Stairs to fantasy

心ゆたかになれるもの

Words by Kenji Jinnouchi, Photographs by Hiroshi Mizusaki,Edit by Masafumi Tada

An antique goods and furniture shop “krank” and a vintage clothes shop “marcello” are located between Yakuin and Kego, the owners are two brothers, Kenichiro and Teruhiko Fujii. Kenichiro is a member of CENTRAL.

I and some of the other CENTRAL members including Fujito and Futatsumata, visited their shops, however, we couldn’t find any signs for the shops. It seems like not many people would notice that they are doing business there unless people pay extra attention. Fujii told us later that some customers actually needed help on the map at a Koban to get here. However, there are a lot of loyal customers of the shops all over Japan because of their great selection of goods.

After we entered “krank” through its white door, we found they had created a fantasy world in the shops space. First of all, we obscurely saw their nice selection of old goods and furniture from European countries in the dim lighting. Shelves, desks, chairs and ladders…we could tell each piece had its own history with people in Europe in their daily lives.

Fujii came to us from the back of the shop and welcomed us with a smile as soon as he saw us coming in.

We were amazed with how fun the inside of the shops were all through the interview. Especially, for Fujito and Futatsumata, from their point of view of a fashion designer and an architect, they shared ideas with Fujii about these unique spaces and the atmosphere made them very curious and intrigued.

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Futatsumata: Speaking as an architect, I’m interested in how difficult it is to go through the door! When I was in my 20’s, I didn’t really realize a good balance of having a cooped-up feeling in my designs, and I liked adding much of that taste to my work. This door reminds me of my inspiration and power at the time.

Fujii: I had been giving some advice about interior design and store furniture to my friends who own their own shops before I started my own shop. On the opening occasion of this shop in 2004, I was wondering what kind of design could really grab people’s attention. So, I decided to test my sense of design with the entrance, even though I’m not a professional architect.


He told us that what he tried to express came from his own imagination inspired by Kenji Miyazawa’s novels and a French film “The City of Lost Children” directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro, which made him feel a little odd, but also nostalgic.

Fujii: I guess some people might think it’s a little childish about what I attempt to do with my work. So, I tried to make a good balance with the atmosphere. I wanted to make the door art with more of an artistic taste in this space.

After we explored “krank” for a while, we reached the most enjoyable part of this place; we went up the stairway and suddenly we could see the sky, because there was a roof terrace! A little creek was also running through it. We had to get out of the building first and walk on the grass to get to where the other shop, “marcello” is.

Futatsumata: From my view as an architect, there’s no way to make a creek on the roof top because it always brings a risk of water leakage.


There were two little windows on the wall around the roof terrace, and we could see some trees and a shrine gate on the hill through them. On the other side of the windows, there is the automatic door to the entrance of “marcello”, but we still needed to use a narrow stairway to reach the selling floor. Futatsumata is tall that he needed to bend over to go down the stairs.

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Fujii: As a matter of fact, “from a child’s view” is one of our concepts. We don’t sell clothes for children, but I designed the placement of the door knob, the size of stairways and even the automatic door to fit to children. Grown-ups would have some difficulties but it’s fun for you, isn’t it?

We found some shadows were moving on the selling floor. We could see the creek on the roof through the skylight above and these were reflections from sunshine glimmering through the windows. We could see each other through them. It looks similar to the design work, “The Swimming Pool” , which is one of the exhibits at 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, but the difference is in fact, there is a shop underneath it and people are working and welcoming customers.
Fujii also guided us to the closet in the back. There exists an overwhelmingly beautiful world inside. Everybody gasped and said, “This looks like a view into outer space!”
We also realized that one of the most important factors that expand the beauty of their world is how they use shadows as art. Shapes of airships, dolls, flowers, and animals were projected on the wall. It was as if we were watching a picture story show about them.


Fujii: When I was working at the old place, the store size was so tiny. I didn’t have enough money to redecorate the place either but I realized “Shadows cost nothing.”

Nakamura, who is an illumination designer, was surprised at Fujii’s job and said, “He knows how to balance everything perfect in the way of lighting design. I can tell that he pays close attention to the height of the light, how loose the cord should hang down, using a pulley block as its accessory…”
Though seemingly impossible, or ’no way’ ideas for professionals, he spent his time to set them up in his own way, and finally their own world has been created there.

Futatsumata: Each concept of each space has very strong character and is full of inspiration. I’ve never felt thrilled like this with other shops.

Fujito showed up later and came into the shop through the entrance himself.

Fujito: I thought this was some kind of attraction. Amazing!

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Fujii: “krank” and “marcello” were located in different places before. We didn’t want to connect these two shops together in one building. We would like them to be separate individually. This is because we designed our shop layouts like this.

Fujito: KOO-KI used to be the tenant here before, is that right?

Fujii: Yes. When I was looking for a place for my new shop, I found this place. The rent was the a lot higher compared to other places on my list at the time, however, I decided on this place because I thought it would bring some good luck to us, too.

Fujito: There are actually some general rules on how to design and decorate store spaces. For example, we should display things to guide customers clockwise in the space since a lot of Japanese are right handed and they prefer to move clockwise. However, I did it counter clockwise on purpose at Directors. I guess totally, this place even jumps beyond that kind of rule.

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Fujii: I, myself actually have wished to write stories or make my own movies. I love to make up stories by decorating this place to entertain people! I would like to give customers a joyful shopping experience.

There are a lot of stores and each of them has its own concept.
What “krank” and “marcello” suggest is “Something to enrich your mind”.
They designed and have created the perfect place to welcome their customers as well as the great selection of furniture and clothes.

The CENTRAL members, those who work in creative fields, also got inspired by Fujii brothers’ fresh ideas and originality of expression.


Kenichiro Fujii
Buyer, Product Designer
He was born in 1973. He opened the vintage clothes shop, “marcello” in 2002 and the furniture shop, “krank” in 2004 in Fukuoka. He started exhibitions of his design works in Tokyo in 2005. He also gives directions for some spaces, show performances, galleries as well as goes to Europe (mainly France and Belgium) several times a year for purchase of his store stock.  
http://www.krank-marcello.com

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