The British Week and Campaign for Wool were held in November. A highlight of the event was the talk show, "Be an English Gentleman," at THE GALLERY by CHALIE VICE. Toshiyasu Takubo, President and CEO of BLBG (British Luxury Brand Group) Co., Ltd., fashion historian Kaori Nakano, and Jeremy Hackett, also known as Mr. Classic, discussed the concept of a gentleman at will. Vol. 1 is available here.


Now, Jeremy , let me tell you a taboo fact: there is probably not a single Briton who considers James Bond to be a gentleman.

—A quiet laughter spread through the venue like ripples.

I agree with the opinion that Nakano 's style is too flashy. However, on the other hand, one could also view his unconventional style as extremely gentlemanly.

Takubo: Even my friend in England says that people who have a strong sense of self are gentlemen.


Nakano can be cold towards women. He'll even use a woman who's with him as a shield during a gunfight (laughs). He's not easy to deal with.

Takubo, do you have an ideal gentleman in mind?

Nakano: For me, gentlemen are a subject of study, so I've never looked at them from a personal perspective (laughs). It's vague, but they are friendly, but not overly familiar. They have a refined way of maintaining distance. Oscar Wilde said that they are the kind of people who don't unconsciously hurt others, but conversely, they can deliver a sting when necessary.



The question "What is a gentleman?" is already an ungentlemanly question.


The reality of the Nakano Gentleman is a system. In Britain, there is a hierarchy of gentlemen and non-gentlemen, and gentlemen have flexibly incorporated non-gentlemen. Naturally, the image changes with the times. This ambiguity is what makes Britain so shrewd.

Takubo: What I learned from working in England is that when they say "You look great today," they're not really giving a compliment. I feel the same nuance in the word "cool."

Nakano: One of my favorite sayings is, "A person who fulfills all the requirements is not a gentleman." For example, there are many books called "Gentleman's Guides," but if you follow them exactly, a real gentleman will laugh at you. In short, gentlemen have double standards. The popular drama "Downton Abbey" brilliantly depicts this, but in such a confusing society, they build trust by keeping their promises.


Jeremy , I brought this up myself, but the question of what constitutes a gentleman doesn't really arise among Brits. Trying to define it is itself ungentlemanly.

--The venue was enveloped in an atmosphere of deep emotion.


I shouldn't say this as the Takubo event is nearing its end, but "Be an English Gentleman" is also wrong (laughs). As long as we are Japanese, we can't become English gentlemen. I think the attitude of pursuing what it means to be a Japanese gentleman is what true gentlemanship is all about.

Jeremy : Polite and tolerant Japanese people already possess the qualities of a gentleman. Especially everyone who participated today. Because you all listened to me until the very end (laughs).

--The venue was filled with warm applause.


Text: Takegawa Keiji
Photo: Fujii Taku