“SHOEBOYS” is a shoeshine and leather shoe shop run by Subaru Okuno, known as the YouTuber “Okkun,” whose shoe-shining videos are popular among the young generation. This shop is, so to say, an attempt to emerge from the virtual world of the Internet to a real, physical world. It was designed in the midst of the new coronavirus pandemic when shopping at brick-and-mortar stores was difficult. Although online shopping is becoming more and more sophisticated, Suzuki believes people definitely still enjoy visiting physical stores.
Located in a quaint residential area away from the busy shopping district in Ikebukuro, the shop attracts fans of Mr. Okuno and people who know about SHOEBOYS. Suzuki wanted people to feel the energy of the physical space and have a high-resolution experience—something that cannot be possible in the virtual world.
The concept is “re-creation of the energy on the streets.” A hut is placed in the center, providing omnidirectional views of the shoe-shiner for customers. The surrounding area is a circular walkway resembling a “street.” The interior of the shop space, originally intended as office space for lease, was finished with cheap wallpaper and flooring—typical for spaces that require restoration to the original condition. For the sake of restoration, the wallpaper and flooring with fake patterns were simply removed. The walls were then finished with unique stickers designed by the illustrator Shiora Naito (the number of stickers increases as the customers add them). This idea was inspired by the street walls in the downtown area gradually covered with stickers of various artists, demonstrating respect to the street culture that is the origin of shoe-shiners.
The fake-wood floor and baseboards were also removed since the copy-and-pasted fake wood look was discarded in favor of the glue residues. The residues represent the work done by craftsmen, and Suzuki believes they represent the genuine physical world.
The low ceiling could be almost touched, causing a cooped-up feeling. Therefore, the plasterboards were removed to expose the furring strips. Conifer plywood boards embedded with downlights with a high color rendering property are placed as if floating in the air. Drain pipes of the upper-level residence are visible in between. This is also evidence of a real space.
In Japan, there are wood or steel construction buildings covered with superficial brick tiles to make them look like brick houses. These exterior walls, which tend to be frivolous and ostentatious, were painted white. Benches and tables made of polished copper and solid wood are placed to accentuate their solid feel and genuineness in contrast to the walls. The copper changes its appearance as it ages, and customers can enjoy a cup of tea there while admiring the shoes and enjoying conversation with each other.
The peeling and painting process and its traces felt like we were bringing back a genuine time and energy of a lively space. The time spent on finding the traces of craftsmen from the past, enjoying the changes over time, and gazing at an object becomes something to love and opens up our view. It has something in common with the act of polishing and cherishing leather shoes. Suzuki believes that customers can have a high-resolution experience that can only be possible in physical spaces.
