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Sarabe Seishun No Hikari: Tetsuya Morita Talks About His Passion for Vintage Clothing that Began with "Boon"
The comedy duo "Sarabe Seishun No Hikari" has been making waves in the media. One of its members, Tetsuya Morita, is well-known in the entertainment industry as a connoisseur of secondhand clothing. His YouTube sub-channel "Gotanda Garage by Tetsuya Morita" features popular content around visiting vintage stores.
Deeply knowledgeable about vintage culture, Morita has grown up reading the magazine "Boon." This time, we spoke with him about his feelings toward vintage, centered around "Boon."
PROFILE
Tetsuya Morita
Sarabe Seishun No Hikari
Between 2008 and 2015, they achieved outstanding results in various comedy competitions. Notable achievements include runner-up at the 2012 King of Conte, 4th place at the 2013 King of Conte, and winning the 2014 New Face Comedy Award. They have progressed to the finals and semi-finals in numerous competitions, including THE MANZAI and the NHK Kamigata Manzai Contest. Morita is also the president of the individual agency "THE MORIHIGASHI Inc."
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J-League, PUFFY, Masatoshi Hamada... A Student’s Memories from the Vintage Boom in America Village
"Boon," which Morita was fond of reading in the 90s, served as a bible for the vintage boom and street culture, becoming a central magazine in the industry.The covers adorned by sports figures and popular artists wearing rare vintage items not only generated buzz but also had such influence that inquiries about the featured items poured in.
Reflecting on his student days, Morita shared his thoughts on that scene.
"Back then, there was an enormous vintage boom, and America Village in Osaka was always bustling with people, with vintage stores springing up everywhere.
"It’s not an exaggeration; it felt like there was a vintage store every 10 meters. Just walking around, you could find about 30 shops, and you could easily spend a whole day there.
"So, on days I walked around America Village, my feet would hurt so much I couldn't sleep! (laughs)"
America Village in Osaka is still known as a haven for vintage clothing, but it's surprising to hear it had even more vintage stores back then.
In the 90s, when the Air Max was at its peak, Morita's first purchase in America Village was a pair of Nike Leather Cortez.
"In junior high, I went to America Village for the first time with 5 or 6 classmates, clutching around 10,000 yen. At first, I was just satisfied to have come to 'America Village' and hadn't really gone into any proper vintage stores.
"But I thought, since I was here, I had to buy something! So, I bought those leather Cortez shoes at the fashion building 'Big Step' in America Village, and that was my first purchase.
"Since I lived in Sakai City back then, there were no stylish buildings like Big Step. I had to go all the way to Namba, so buying the leather Cortez felt like I was getting something cool from the city!"
It was around this time that Morita began reading "Boon." At that time, popular talents and artists like Ryoko Hirosue and PUFFY graced the covers, but what did "Boon" mean to Morita?
"To me, it was like a guidebook.
"At that time, there was also a magazine called 'Kajikaji' in Kansai, and they were the two giants, but 'Boon' made me feel that if I imitated the combinations featured, I couldn’t go wrong.
"'Boon' was a magazine I felt very connected to, filled with many items I aspired to have."
The 90s were marked by legends like J-League players, Takuya Kimura, Masatoshi Hamada, and Isida Issei, who led the vintage fashion trend. He reminisces about the significant influence their fashion had on him.
"Before I discovered vintage, I mostly wore jeans and chinos.
"I was influenced by Isida Issei, and I think I bought the cargo pants he wore in the drama '未成年 (Miseinen)' at Saty (a life department store).
"That purchase led me to start frequenting America Village and buying vintage clothes. At that time, Levi's 'Red Ear' was being sold for around 20,000 yen, which I considered quite reasonable.
"Models like 66 or Red Ear had this air of being accessible even to those of us without much money, so when I was about 15, I bought a Red Ear for 27,000 yen using my New Year's money."
The era when vintage denim and Air Max 95 were buzzing in society. For items obtained with great effort, everyone paid meticulous attention.
"Back then, everyone from our junior high was going to America Village, so going to America Village on weekends was a routine for us.
"Some of us bought Air Max 95, and at that time, it was so trendy that there were even incidents of Air Max hunting, so in stores where you had to take off your shoes, that person was the only one who brought their Air Max 95 to the room (laughs).
"It was a time filled with high energy, where even seeing a not-so-close classmate wearing Footscape made you feel envious."
Overflowing Vintage Love of Morita at "Gotanda Garage"
Morita's YouTube channel, "Gotanda Garage," should not be forgotten. Although it is his personal channel unlike the duo's main channel, this channel boasts 385,000 subscribers and has gained popularity as it is filled with Morita's deep love for vintage.On "Gotanda Garage," he visits hidden gems not only in Tokyo but throughout the country. Many male fans are captivated by Morita's sense and knowledge across a wide range of areas, including vintage items, classic cars, and interiors.
Although Morita travels across the country, the most memorable place for him seems to be Sendai.
"In Sendai, I went to a store called 'Howdy' and 'True Vintage,' and I was overwhelmed by the selection at True Vintage, which is a genuine vintage shop.
"However, compared to events like VCM (one of Japan's largest vintage events), the prices were still reasonably affordable.
"Afterwards, I went to Howdy, and I was shocked at how cheap it was there. For example, a waffle trainer in size 27, which is typically hard to find, was being sold for 39,800 yen in good condition. In today's market, it would easily exceed 100,000 yen.
"When I checked with the store manager to confirm the price and was about to make a purchase, I was told, 'We would like to hold it for local customers first' (laughs).
"It was impressive that the manager was aware the pricing was lower than the market but wanted to prioritize local customers first."
On the YouTube channel, his love for vintage and American casual style overflows, but Morita has had a passion for American casual since he was in the second year of junior high. Especially regarding sweatshirts, his selection, including the one he was wearing during the interview, shines with style.
"I've always liked American casual, and now I'm realizing that I keep purchasing items I've longed for since my student days.
"However, I'm not a hardcore American casual guy; I don't go for the typical Red Wing boots or straight jeans from McCauley. I'm more laid-back, liking skateboard styles and Nike... that's just how it is (laughs).
"Initially, I wasn't that interested in sweatshirts, but as I learned more about single-color tags and bar tags, I naturally started wanting them.
"What I loved back then were no-brand vintage sweatshirts and those from brands like Fruit of the Loom, Hanes, and Russell Athletic."
Still More to Say! Vintage Items that Shine with Stylish Sense
As a lover of secondhand clothes, many men are likely curious about the items Morita purchases, especially since he is leading the vintage scene."For the past three or four years, I've just been buying Champion Reverse Weave sweatshirts. I think, 'I already have a bunch,' yet I find myself wanting more. Then there's this Snoopy sweatshirt I'm wearing today, as well as vintage pieces with a similar vibe that match my current mood perfectly."
Currently, the vintage boom has reached its peak, and various event scenes like VCM are buzzing with excitement. The media frequently covers it, and more people are drawn to the charm of vintage.
Amid all this, what does Morita, who has been involved in this culture for many years, believe is the fundamental charm of secondhand clothing?
"I think the essential allure of vintage clothes resonates with the DNA of men. Things like vintage clothing and classic cars have an inherent appeal that feels undeniably cool, without needing complicated reasoning.
"In a way, the essence of vintage is that it stirs your emotions intuitively without relying on knowledge or experience.
"Although the recent vintage boom has rekindled interest, I genuinely feel that the barriers to accessing vintage could be lowered a bit more.
"If you focus too much on history and years, it becomes more like 'Will you wear history?' and I believe it should be a culture enjoyed more freely and intuitively."
As he talks about vintage fashion while reading the old edition of "Boon," it’s clear that he’s deeply embedded in the vintage scene, bringing a passionate energy to the discussion.
The numerous anecdotes shared during the interview reveal Morita's unwavering affection for vintage fashion.
Recently, Morita's keen sense of vintage style has been highlighted in the media. At "Gotanda Garage," just like "Boon" once served as a fashion bible for many young people, Morita is now offering a fresh perspective on vintage culture for a new generation.
His unique styling and profound understanding of fashion is something we should definitely keep an eye on.
Photo by Akinori Kawanishi
Text by Tajimax
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