"We want you to be pleased with our pleasant clothes," says 45R, which produces its own materials and offers high-quality casual wear in Japan and abroad, paying particular attention to sewing and specifications.

The company, a Japanese clothing brand founded in 1977, opened 45R Kyoto in 2002 and has been selling apparel products on Sanjo Dori for about 20 years. We interviewed Kazue Okada, a meister who has supported 45R Kyoto since its opening.

It has been about 20 years since the business on Sanjo Dori started. What is 45R Kyoto?

(Exterior view of 45R Kyoto)

(45R Kyoto interior)

ーーPlease tell us what kind of store 45R is.

45R is an apparel brand that focuses on materials, sewing, and specifications. 45R celebrated its 45th anniversary in 2022, and is expanding its business with approximately 60 stores in Japan and overseas based on the desire to "please customers with pleasant clothes."

It was around 2002 that 45R opened a store on Sanjo Dori. We have been doing business here for more than 20 years. The decision to open a store on Sanjo Dori was based on the intuition of our representative, Mr. Takahashi. It has been almost 40 years since I joined the company, and from the time I joined the company, our representative had said, "I want to open a solid store in Kyoto." In the midst of searching for a good place to open a store in Kyoto, he said, “It must be here!” It took only a few minutes for him to decide on the current location.

ーーI just saw the store and it has a nostalgic Kyoto atmosphere, yet it has a sophisticated new look.

45R has stores all over Japan, and while some stores undergo renovations to keep up with the times, the Sanjo store has never undergone major renovations. It blends in with the landscape, yet always gives a fresh impression. We are proud of the fact that our customers who keep coming back often say, "It's always fresh," while first-time visitors often say, "It's kind of a relaxing place."

Participation in neighborhood associations deepened understanding and attachment to the community

( Photo of 45R Kyoto under construction)

ーーWhat was the location where 45R Kyoto is located before the store was built?

Before we opened the store, there was a clothing store, a men's store, and a talent store for Noriko Sakai (Note: a popular celebrity goods store often seen in the 1980s). There used to be a beautiful warehouse behind the building. It was so elegant as it matched the atmosphere of the store.

The street has changed a lot over the past 20 years. Now there are many new restaurants and apparel stores, but there are also many stores that have disappeared, such as obiya (belt shops), etc. There seemed to be more people from abroad walking down the street than 8 years ago.

ーーWe understand that you are also involved in the Sanjo Dori neighborhood association and very motivated to promote community development.

Our company values the idea of "working with those who are rooted in and have contributed to the community." That is why I myself have been a member of the Masuya-cho neighborhood association since 20 years ago when I first came to Sanjo Dori.

At the end of the year, 45R Kyoto holds a mochi pounding event and distributes the mochi made at the event to the residents of the town. Everyone is very happy to receive them and we are happy to have the opportunity to be a part of the community. We also have shaved ice and yo-yo fishing in front of our store during the Gion Festival. We enjoy interacting with many different people and we ourselves enjoy it.

ーーAs a member of a neighborhood association, you may hear from people around you about the history and memories of Sanjo Dori. Are there any particular events that stand out in your mind?

It is the Jizo-bon held in August. Jizo-bon is a local event mainly held in Kyoto and other cities, where children play a leading role in making offerings to Jizo (Ksitigarbha) in their neighborhoods and praying to them. I used to go there often with my daughter, who was still small. We would receive sweets and do the bead spinning, and it was an event where I could feel the culture that is unique to Kyoto.

When I heard about the Jizo-bon from one of the town's residents, he told me, "There was a time when children used to put on plays at the Jizo-bon before." I felt the history of Sanjo Dori, where town events have been held actively.

Making Sanjo Dori more accessible to young people

( At the time of the photo shoot, there were customers of various ages in the store.)

(Sanjo Dori where 45R Kyoto is located)

ーーYou have been working on Sanjo Dori for almost 20 years. What is your impression of this town?

The various landscapes and histories make one feel that this is the center of Kyoto after all. Originally, Sanjo Dori was where the Yamahoko floats used to parade during the atomatsuri of the Gion Festival. In such a place, stores such as Inoda Coffee, Hasegawa Shoju-do, and Ido Kotobukiya still exist, preserving the traditions of the city.

On the other hand, the street is also adopting new things to keep up with the times, and I look forward to the future of Sanjo Dori as I see the street bustling thanks to pedestrian paradise and other activities.

ーーFinally, what kind of place do you hope Sanjo Dori will be in the future?

I would like to make 45R Kyoto and Sanjo Dori a place where young people can casually visit. In order to achieve this, I would like to create an atmosphere in both the stores and the street that says, "If you go to Sanjo Dori, there is always something going on."

I want everyone to casually think, “Let’s go to Sanjo.” I hope that both the store and Sanjo Dori will become a place that everyone will want to visit more casually.