Following our first announcement, here is the second update.
The visuals are finally ready! Following our work for the Mori, Michi, Ichi market, we asked Kan Kobayashi to create the design. Isn’t it incredibly cool...?
I’ve been personally following his style for a while, and the addition of new elements offers a glimpse into a new direction for him, resulting in a finish I’m thoroughly satisfied with.
We are planning to have posters and flyers displayed at the Circles shop and at various local establishments in Nagoya that support us, so please make sure to check them out in person.
【Anniversary Events】
①BIKE OF THE YEAR
A live version of the Circles blog content, "BIKE OF THE WEEK."
For two days only, on Saturday 12/2 and Sunday 12/3, we’re holding an outrageous event to decide the coolest bike of the year at Circles!
Anyone can participate, and it’s very easy to enter.
During business hours on 12/2 (Sat) – 12/3 (Sun)
- Come to Circles with your bike
- Enter the event
- Get a photo taken of your bike
That’s it for entry!
Every participant will receive a participation prize.
Those selected by staff voting will receive a luxury prize for the “BIKE OF THE YEAR Award”!
We also have a “Staff Award” where individual staff members choose their favorites, so please join us!
I suspect this prize might be the hottest item of the entire event.
Our staff member Shige, who photographed many bikes at this year’s MADE BIKE SHOW in Portland, will be in charge of taking your photos!
②Special Novelty Giveaway!
Get a special anniversary novelty item when you spend over 10,000 yen at the store!
It’s currently in production and we’ve put quite a lot into it, so I’m personally super excited.
Please enjoy shopping with us during this occasion!
【Special Photo Session】
Circles' popular web content "With Bicycle" is being held as a live photo session!
The photographer will be our old friend Takeuchi-kun from "Hikari Shashinkan" (Hikari Photo Studio). He’s coming all the way from Kagoshima.
About Hikari Shashinkan
A photo studio that tours the country without a permanent base, holding sessions at galleries and shops in each location.
https://www.hikarips.com/about
Photography is done using monochrome film cameras, and finishing is done by hand by skilled craftsmen.
The monochrome film is developed and printed one by one by hand by lab man Shoichi Sei in Osaka.
While he operates his mobile studio at famous spots all over the country, this will be the first photo studio event in Nagoya, hosted by Earlybirds and Circles!
Why not have a commemorative photo taken of "You and Your Bicycle" with him?
This is the content I want you to try most of all!
He will photograph you and your beloved bike and finish it with an exquisite monochrome print.
The equipment is fantastic too; he uses film cameras like the PENTAX 67 (medium format) and 4x5 (large format), which are rarely seen these days, carefully pressing the shutter one by one, and burning them into monochrome photos with incredible technical hand-work.
The intention behind shooting with large format is to create records that remain for future generations, so I am shooting in a format that can be archived 100 years from now and also offers high image quality.
As long as the precision of the equipment used for scanning film improves, there is a great possibility that the image quality itself can be updated (unlike pixels, information sleeps in the captured particles).
Because it has a strength that transcends time, I use monochrome film as it is the optimal solution at this moment. Plus, the lenses themselves are a bit older, and because they aren't optically too sharp, I think there is a softness in a good way.
Words from Takeuchi-kun.
Of course, you can request not only "With Bicycle" shots but also family portraits, "Car With Us" shots, or even "6 Wheels" (Bicycle x Car), and if you all come by bike with your family, a "Family x Bicycle" shot would also be a wonderful photo.
Keita-kun from Earlybirds also had his photo taken during our recent meeting.
Staff commemorative photos as well.
You’re looking at these on a blog now, but you can’t tell the actual feeling of this finish on a digital monitor.
When people hear "film camera," they tend to think of words like "emotional" or "analog," but I honestly think you’ll be surprised by the finish of Hikari Shashinkan’s photos. It’s not really something to compare, but they are cleaner than digital.
There is a meaning to shooting on film in the age of digital cameras, and I think this could be a trigger for you to discover the goodness of printed photographs.
Printed samples are available at Circles / Earlybirds, so please come by and take a look if you are interested.
Schedule
11/29 (Wed) - 30 (Thu) @EarlyBirds Breakfast
12/2 (Sat) - 3 (Sun) @Circles
For times, locations, and desired shooting styles, check here!
【Limited Item / POP UP STORE】
Circles Original
We got to know Kan Kobayashi-kun this year and worked on many things together; we’ve used his creativity to prepare original goods and have other things lined up too!
tade qui
We have asked Mr. Hosokawa of TADE QUI, arguably the most impactful newcomer of the year, to create a special item.
Could that product which the staff also loves be...???
Stay tuned.
TORAYA EQUIPMENT
We also have a special order planned with Mr. Urakabe from TORAYA EQUIPMENT, who regularly holds pop-ups with us.
The long-awaited custom-made product is finally complete...!!
Look forward to it!
TACOMAFUJI RECORDS
Nabe-san from TACOMAFUJI RECORDS is coming to celebrate Circles again this year!
There will be a pop-up and limited-edition items on sale over the weekend...!
SimWorks by WELLDONE
Welldone has created a limited cap for SimWorks!
Inocchi, please!
ISE STANDARD
The wandering muscle-funny-faced man—who is actually a skilled basketball performer, or rather, whose true profession is a popular chiropractor—is Ise-kun. Once you’re in his hands, you become captive to his skill and personality, which provide a trigger to find your own "Standard" for body and mind.
We are hosting his mobile massage session for the first time, as he has many mutual friends. This time, he’ll be bringing a bed to the 3rd floor of Circles to treat people. Why not maintain your body at Circles along with your bike?
STANDARD
https://www.instagram.com/ise_standard/
ISE-kun
https://www.instagram.com/masahotanabe/
【Eritsin Photo Studio】
Once again this year, we have the "pay-what-you-want" photo studio by Circles photographer Eritsin. Why not take a photo with the friends and family who came to celebrate the Circles anniversary???
She will be there on Saturday from 17:00 to 20:00 accepting donations, so please check that out too!
【Party】
Drum’s Natural Wine, Yakitori, and Oden Bar
I think we can agree that it’s best to leave the evening party to this guy, right?
Soichiro-kun from the French restaurant DRUM, located near Fukiage Station in Nagoya.
This is a store we’re close with, having held "home-and-away" events where Earlybirds held a pop-up at Drum, and Drum held one at Earlybirds.
I live nearby, so I sometimes stop by for a casual drink on my way home (feeling very rude while doing so), and the food is incredibly good.
DRUM will be coming over to organize the food and drinks for the party with a one-night-only menu.
Moreover, the menu is yakitori and oden...!
He’ll liven up the venue with DRUM-style yakitori and oden, so let’s have a toast with the natural wine he selects!
(Don't worry, there will be beer and sours too!)
Also, Bar Liquors, Spice Hour, and Pine Fields Market will be coming to the party and offering their own selections!!
And so, our 17th anniversary party is on Saturday, December 2nd, from 17:00!
We look forward to seeing everyone there!
Circles 17th Anniversary Party
December 2nd (Sat) 17:00 - 21:00Entry ¥3,000
1 Drink, 2 Food (Assortment of Yakitori and Oden)
Other drinks and food will be cash-on.