kazumi asamura hayashi

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portrait by Chikashi Suzuki. Kazumi wears a white shirt by Noir Kei Ninomiya

interview

 

Co-creator of the cult magazine Libertin DUNE and editorial director of i-D Japan, Kazumi is a pivotal figure on Tokyo’s fashion scene and a longtime contributor to Purple.

 

PURPLE — How have the magazine culture and independent press evolved in Japan?

KAZUMI ASAMURA HAYASHI — I don’t think Japan is the only place where many people have been able to publish magazines, but I feel the diversity of interests and tastes has driven the freedom to produce independent magazines. Annual art book fairs have become so popular that it’s difficult to get admission tickets, reflecting the growing engagement with the independent press culture.

PURPLE — You’ve run clearly independent magazines like DUNE and Libertin DUNE, while others like Composite were around. Are independent magazines still being published in Japan today?…