In the ’80s and ’90s, Japan profoundly influenced many areas, especially fashion. The use of black, the precision, the cuts — it was transformative. In the early 2000s, I finally visited Tokyo and Kyoto. The civic sense, the obscene perfectionism, and the unbound creativity were a cultural shock. The cheeky coexistence of past and present challenged me, raising questions about how to define the future — and why? From what angle? I felt irresistibly drawn to the culture, yet intimidated by its depth. A new perspective overwhelmed my senses and has stayed with me ever since. The level of sophistication is unmatched, almost surreal. The dreamlike clashes with reality in a way that exists nowhere else. In Japan, my work is not just a job but a true métier. Respect is elevated to the highest levels, and for good reasons: craft, quality, relevance, innovation, identity, and individuality. In the mid-2000s,…