also serves as creative director for the commercial that celebrates Hosono’s 55-year music history using generative AI technology to bring photos and Tanaami’s signature motifs to life, accompanied by Hosono’s original music and narration to ring in a special holiday season.
“By some amazing coincidence, my music career began in the same year that PARCO was founded, 55 years ago,” says Hosono. “I prayed for ‘Happy Holidays’ while composing this music.”
Ukawa adds, “Sealed within this mandala is a present-century continuation of creativity, in which the disciple completes a work by allowing the departed mentor and his style to possess him, making full use of both extremes — the physical body and cutting-edge technology — such as hand-drawn artwork x CG and hand-drawn animation x generative AI. <55th Anniversary x 55th Anniversary x Holidays x Requiem> This incredibly deep and psychedelic visual world has reached a clear ceremonial realm and is a microcosm of post-war Japan’s alternative culture, where fine art and pop culture are chaotically mixed together!!!!!!! Happy 55th anniversary to PARCO and Haruomi Hosono!!!!!! And a massive RIP to my mentor, Keiichi Tanaami…”
Related events will accompany this project, including a screening of a documentary film about Hosono and a talk show entitled Hosono Cinema House featuring the legendary musician and Ikuko Harada to be held at White Cine Quinto on the 8th floor of Shibuya PARCO in Tokyo Nov. 7. A special program on Tanaami aired on Dommune hosted by Ukawa on Oct. 28 and another one on Hosono is set for Nov. 9.
Various other related events are planned for the holiday season, with further details to be announced Dec. 2.
