When asked to show his favorite work items, Yuki Yamaura, buyer for Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building, brought along a personal organizer that "everyone says is as thick as a dictionary" and a Surface Pro PC. "The personal organizer has been my companion for 10 years, and the PC contains all the orders for the 4th and 5th floors of Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building " he said, showing us his favorite items.

Purchased from "Assistant's Guide"

I joined Isetan in 2006, worked as a stylist in the store during my first year, and became a product manager the following year. When a senior assistant buyer gave me the basics of being an assistant buyer, I was told to "manage yourself with a planner and be able to answer all questions about your responsibilities," which is when I started using a planner for the first time.


The personal organizer that everyone who sees it says is "as thick as a dictionary" is an Isetan Men's original cordovan notebook that was sold at the stationery shop on the first floor Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building at the time. It cost around 40,000 to 50,000 yen back then.

There are two things I like about it. First, in our work as fashion product managers, continuity is key, and we often look back at the previous year or period, so the large ring binding that can hold many files is important. Second, it has clear pockets that can hold A4-sized documents and copies folded in half. This planner was truly a "fateful encounter."


The contents themselves are a daily/monthly to-do list and memo section for self-management, along with a clear pocket. I was looking for something that could hold a lot of information, and even though it's been 10 years since I bought it, I think it was a good investment. I like to write down important things to remember, so it's indispensable for meetings and conferences.

I worked as a stylist for a year, then as an assistant buyer the following year, and then as an assistant manager and manager, and I'm now in my third year as a buyer. I started using this planner seriously again after becoming a buyer. This is because the amount of information I need to write down has increased dramatically, including managing my schedule with exhibitions and business trips, as well as meetings with brands.

My new partner as a buyer: the Surface Pro

I can't give up analog methods like notebooks because I feel comfortable writing by hand, but since becoming a buyer, I've been taking my Surface Pro PC with me. I've been using it for three years now, and although I use a Mac at home, I mainly use Excel for work, so I chose the Surface because of its ease of use.

The role of this PC is "information aggregation." To improve work efficiency, I organize brand information into files, and currently, I have documents summarizing the seasons for each brand, totaling about 160 brands.

I believe I've found a good balance between using digital tools to order products and using analog tools to jot down daily schedules, hints, and ideas.

My principle as a buyer is to curate products that reflect a spirit of enjoyment.

I started to love clothes when I was in junior high school. I admired Levi's denim, so I bought vintage replicas and modified them to wear. When I was in college, I loved the atmosphere of Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building at the time, and I even lined up with a friend for the lucky bags on January 2nd (laughs). I was drawn to the existence of Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building , and I wanted to become a buyer, and through a fortunate turn of events, I joined the company.

I'm currently in charge of the 4th and 5th floors Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building , but my work philosophy remains the same as when I joined the company: "I want to surprise people with my buying." Clothing is largely a matter of sensibility, but there are things you can only buy at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building , and I want to surprise customers every time they visit. I'd be even happier if those items sell. It's simple (laughs).

The job of a buyer is to take the "boiling water" that designers, manufacturers, and creators have poured their hearts into creating, feel it, and then transfer it to a different vessel—a stylist—and then to yet another vessel—the customer. Ideally, I want to maintain that level of passion when passing the baton, and even convey it with more passion.

My current theme is "My own passion is being put to the test." I want to work with the same passion, even when it comes to something as simple as a shirt. My motto is to "enjoy" everything I do, so when that is reflected in the products and makes customers happy, it's the ultimate reward for a buyer.