J:    You are part of a circle of people in Tokyo who are the key-figures of the young Japanese clothing industry such as Neighborhood, the Goodenough enterprises, even *A Bathing Ape. How did this circle form? How did you guys all meet up? T:     It's obvious that skateboarding is a common thread that ties a lot of these people together and these same people gave me so many opportunities and influenced me a lot back when I was growing up. All of my friends whom I was hanging out with knew so many things that I didn't know and they seemed to have everything as I was still just a little kid. They seemed to know a lot more information than any of the other groups and also seemed to get the most respect. The time I was in that circle, during the 80's, I gained so many experiences that have enriched me and will probably continue to in later life. Hiroshi Fujiwara was always at the center of the circle and is connected to so many things and I was fortunate to meet so many influential people. I was having so much fun just skating. I never tried to go out of my way to hang out with those people and they are the same people with whom I still get on well with. J:    Besides your friends in Tokyo you also have a wide circle of friends in the US, UK, and Europe. How did you get in touch with people (like Stash for example, Michael Kopelman, Eddie Cruz, etc.)? T:    I occasionally talk to my friends outside of Japan via email or on iChat but there is no-one in particular that I am regularly in touch with, unless when I feel like saying what's up or when I visit where they live. I generally don't like to bother them. It's the same as if I were getting in touch with friends in Japan. J:    If there is one common idea, notion, philosophy amongst all of the people in these circles, how could you describe it ? T:    When I write 'fellow', 'circle' or 'colleague' in Japanese, it is expressed by two Kanjis (Chinese characters). It reads 'NAKA-MA'. Formally it describes someone whom you are on good terms with. We say this relationship is 'NAKA-GA-II'. 'NAKA' means a relationship and 'II' means a good balance. In my opinion, 'NAKA-MA' or close friends are a very good balance for one another. Not too close and not too far yet the two are on very good terms. Of course you need to stay true to yourself at all times. That could be it don't you think?
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