18年ぶりの日本への帰国を経て。それがどんなに長い年月であったのか果たしてあなたに伝わるだろうか？フランスに戻ってきて約ひと月、ようやく気持ちが現実に追い付いてきた。
「己の芸で呼ばれるまでは絶対に日本に帰るまい」と、フランスで生活していくにつれ次第に自分の中でそんな誓いが自然に出来上がっていったが、日々の生活に揉まれるうちにそんなこともやがて忘れ、「帰国する」という概念すら気づいたらなくなってしまった。それが本当のところ。ある日、東京の服飾業界を引率する旧友が言った。「東京でお前さんの作品を展示してみないか？」それが全ての始まりだった。
強烈なボディ・ブロウを喰らったが如くその話をした直後の衝撃は計り知れず、日本に帰るという覚悟を決めるまで数日かかる。その時初めて18年という歳月の重みを実感させられ、同時にあることに気づかされる。
私は今まで日本に帰りたくないと突っぱねていたのではなく、日本が怖かったのだ、と。今までニヤニヤと自分の弱さを誤魔化しダラダラと人生を浪費して生きて来た自分を認めるのが怖ったのだ。かくして私は自分に打ち勝つためにも恐る恐る旧友の提案を承諾したのだった。
今回のショーにあたって多くの方にお世話になり助けてもらいました。この場を借りて感謝とお礼を申し上げます。
まずは私を日本に招待してくれた立役者、ベドウィン・べべくんに感謝を述べます；君の粋な計らいなくして今回の来日は実現しなかった、何から何まで本当にどうもありがとう。まさか17歳の頃借りパクしたゴローズのベルトのことを今になってこんなに後悔させられるとは思いもしなかったよ。
続けて天国の母上、父上と義理の母、叔父叔母、従兄弟ファミリーに最大限の感謝、愛を。私の自由奔放な生き方を尊重してくれていることを心から感謝します。野地一族に栄光あれ。
アイコさん、悠さん、バヤシさん。現場スタッフのケントさん、前田さん、佐藤さん。タマカ。ヤス。マット、ワタル。クンイチ。べっくたみおちゃん。Mighty 6メンバー。ヒュー。エミリ・・・わざわざ私に会いにショーに足を運んでくれた方々、作品を御購入いただいた方々、ここにお名前を書ききれなかったあなたのことです、きっと私の気持ちはあなたに通じていると信じております、深く深く感謝を申し上げます。
そして最後に青山のヤサを提供してくれた兄弟分アロウ、どうもありがとう。
皆様に支えられ全ての事柄が気持ち悪いぐらいスムーズすぎて「ひょっとしてオレは死んだんか？」と何度も自問自答しなければならないほどでした。そんな内容の濃い、怖くなるほど愛を感じる感動的な臨死体験的帰国でした。この度はありがとうございました、また何年掛かるかわかりませんが、皆様にお会いし戯言で盛り上がるのを楽しみにしております。ではまた次回、次のところで。
テル・ノヂ
After returning to Japan after 18 long years. I wonder if you can truly grasp just how many years that was? It's been about a month since I returned to France, and my feelings have finally caught up with reality.
I had naturally made a vow to myself, 'I won't return to Japan until I'm called back with my craft,' as I continued living in France. However, as I got caught up in daily life, I gradually forgot about such things, and before I knew it, even the concept of 'returning home' had disappeared. That's the truth of it.
One day, an old friend who leads the fashion industry in Tokyo said, 'Why don't you exhibit your work in Tokyo?' That was the beginning of everything. The impact, like taking a powerful body blow, was immeasurable. It took me several days to gather the courage to decide to return to Japan. It was the first time I truly felt the weight of those 18 years, and at the same time, I realized something.
I wasn't refusing to return to Japan all this time; I was afraid of Japan. I was afraid to acknowledge myself, to admit that I had been covering up my weaknesses with a smirk and wasting my life. So, with fear and trembling, I reluctantly accepted my old friend's proposal to overcome myself.
I wasn't refusing to return to Japan all this time; I was afraid of Japan. I was afraid to acknowledge myself, to admit that I had been covering up my weaknesses with a smirk and wasting my life. So, with fear and trembling, I reluctantly accepted my old friend's proposal to overcome myself.
For this show, I am deeply grateful to many people who have supported and helped me. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude and thanks.
First and foremost, I want to thank Bedwin Bebe, the person who invited me to Japan. Without your kind intervention, this visit to Japan would never ever happened. Thank you so much for everything, from the bottom of my heart. I never thought that the Goros belt I borrowed (stole) from you back when I was 17 would come back to haunt me like this.
Next, my deepest gratitude and love go to my late mother, father, stepmother, my uncle, aunt, and cousins. I am truly thankful that you respect my free-spirited way of life. Long live the Noji clan.
To Aiko-san, Yu-san, Bayashi-san, the on-site staff Kento-san, Maeda-san, Sato-san, Tamaka, Yasu, Matt, Wataru, Kunichi, BekkuTamio-chan, the Mighty 6 members, Hugh, Emiri... To all those who took the time to come and see me at the show, those who purchased my work, and to all of you whose names I couldn't list here, I believe that my gratitude is reaching you deeply and sincerely.
And finally, a big thank you to my "brother" Arrow who provided home in Aoyama.
First and foremost, I want to thank Bedwin Bebe, the person who invited me to Japan. Without your kind intervention, this visit to Japan would never ever happened. Thank you so much for everything, from the bottom of my heart. I never thought that the Goros belt I borrowed (stole) from you back when I was 17 would come back to haunt me like this.
Next, my deepest gratitude and love go to my late mother, father, stepmother, my uncle, aunt, and cousins. I am truly thankful that you respect my free-spirited way of life. Long live the Noji clan.
To Aiko-san, Yu-san, Bayashi-san, the on-site staff Kento-san, Maeda-san, Sato-san, Tamaka, Yasu, Matt, Wataru, Kunichi, BekkuTamio-chan, the Mighty 6 members, Hugh, Emiri... To all those who took the time to come and see me at the show, those who purchased my work, and to all of you whose names I couldn't list here, I believe that my gratitude is reaching you deeply and sincerely.
And finally, a big thank you to my "brother" Arrow who provided home in Aoyama.
Supported by everyone, everything went so smoothly that I had to repeatedly ask myself, 'Could it be that I'm dead?' It was an emotionally intense, almost terrifyingly heartwarming near-death-like experience coming back. Thank you so much for everything this time. I don't know how many years it will take, but I'm looking forward to meeting everyone again and having lively conversations. Until next time, at the next place!
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