Central Apartment
Central Apartment (原宿セントラルアパート) was initially an apartment complex built in Harajuku in 1958 at the intersection of Meiji-dori. It was initially built for special travelers like US military personnel. [1]
In the mid 1960s/early 1970s, the lower floors were converted into stores with offices in the upper apartment floors.[1] It's suggested that the 1964 Tokyo Olympics influenced this change. [2] Many creative people like photographers, writers, and illustrators moved in and it became a hub for creative individuals. [1][2]
The Coffee shop Leon on the first floor was a popular spot with creative people.[1] There were also shops like Mademoiselle Nonnon launced by designer Taro Aramaki which sold French style clothing and lots of horizontal stripes. Mademoiselle Nonnon is considered to be the source of the border (horizontal stripe) trend in Japan.[2]
In 1970, Hitomi Okawa opened the first shop of MILK on the first floor of Central Apartment.
Central Apartment was demolished in 1998 and Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku is now built in the place where Harajuku Central Apartment used to be.[2]
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Harajuku Central Apartment". Wikipedia Japan.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "昔は良かったよね、って言いたくない！ ファッションインジャパン展からみる原宿ファッションの歴史といま". Oishi Ran.
