Tokyo’s Underground Book Store: Yuka Takahashi and Hi Bridge Books
“If you go home with somebody, and they don't have books, don't fuck 'em!”
― John Waters
Bookstores in some ways are nightclubs for early birds and introverts, a place to see and be seen except you’re surrounded by coffee table books about auteur directors, rather than slightly tipsy crowds. Whether you’re into gore-filled manga or a Yukio Mishima-loving type, readers have a way of finding each other, building IRL communities, and using print sources to fuel their own work.
In Tokyo especially, artbook stores seem to be less about pushing you to buy something, and more centered on being a space for artists, hooligans, and [contrary to popular assumption] younger subculturally minded people to loaf about and see what’s brewing in different creative universes.
Artbook shops function like free museums or rehab centers to cure “creative ruts”, the best bookstores encourage you to go on a treasure hunt; by sourcing the newest limited releases or scouring the globe [likely some local estate sales and flea markets], and mixing them in with selections from famous and not-so-famous artists.
Havens for book browsing in Tokyo are clustered around Jimbocho [for cheaper, retro finds circa 1950-1970], Koenji [for small press, punk, and sociopolitical-minded releases], and Yoyogi Hachiman/Uehara area [home to a new breed of bookstore with spot-on curation fusing the high brow and the low].
Hi Bridge Books[@hi_bridge_books] is an available by appointment only, art bookstore located on a quiet side street in Yoyogi Hachiman, made for subculture lovers. Hi-Bridge is founded by Yuka Takahashi [@yukaponsan] who hands down is one of the biggest figures in Tokyo’s niche/art book world. Needless to say, it’s a legendary bookstore in the making, stocking everything from vintage Hysteric Glamour artbooks and rare zines about skate culture to super thick coffee table tomes about modern architecture.
Yuka is someone who draws you in with a disarming presence found in people who are true masters of their craft and don’t need an ego to prove it.
In her case, Yuka is internationally known amongst book nerds, for her keen curatorial eye and ability to source rare copies of the works most sought-after cultural figures [think: Larry Clark, Nobuhiko Kitamura, and Nobuyoshi Araki]. These qualities made her a key figure in running Komiyama Tokyo [alongside its CEO Keita Komiyama] one of Tokyo’s oldest/best-respected art bookstores for over a decade, as well as selecting the books section at cutting-edge Harajuku select store GR8, plus a variety of other projects and exhibitions in Japan and beyond.
Yuka, outside of her sourcing and curation abilities, is a bit of a magnet for attracting creative talent. Artists around the world, from those just emerging to well-established, have at one point crossed paths with Yuka either by buying a book from her, meeting her at an exhibition, or simply having a good chat about art pretty much anywhere- because she manages the rare feat of being a crucial figure in art world AND keeping her conversations unpretentious.
With the opening of her own bookstore, Hi Bridge Books in November of this year, Yuka has created a shop that reflects what she’s all about. She explained that Hi Bridge focuses on “physical encounters that connect people and books” and shining a light on work that’s out of the mainstream, slightly wonky, and free of snobbery. Plus, the venue is complete with a small gallery space, and events/book release parties. To schedule an appointment DM the store’s Instagram[@hi_bridge_books].
sabukaru had a quick chat with Yuka, about why books still matter in the digital age, the direction this generation of Tokyo artists are moving towards, and what books she thinks are future classics.
Hey Yuka, thanks for sitting down with us. Could you simply describe yourself and what you do for the sabukaru network?
今日はお忙しい中お時間いただき誠にありがとうございます。まず最初にご存じでない方々に向けて自己紹介をお願いします。
Hi! Hello, my name is Yuka Takahashi! I am a bookstore owner, and I opened Hi Bridge Books, a bookstore and gallery space in Yoyogihachiman area of Tokyo in November 2023. Nice to meet you!
ハイ！こんにちは！髙橋 優香です。私は本屋店主で、23年の11月にオンリーアポイントメントの本屋さん兼ギャラリースペース 『Hi Bridge Books』を東京の代々木八幡エリア にオープンしたました。よろしくお願いします！
You recently just had the grand opening for your own store, Hi-Bridge books in Yoyogi, that’s a big deal! Tell us a bit more about your intention behind this space!
Hi Bridge Book のグランドオープン誠におめでとうございます。 個人書店をやろうと思ったキッカケやこのスペースに込めている想いなどありましたら教えてください。
Thank you! It was a very natural process to open this bookstore, and I am grateful for the chance I had. This space is about physical encounters that connect people and books! We are not going to have an online store for used books.
We want people to enjoy not only the information of books, but also the pleasure and fulfillment of "things".
ありがとう！ とても自然な流れでオープンすることになって、自分でも巡り合わせに
感謝してます。このスペースはフィジカルで人と本を繋ぐ出会いを大事にしています！なので、古本に関してはオンラインもやらない予定にしています。
本の情報だけでなく、”もの”としての楽しさと充実感をあじわってもらいたと思っています。
How does a visit to Hi Bridge Book work, what kinds of books can you expect to find? Do you need to call and make an appointment?
Hi Bridge Book ではどういった本をそろえていますか？またお越しになられる際は事前に予約する必要などはございますか？
We have a timeless selection of rare and valuable photo books in Japan, books and magazines produced from a counter-culture perspective that does not follow the mainstream, and artworks. We also have ZINE and books by friends from overseas that are only sold here.
[Since it is appointment only,] please feel free to DM @hi_bridge_books on Instagram!
国内に埋もれる希少価値の高い写真集、メインストリームには沿わないカウンターカルチャーの視点で制作された書籍や雑誌、作品がタイムレスなセレクトで揃ってます。海外の友達のZINEや書籍などここにしか売っていない書籍も置いてるよ。
アポイントオンリーになってて、気軽に@hi_bridge_books のインスタグラムでDMお願いします！
Why do books still have a special allure, even though there’s been so many attempts to make them obsolete; whether it be e-books or just easily accessed moodboards online/Pinterest/Instagram?
デジタル化やペーパーレスといった様な時代の流れが感じられる中で、フィジカルなものが今も尚強く求められていることについて思う事はありますか？
I also believe that digitalization and paperless are important for us in the future in the context of environmental issues and social trends. I also feel that book publishing is a separate issue from the things I just mentioned. I believe that the value of books as objects, rather than as information, will become more important in the future. Publishing books will no longer be a matter of course, but something special. Books are now expected to be interesting and beautiful as "objects", I feel that book publishing is becoming more and more interesting.
環境問題や社会の流れの中でデジタル化やペーパーレスはこれからの私たちにとっても大事なこととも思っています。また、本の出版については上記のようなこととは別問題と感じてます。本は情報としての価値ではなく、ものとしての価値を今後重要視されてくると思っています。今後は本を出版する事はあたり前の事ではなく、特別な事になるかと思っています。本は“もの”としての面白さ、美しさを求められてきており、本の出版はより一層面白くなってきているように感じています。
You’ve also worked with GR8, a hidden but influential Tokyo modern book store with a hyper curated selection of goods aimed at a fashion conscious and young audience. How did that experience lead into making Hi-Bridge, which takes a very different approach?
小宮山書店の他、東京でもファッション好きなユースに大人気なGR8でも働かれていたとお伺いしております。小宮山書店とは方針が違うGR8でのご経験は、 Hi Bridge Book を立ち上げる上で何か影響はありましたか？
My experience at GR8 was very meaningful to me today. In fashion, "zeitgeist" and "mood" are very important. On top of that, it was very interesting to select and propose exciting books and old books for reference to the GR8 audience. It was also a great honor to be in charge of the book space of GR8, a select store that attracts worldwide attention.
GR8での経験はとてもいまの自分にとって意味のあることでした。ファッションは“時代性”や“ムード”がとても大事になっています。そのうえでGR8のオーディエンスに向けてワクワクする本や、リファレンスになる古書をセレクトして提案するのはとてもおもしろかったです。またGR8という世界で注目されるセレクトショップのブックスペースを担当できたのは、とても光栄な事でした。
The sabukaru team realized whenever there’s an amazing artist/illustrator/designer in town or overseas, they are always somehow connected to you. How does that end up happening, how do you keep such a precise radar for what’s happening in art now?
様々なサブカルチャーについて日々リサーチを繰り返している弊社媒体ですが、様々なアーティスト／イラストレーター／デザイナーが来日している昨今、皆ユカさんと繋がりがあることに気付きました。多忙な毎日かと思いますが、どういったアンテナの立て方をしていますか？どういった経緯で繋がるものですか？
I really don't have anything special, and I think the book is the connection between them and me. Also, my friends introduce me to their friends!
私は、本当に特別な事などなにも持っていなく、、、やっぱり本が彼らと私を繋いでくれてるんだと思います。あと、友達が友達を紹介してくれて繋がっていきます！
Was there anything unexpectedly difficult or beautiful about starting your own book store?
自分の本屋を立ち上げる上で苦労なされたことはございますか？エピソードなどございましたら教えてください。
Surprisingly, nothing unexpected or difficult happened. I am really lucky!
驚くことになにもなかったんです。ホントにラッキーです！
Of the books published in the past 5 years or now, are there any you predict will become future cult classics?
過去５年間発売されてきた本の中で、将来的にカルト的人気を誇るだろうと思う本などございましたら教えてください。
・Sharol Xiao(シャロル・シャオ) “SHAROL NUDE” (2023 / Jwagg Art Foundation)
・Joshua Gordon(ジョシュア・ゴードン) TOY (2023 / 1729AGENCY )
・Moder-n
What are some of your favorite books that you have at Hi Bridge Books right now?
Hi Bridge Booksで扱っている本の中で好きなもの／お勧めできるものなどございましたら教えてください。
I can recommend all the books we carry. LOL
My bookstore is small, so I can recommend everything to you. If you visit us, I will introduce you my recommendations according to your needs :)
取り扱っている書籍は全部オススメできるものです。笑
狭い店舗なので、全部がみなさんにオススメできます。お越し頂けたらお客さんにあわせてオススメ紹介します :)
What runs through your mind, when you select a book to have at Hi Bridge Books? [Is it based on having a certain customer in mind, or based on what is popular at the moment? What's the criteria?]
Hi Bridge Booksで扱うものは、どういったキュレーション・プロセスを経て購入するものですか？やはり特定の客層の趣味嗜好を考えるものですか？逆にトレンドについても考えるものですか？
I am not very conscious about fashion trends, but I do value my mood. My mood and the currents of the world. Also, since we deal in timeless secondhand books, I select books that I am excited to look at today and books about culture that I want to preserve in the future.
ファッション的なトレンドについては、あまり意識はしてませんが、気分は大事にしてます。自分の気分や世界の流れ。また、古本というタイムレスなものを取り扱ってるので、今の自分が見てワクワクするものやこれからも残していきたいカルチャーの本をセレクトしています。
What are some of the best places to look at art in Tokyo? [It doesn’t need to necessarily be a museum or gallery]
東京でアートを経験したいと思う方々にお勧めできる場所などございますか？美術館やギャラリーに限る必要はございません。
Jimbocho Book Town. It is the best old book district in the world and there are many good places to eat.
神保町のブックタウン。世界で一番の古書ディストリクトでご飯もおいしいとこが多いので最高です！
Where do you like to go when you have a free day in Tokyo with nothing to do?
東京で、暇な日に行きたくなる場所などございますか？
Yoyogi Park or Yoyogi Hachimangu Shrine.
代々木公園か代々木八幡宮です。
You seem to be very busy handling a lot of things, whether it’s organizing gallery shows, connecting with artists, or sourcing rare books, so your reading time is precious. What books do you always make time to read? [It could be a magazine or work from a certain group of artists]
多忙な毎日かと思いますが、最近読書に費やす時間はございますか？どういった本を最近読まれていますか？
I try to read a book before going to bed. I feel that reading a book rather than looking at my cell phone helps me feel better about the day.
Most of the books I read at home are essays or autobiographies that I can read without thinking.
寝る前に、本を読むように心掛けています。なるべく携帯を見るよりは本を読んだ方 が一日の気分がいいような気がして。家で読む本はエッセイや自伝などなにも考えずに読める本が多いです。
What are the main forces at work in inspiring today’s new Tokyo creatives, are there any patterns or issues you can identify? For example, what is inspiring creative people you know, and what is their general mood/philosophy?
昨今の東京のクリエイティブ・シーンはどういったものに影響されている様に思いますか？ユカさんご自身が感じる、東京の最前線で活躍されているクリエイティブのインスピレーション源とはなんでしょう？特定のものでなく、パターンや考え方もございましたら教えてください。
The world is influenced by Japan's 90's-00's culture, and I feel that kids in Tokyo are also influenced by Japan. When I was younger, I was more influenced by foreign countries, and I didn't realize how good Japan was until I went abroad to study! I believe that culture influences each other and new things are born, so I am very much looking forward to the future of Tokyo's creative scene!
世界が日本の90’s 〜00’カルチャーに影響され、東京のキッズ達も日本に影響されクリエイティブしているように感じています。私が若い時はもっと海外に影響を受けていて、自分が留学するまで日本の良さには気づけなかったので、若い子達は自 国を見直し、自分達のクリエイティブしているのでとてもいいなと思っています！カルチャーは影響しあって新しいものが生まれると思っているのでこれからの東京のクリエイティブシーンはとても楽しみにしています！
Do you prefer the beginnings or ends of books, why?
本の読みはじめと読み終わり、ユカさんはどちらの方が好きですか？
End of reading! Sometimes I read from the end because I'm not good at getting excited. LOL!
読み終わり！ワクワクするのが苦手だから、最後から読むこともあります。笑
If you could collaborate with any artist living or dead, who would it be?
生死関係なく、一人のアーティストと何かコラボができるとしたら誰とされますか？
Araki Nobuyoshi
荒木経惟さん
What are your next moves? Are there any projects you’re excited about?
ユカさんのこれからについて教えてください。公開できる範囲で次なるプロジェクトについてお話いただけますと幸いです。
We are planning to hold exhibitions of international artists and to publish a book at Hi Bridge Books.
I am also hoping to publish a book in March with artists which is still underway.
I look forward to working with you this year!
その他にもまだ言えませんが、海外アーティストの展示開催やHi Bridge Booksで本の出版もしたいと思っています！アーティストとのマーチも進行中で今年もよろしくお願いします！
Text and Interview: Ora Margolis
Photography: Margo Leismüller
