The pleasant stimulation of sharing ideas with each other leads to the next creative work and ideas.

—It seems you've come to realize something new through this collaboration.

Nakatsu : The back-and-forth is quite challenging, but more than that, it's fun to think together, and it's great if it has a positive influence on each other's work. This experience is a learning opportunity, it broadens our horizons, and there are many good things about it. We became friends through our work and even went to an oden restaurant together (laughs). From there, one of Sasaki's friends knew about my brand, and we connected with that friend as well. That friend was originally in Tokyo and worked in the fashion industry, and we had mutual friends there too. There are all sorts of other connections as well, it's a really strange and wonderful coincidence (laughs).

Sasaki : This exhibition might lead to new connections being made.

Nakatsu : I agree. It really feels like we were meant to meet.

--Furthermore, Sasaki says that he has definitely gained something as an artist from working with various creators, including Nakatsu, on this project.

Sasaki : I received a lot of inspiration. Through my interactions with Yurika this time, she quickly saw through to what kind of style I have when it comes to my creative work and what kind of person I am (laughs). She quickly understood how I draw and perceive things, which made things very easy. I've always thought of myself as having a designer-like way of thinking, and she made the most of that. Yurika has a very clear way of thinking, and I thought she was a true artist. Personally, I felt that our sense of getting inspired is very similar. And I thought her speed in putting it into practice and her sense of balance were really amazing, and I felt that I need to learn from her.

Also, for some time now, rather than drawing intuitively, I've been drawing by going out and seeing what I find, and then translating that into drawings, or by taking action and recording it further as drawings. I like researching things and then drawing them. For example, when working on a project related to clothing like this time, I research things related to clothing. I don't know where these activities will be useful, but I hope they remain in my mind as a feeling. I had never made a collage before collaborating on this project, but being able to do something I had never done before has been a great asset to my work.