I believe it was many years before I started Kakuozan Larder that I first saw Circles, back when it was located up the hill in Fukiage.
After leaving my previous job, I worked at a cafe to train for Larder. I admired the cool bicycles the staff there rode, and they were the ones who immediately introduced me to "Circles."
That was the Circles at its current location. At the time, "EARLY BIRDS BREAKFAST" didn't exist yet, and that space was just a garage.
I still remember my first visit to Circles vividly—unique staff members were at their respective posts, going about their work at their own pace. It truly felt like I wasn't in Japan anymore.
Yet, they treated me like an old friend, which made me love the place immediately.
Since then, Ariba opened within Circles, we opened Larder, and we began spending more and more time together in various settings.
Circles, which feels like the school next door, is filled with people who are close, help each other out, and sometimes even help us at Larder. When that happens, I secretly feel very happy, as if I’ve become a member of Circles. But I keep that to myself, because I’m sure the folks at Circles would just laugh at me.
"最好的朋友" (Best Friends).
Thinking of my precious close friends at Circles, I designed this "CIRCLES" piece, inspired by European bicycle racing, showing them dashing through on their bikes.
Following the previous release, The Cell of Circles by Kantoku, we asked Niwa-kun from KAKUOZAN LARDER, a source of Nagoya pride and truly our ally, to work on the 4th installment of our original T-shirt line! We’ve known Niwa-kun since before he started Larder, and he is a comrade who not only fills our stomachs but also supports us at various events. We have truly received your love, Niwa-kun!
【CIRCLES ORIGINAL】
最好的朋友 (Best Friends) T-Shirt
Designed by HIROKI NIWA from KAKUOZAN LARDER
Size : S〜XL
Price : 5,940 JPY (tax included)
TACOMA FUJI POP UP at Larder this weekend too!
Also, a TACOMA FUJI RECORDS POP UP will be held at Larder this weekend, Saturday the 10th and Sunday the 11th! In addition to the new T-shirt release we planned for this, you can of course pick up Tacoma items. Plus, on Saturday the 10th, SUNDAY SPICE from Gamagori will be there serving curry, and on Sunday the 11th, we'll have MY TACOS—the alter-ego of our very own Ariba Keita. It’s all gotten a bit chaotic, but basically, you should just head to Larder on an empty stomach!
Now, we just released the T-shirt we asked Nabe-san from TACOMA to make, but in fact, another item we’ve been prepping for the Larder pop-up has just arrived!
Just like the T-shirt, this features artwork by James Ulmer of diverse people supporting each other to form a circle. It’s a truly standard, ordinary, "best of the basics" cap, shaped by Tacoma Fuji Nabe-san’s desire for "a cap that is as normal as possible, with no quirks whatsoever." Like the T-shirt, it’s available exclusively at Circles and the Tacoma Fuji website, and sales at Circles start tonight!
【CIRCLES ORIGINAL】
TACOMA FUJI RECORDS meets Circles Cap
Designed by James Ulmer
Color : Khaki / Navy
Size : Free
Price : 7,920 JPY (tax included)
Of course, this can also be redeemed with Circles Points, so please be sure to get yours! So, this weekend, wear your Best Friends T-shirt, grab some delicious food at Larder, and pick up your favorite Tacoma T-shirt too!