FASHION / 2025.11.04

"A-Z Homage to Takenobu Igarashi" Exhibition | Sapporo PARCO

Igarashi Takenobu (1944-2025) is a world-renowned designer and sculptor from Takigawa City, Hokkaido. His masterpieces include the calendar of the Museum of Modern Art, the logo of Calpis, Meiji Dairy, and Suntory. After 1994, he moved to Los Angeles, where he devoted himself to sculpture production. He has a deep connection with Hokkaido, and is also known for his work on the logo of "JR Tower" at Sapporo Station, the "Large Star Clock" and the station clock for concourse. The relationship with PARCO began with the Shibuya PARCO PART3 project, which opened in 1981.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of its opening, Sapporo PARCO will hold a special exhibition "A–Z Homage to Takenobu Igarashi" from October 4 to November 10, 2025, set in the entire building.
emma, who is from Hokkaido, the same as Igarashi, and is active as a model and manager, will visit Sapporo PARCO, which is colored by many alphabet works produced by Igarashi.

Photo: Yasu / sokoniaru（SHIDEN）

Hair&Make: Tsukushi Tomita

Text: 3KG

Direction: Sixtysix inc

PARCO’s “Igarashi Logo” that continues to be loved for generations

Igarashi and PARCO met a project at Shibuya PARCO PART3, which opened in 1981. The simple and powerful logo created by Igarashi is still used as exterior wall signs at Kichijoji and Nagoya PARCO.

Shibuya PARCO Part 3 The so-called Igarashi logo was produced by Mr. Igarashi when it opened.

emma "When it comes to PARCO, the impression of this logo is very strong. That shape and color will leave a great impression. I have always loved fashion, and when I was a student, I went to Sapporo PARCO. There were few clothes shops in the local area, so PARCO, which had a lot of clothes in magazines, was a place I longed for."

Mr. Kobayashi of Sapporo PARCO talks about this logo, which is called the Igarashi Logo within PARCO.
"It is a symbol of PARCO's culture that is passed down from generation to generation. Because it was a special being that could not be easily touched, it was not easy to use even if it was an internal project. "

In this exhibition, in addition to the original "P", "A", "R", "C", "O", and "T", designers who inherited Igarashi's thoughts reinterpreted based on the unique regularity of the "Igarashi Logo" and rewrite the remaining alphabet.

A new experience to meet your work every time you go down the stairs

In conjunction with this exhibition, Sapporo PARCO's stair gallery named "STEPS 207" shows sculptures and graphic design works based on the alphabet from A to Z using the 9-floor stairs from B2F to 7F. The stair floor sign of Sapporo PARCO was designed by Mr. Igarashi about 40 years ago. This time, it can be said that the stairs became one of the exhibition places was inevitable in a sense.

Emma: I really like art appreciation. Will you be cleansed by watching the work? Think about what the writer thinks about making the work. I like the time to face the writer's thoughts and life through that work. I like works that make use of architecture and space, and art works that blend into everyday life, so I enjoyed the exhibition on this staircase very much. "

Emma "I immediately noticed the 'E' in the photo because it was my initials! The mirror "W" is also cute, and I took a picture on my smartphone. "

Then, as they stand side by side with the alphabet work, there are several words on the wall. These are the words that Mr. Igarashi, who was the president of Tama Art University, picked up from the book "The Beginning Wind Takenobu Igarashi's Words" which was published on Twitter (currently X) inspired by Great East Japan Earthquake.

emma "It was just words that resonated straight and gently in my heart. "I want to not forget that ordinary everyday life is the accumulation of miracle moments," or "I want to not forget that ordinary everyday life is the accumulation of miracle moments," but it is really important. I think it's a word that resonates with all ages."

The trajectory of the design spun by Takenobu Igarashi you meet at SPACE 7

When you pass through TOWER RECORDS from the stairs on the 7th floor, red and green lines are drawn on the floor. If you follow this red line, you will arrive at SPACE 7, another exhibition venue. Here, the doorknob of the Igarashi logo, which was actually used at Matsumoto PARCO, which closed in February 2025, exhibits of alphabet sculptures made of various materials, and valuable materials that show the process of producing the book "The Beginning of the Wind Takenobu Igarashi's Words" are released.

emma "My recommendation alphabet is, of course, 'E'. Also, I like the shiny sculpture "Q" also cute. It is called a blueprint of a work that is incredibly elaborately drawn by hand, and it is very impressive. "

At the venue, there are many limited goods such as clocks and playing cards designed by Mr. Igarashi, as well as acrylic key chains and tote bags that can only be purchased here.

emma "This clock is a big star clock at Sapporo Station. I learned this time that Mr. Igarashi designed it, but I immediately understood it because it was characteristic. Also, personally, I wanted this alphabet drip coffee and postcard! When I go on a trip, I like to buy these packs of coffee, so I want to find the initials of myself and my friends and make them a souvenir."

Cold Nobi Coffee Drip ¥286

Original tote bag (2 types) ¥3,850, Blind Acrylic Keychain (6 types) ¥880

Beauty that transcends time: What is the new challenge that Emma talks about?

emma "I think this is an exhibition that can be enjoyed by students studying design and those who like art, as well as those who are not usually involved in art or design. Since the visuals are all cute works, I want to take a lot of pictures. I don't think any work was made more than 40 years ago. I didn't feel nostalgic at all, or I didn't feel nostalgic in a good way. "

The future she sees...

emma "It's been 10 years since I started the model and 3 years since I started my own brand. I heard that Mr. Igarashi had turned from a designer to a sculptor before his 50s, and I felt that he was pushed back to start something new at any age. In fact, I’m going to take another step next year. Please look forward to it."

Information

Exhibition name: A–Z Homage to Takenobu Igarashi
Venue: Sapporo PARCO SPACE 7 (7F), STEPS 207 (B2F - 7F), beside the front entrance (1F)
Exhibition Period: October 4 (Sat) - November 10 (Mon), 2025 ※Open during the exhibition
Time: 10:00 - 20:00 ※Final entry until 30 minutes before closing ※Closed at 18:00 on the last day
Entrance fee: ¥500 (SPACE 7), free (STEPS 207)
Organizer: Sapporo PARCO
Co-sponsorship: Takenobu Igarashi Museum of Art
Cooperation: Takenobu Igarashi, Kanazawa Institute of Technology Archive

emma

In 2012, he made his debut as a professional model on the cover of a magazine.
In addition to popular fashion magazines of various genres, including 25ans, it appears every month in a number of media such as catalogs and WEB .
While active in television and events, he is also active as a director of the private brand ER (Earl).
At FIGARO.jp, the serial project "See the World" is popular, where you can see traveling abroad and in Japan with a camera in one hand.
Instagram： @okss2121