At the Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building a variety of stylists, from fashionistas with niche knowledge to highly fashionable well-dressed gentlemen, welcome customers. However, everyone starts out as a fashion beginner. There's bound to be a special attachment to the first item you bought when you were younger. Mr. Hishinuma, the "jewelry enthusiast" we're highlighting this time, still cherishes the first pair of earrings he bought when he was 16.

Jewelry is a memento of "life's milestones" and "miraculous encounters."

"The first piece of jewelry I bought for myself was when I was 16. Back then, as a high school student, a pair of earrings costing 10,000 yen was quite a big purchase for me. Wearing them to school was against the rules, but I still wore them secretly. I thought it was cool."



Hishinuma says she started to take an interest in clothes when she was in junior high school, and would go to Harajuku with friends, and sometimes by herself. When she was in high school, she saved money from part-time jobs and spent most of it on clothes, jewelry, and accessories.

The jewelry she bought herself was a pair of silver earrings set with pyramid-shaped black onyx stones. She still cherishes them.


"These earrings were the very first item that became the starting point for my current work in the jewelry world. Since then, I've collected so much jewelry. Some I've sold, given away, or lost, but I'm so attached to these that I don't think I'll ever let them go."

Ms. Hishinuma says that each piece of jewelry holds a special memory for her. She often buys jewelry to mark important life events or when she makes a big decision. She herself has purchased jewelry when she was promoted to store manager and when she changed jobs.


"But sometimes, you unexpectedly stumble upon something you love in a shop you just happened to be browsing. One time, I found a necklace and pendant I'd always wanted in a shop I just happened to look into, and I ran to the ATM to withdraw 150,000 yen. I want to cherish those kinds of miraculous encounters."

Because it's precious jewelry, pass it on to someone special.

Looking back, she says she's loved jewelry and accessories since she was a child. Even before she started elementary school, she would always wear toy accessories when playing with friends at the neighborhood park.


"It was just a plastic accessory that cost about 500 yen, but I was the kind of kid who would always wear it when I went out to play. I also remember often stopping by accessory shops when I went shopping with my mother. Looking back now, maybe my mother was the one who originally loved accessories and jewelry. I think my love for sparkly things might have been influenced by her."

From a young age, I was fascinated by sparkling gemstones and used to collect minerals and natural stones. Eventually, influenced by my older brother, who was six years older and obsessed with rock music, my passion for jewelry intensified.


"Even back then, my brother was always wearing lots of jewelry, and I thought it looked cool from my perspective as his younger brother. Because of the age difference, I don't remember talking to him very often, but we would talk about clothes and brands. I gave him the 150,000 yen necklace and pendant a few years ago."

For Mr. Hishinuma, passing on jewelry he no longer wears to his brother, as well as to younger colleagues and people who have helped him, is an important way to use jewelry. By passing on the jewelry he has cherished, he is passing on his own "feelings" to others.

Creating a shop that is welcoming to both jewelry beginners and experts, and to women.

The jewelry corner on the first floor of Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building , is located immediately to the right after entering the main entrance. In fact, this corner is staffed by sales representatives from various brands, including Ms. Hishinuma. Ms. Hishinuma is a staff member of SOS fp, which has its main store in Ebisu. She sells not only the brands that the store carries, but also other brands, so her product knowledge is constantly being updated.


"When serving customers, we often explain and suggest other brands as well. That's why we build up our knowledge by interacting with all the sales staff on a regular basis. Customers don't know which brand the staff member is from, so we have to be able to explain not only our own brand but also other brands and items properly. When new products arrive, we take various lectures in our free time to accumulate knowledge."

Ms. Hishinuma, who spoke about this, wears simple jewelry such as necklaces and rings. However, she says this is the "Isetan Shinjuku style." She usually wears rings on all her fingers, and sometimes even stacks them on her little finger. She wears bangles and bracelets on both arms, and stacks necklaces as a matter of course. She also has three earrings on each side, but she often wears nothing when she's working at the store.


"At Isetan, we have customers who are new to jewelry, so it would be difficult for them to approach us if our staff were wearing a lot of flashy jewelry. We strive to provide simple and easy-to-follow jewelry styling tips for customers who want to coordinate their jewelry with their outfits. Of course, we also have advanced customers who want to order specific pieces made from specific materials, and we are happy to accommodate those requests as well."

Having previously served as brand manager at a jewelry brand, her knowledge and experience are considerable. Her thoughtfulness in deliberately keeping her styling understated to suit each customer puts jewelry beginners and window shoppers at ease, creating a friendly and approachable atmosphere.

" Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building , has many female customers. That's why we pay close attention to creating a welcoming atmosphere. Just like I did, we want them to enjoy shopping for clothes and jewelry. Please feel free to come and shop with us!"

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View the "Men's Accessories" product list at the Mitsukoshi Isetan Online Store.

Photograph: Tatsuya Ozawa
Text: Yasuyuki Ikeda

＊All prices include tax.
＊The information in this article is current as of the time of publication. Product information may be revised or changed without notice.

For inquiries, please contact Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 1st Floor, Jewelry Department, Tel: 03-3352-1111 (Main number)
For inquiries via email, please click here.