JAPAN DENIM DAYSを終えて/眞鍋寿男
2023-11-06
2023年10月28日、29日に児島駅前（Jeans Station）で開催された「JAPAN DENIM DAYS」。
JDDを無事終えて、この場に私（眞鍋）の感じたことを残していければと、思います。
日本のジーンズの都=児島と紹介される今日まで、約25年に渡り、児島のまちづくりに携わって来ました。JDDとして今回4回目の開催でしたが、第１回の開催前年2年、同じ駅前会場で、ガールズコレクション（ファッションショー）を、約100名の参加を集め、ローカルならではの新たな試みも、やって来ました。
On October 28th and 29th, 2023, "JAPAN DENIM DAYS" was held in front of Okayama's Kojima Station (Jeans Station).
After successfully concluding JDD, I (Manabe) would like to share my thoughts on this occasion.
For about 25 years, I have been involved in the development of the town of Kojima, which is often referred to as the denim capital of Japan. While this year's JDD marked the fourth edition, two years prior to the inaugural event, we organized a Girls Collection (fashion show) at the same station venue, attracting approximately 100 participants and exploring new local initiatives unique to the region.
After successfully concluding JDD, I (Manabe) would like to share my thoughts on this occasion.
For about 25 years, I have been involved in the development of the town of Kojima, which is often referred to as the denim capital of Japan. While this year's JDD marked the fourth edition, two years prior to the inaugural event, we organized a Girls Collection (fashion show) at the same station venue, attracting approximately 100 participants and exploring new local initiatives unique to the region.
イベント当日の写真。
約50台ものミシン機材が実際に設置された青空縫製工場。そして事前にオーダー予約したジーンズが、それぞれのディテールに裁断準備した生地から組立縫製、各工場からマイスター資格を持った選び抜かれたスタッフ達が、休日を返上して丁寧に、青空縫製工場で仕上げて行く…この情景は、決して他では、目にすることは出来ません。オーダー予約をした男性が朝9時過ぎに現場立ち会いに、彼のジーンズが、出来上がったのは、約２時間後でした。満足感漂った表情とスタッフと、交わす言葉には、お金では、決して買えない心の満足感が見ていた私にも伝わって来ました。
ここ児島では、いち早く、オランダ、フランスからのインターン学生を招致しています。アムステルダムインターナショナルジーンズスクールからは、2016年から10名以上受け入れ、JDDは、特にアムステルダムと協力同調し、日本はこの児島から発信しています。
デニムを通じ世界中が更に太いパイプで、繋がって行くように、今後も期待したい。
On the day of the event, there were photos taken. In front of the station venue, there was an open-air sewing factory set up with approximately 50 sewing machines. The jeans that were pre-ordered in advance were being cut and sewn from the prepared fabric for each detail. Skilled staff with master qualifications from various factories dedicated their weekends to meticulously finish the products. This scene is something you can never witness elsewhere. A man who had placed an order arrived at the site a little after 9 AM, and his jeans were completed in about two hours. The sense of satisfaction on his face and the words exchanged with the staff conveyed a sense of inner contentment that cannot be purchased with money, even to an observer like me.
In Kojima, we have been quick to invite international interns from the Netherlands and France. We have been hosting over 10 interns from the Amsterdam International Jean School since 2016. JDD, in particular, has been working in close cooperation with Amsterdam, and Japan is sending its denim messages from Kojima. Through denim, we hope that the world will be connected even more closely in the future.
In Kojima, we have been quick to invite international interns from the Netherlands and France. We have been hosting over 10 interns from the Amsterdam International Jean School since 2016. JDD, in particular, has been working in close cooperation with Amsterdam, and Japan is sending its denim messages from Kojima. Through denim, we hope that the world will be connected even more closely in the future.
