All things are designed.
We want to connect with the world through creativity that transcends conventional boundaries.
“What does alpha do as a company?” This is a question I often receive. Yet, even I am not entirely sure. We create products, design interiors, and produce print and web materials. In short, we do a variety of things.
While we may be commonly perceived as a PR company, that is merely the end of our process. We ultimately promote what we have developed and created, ensuring that it reaches the public's awareness. Our strength lies in our ability to direct seamlessly from upstream to downstream, enabling us to carry out effective PR in conjunction with our creative work.
What we hold dear is the essential aspect. For instance, when there’s a delicious cup of coffee before us, we may not possess the skills to brew it ourselves. However, we can direct the experience. We consider how to enhance it beautifully, stylishly, and intriguingly. Yet, we don’t want to limit our ideas. The moment we confine them, we believe that the essence of what we do loses its charm.
We hold the belief that “all things are designed.” And when it comes to the things we create, we do not wish for them to be consumed wastefully. This is why we approach direction with a clear and consistent concept, carefully crafting a coherent path. In pursuit of excellence, we sometimes bring external creators into our team alongside our own staff. This orchestration itself is part of the design process.
If something intriguing arises, we are eager to explore it, both domestically and internationally. We want to generate new ideas continuously, without relying on existing methodologies, and turn them into something even more unique. Ideally, through these efforts, we hope to connect with people around the world. There are countless ways to achieve this, which is why we aim to approach things from multiple angles, without defining alpha as any one thing. That is how I see it.
History Personal History of Takayuki Minami
-
1996
He joined H.P.FRANCE and was instrumental in launching CANNABIS, FACTORY, and Sleeping Forest, where he was involved in all aspects of buying and creative direction.
2008
After leaving H.P.FRANCE, he established alpha as an independent venture.
As an external director for 1LDK, he directed the opening of 1LDK Nakameguro, which led to the launch of several other stores across Japan.2011
1LDK annex (Nagoya), 1LDK aoyama heights. (Aoyama)
2012
1LDK apartments. (Nakameguro), 1LDK for NEW LAND (Kumagaya)
2013
1LDK/DEPOT. (Omotesando)2012
He founded alpha.co.ltd. In addition to the PR department, which handles PR for various domestic and international brands, he officially launched a direction department that not only directs shops but also provides brand consulting, spatial design, and event organization.
He began activities for FreshService, aiming for free expression, and as the first initiative, collaborated with THE CONRAN SHOP to create a limited-time shop. Since then, he has continued to work in various locations.
He directed everything from store design to procurement for BEST PACKING STORE (Nakameguro), nOOKSTORE (Daikanyama), and M.I.U. (Meguro). -
2014
He resigned from his position as the director of 1LDK.
As a curator, he handled the BANANA REPUBLIC POP-UP SHOP three times a year.
He directed the store design and procurement for PLST GRAND TREE MUSASHIKOSUGI.
He also designed the staff uniforms for THE FARM Universal in Osaka.2015
He opened Graphpaper, a select shop that also functions as a gallery.
He worked on the interior design of THE RERACS office and THE RERACS FITTING HOUSE.
With the arrival of the U.S. brand Need Supply Co. in Japan, he was appointed director of Need Supply Japan. He was involved in store design, procurement, and overall branding. The first store opened in Shoto on October 9, and the second store opened in Kumamoto on November 28. -
2016
He opened FreshService STOCKROOM in CREARE Nadya Park, Sakae, Nagoya.
2018
On March 29, Yurindo, a long-established bookstore, opened a new concept shop called HIBIYA CENTRAL MARKET on the 3rd floor of Tokyo Midtown Hibiya, with creative director Takayuki Minami as the producer.
FreshService's new concept shop, FreshService headquarters, which serves as the central hub for the brand, opened on April 7 in Jingumae.
2019
The third Graphpaper store, Graphpaper SENDAI, opened on February 16 in Aoba Ward, Sendai City.
On March 8, the curation-style select shop Graphpaper Aoyama, which was established in 2015, reopened after expanding its floor space.
FreshService headquarters, located in Jingumae and serving as the main hub for FreshService, reopened after an expansion on July 25. -
2020
FreshService STOCKROOM, based in Nagoya, relocated and reopened inside Nagoya JACK IN THE BOX.
He worked on the store design for JOHN LAWRENCE SULLIVAN and M.I.U. Nº2, located inside Shibuya Parco, which had its grand opening on Friday, November 22, 2019.
Kyoto’s long-established coffee roaster, Ogawa Coffee, opened its flagship store, OGAWA COFFEE LABORATORY, in Sakura-Shinmachi, Setagaya Ward. He supervised the entire project, from interior design to equipment selection.
2021
The web shop Graphpaper Framework, which exclusively offers Graphpaper's basic line, opened on February 19. A limited-time showroom was also available, allowing customers to touch and try on all items displayed on the site.
Following the OGAWA COFFEE LABORATORY in Sakura-Shinmachi, a second store opened in Shimokitazawa, themed differently as a hands-on bean salon.
He stepped down as director of HIBIYA CENTRAL MARKET in December 2021.
A gallery named "hakushi," which extracts the functionality of an art space from Graphpaper Aoyama, opened.2022
The new concept store Ogawa Coffee Sakaimachi Nishiki opened, and he supervised the entire project once again.
FreshService headquarters relocated and reopened in Jingumae, with the simultaneous addition of Gallery 85.4. -
2023
Following Graphpaper NAGOYA, he opened a new mixed-use shop in Sangubashi on June 3rd (Saturday), which includes its first flagship store in Tokyo. It features a shop-in-shop in collaboration with Copenhagen's FRAMA, which originated at Graphpaper NAGOYA. It also includes a salon space exclusive to Tokyo, where customers can pattern-order jackets and trousers that symbolize Graphpaper, as well as shirts from THOMAS MASON. On the first floor, there is a corner stand named Yose, conceptualized as a gathering space featuring curated offerings from various regions across the country. A new label, Vektor shop® is also part of the shop, serving as a platform for disseminating new culture through the sale of merchandise, records, and art books.
-
1996
He joined H.P.FRANCE and was instrumental in launching CANNABIS, FACTORY, and Sleeping Forest, where he was involved in all aspects of buying and creative direction.
2008
After leaving H.P.FRANCE, he established alpha as an independent venture.
As an external director for 1LDK, he directed the opening of 1LDK Nakameguro, which led to the launch of several other stores across Japan.2011
1LDK annex (Nagoya), 1LDK aoyama heights. (Aoyama)
2012
1LDK apartments. (Nakameguro), 1LDK for NEW LAND (Kumagaya)
2013
1LDK/DEPOT. (Omotesando)2012
He founded alpha.co.ltd. In addition to the PR department, which handles PR for various domestic and international brands, he officially launched a direction department that not only directs shops but also provides brand consulting, spatial design, and event organization.
He began activities for FreshService, aiming for free expression, and as the first initiative, collaborated with THE CONRAN SHOP to create a limited-time shop. Since then, he has continued to work in various locations.
He directed everything from store design to procurement for BEST PACKING STORE (Nakameguro), nOOKSTORE (Daikanyama), and M.I.U. (Meguro). -
2014
He resigned from his position as the director of 1LDK.
As a curator, he handled the BANANA REPUBLIC POP-UP SHOP three times a year.
He directed the store design and procurement for PLST GRAND TREE MUSASHIKOSUGI.
He also designed the staff uniforms for THE FARM Universal in Osaka.2015
He opened Graphpaper, a select shop that also functions as a gallery.
He worked on the interior design of THE RERACS office and THE RERACS FITTING HOUSE.
With the arrival of the U.S. brand Need Supply Co. in Japan, he was appointed director of Need Supply Japan. He was involved in store design, procurement, and overall branding. The first store opened in Shoto on October 9, and the second store opened in Kumamoto on November 28. -
2016
He opened FreshService STOCKROOM in CREARE Nadya Park, Sakae, Nagoya.
2018
On March 29, Yurindo, a long-established bookstore, opened a new concept shop called HIBIYA CENTRAL MARKET on the 3rd floor of Tokyo Midtown Hibiya, with creative director Takayuki Minami as the producer.
FreshService's new concept shop, FreshService headquarters, which serves as the central hub for the brand, opened on April 7 in Jingumae.2019
The third Graphpaper store, Graphpaper SENDAI, opened on February 16 in Aoba Ward, Sendai City.
On March 8, the curation-style select shop Graphpaper Aoyama, which was established in 2015, reopened after expanding its floor space.
FreshService headquarters, located in Jingumae and serving as the main hub for FreshService, reopened after an expansion on July 25. -
2020
FreshService STOCKROOM, based in Nagoya, relocated and reopened inside Nagoya JACK IN THE BOX.
He worked on the store design for JOHN LAWRENCE SULLIVAN and M.I.U. Nº2, located inside Shibuya Parco, which had its grand opening on Friday, November 22, 2019.
Kyoto’s long-established coffee roaster, Ogawa Coffee, opened its flagship store, OGAWA COFFEE LABORATORY, in Sakura-Shinmachi, Setagaya Ward. He supervised the entire project, from interior design to equipment selection.2021
The web shop Graphpaper Framework, which exclusively offers Graphpaper's basic line, opened on February 19. A limited-time showroom was also available, allowing customers to touch and try on all items displayed on the site.
Following the OGAWA COFFEE LABORATORY in Sakura-Shinmachi, a second store opened in Shimokitazawa, themed differently as a hands-on bean salon.
He stepped down as director of HIBIYA CENTRAL MARKET in December 2021.
A gallery named "hakushi," which extracts the functionality of an art space from Graphpaper Aoyama, opened.2022
The new concept store Ogawa Coffee Sakaimachi Nishiki opened, and he supervised the entire project once again.
FreshService headquarters relocated and reopened in Jingumae, with the simultaneous addition of Gallery 85.4. -
2023
Following Graphpaper NAGOYA, he opened a new mixed-use shop in Sangubashi on June 3rd (Saturday), which includes its first flagship store in Tokyo. It features a shop-in-shop in collaboration with Copenhagen's FRAMA, which originated at Graphpaper NAGOYA. It also includes a salon space exclusive to Tokyo, where customers can pattern-order jackets and trousers that symbolize Graphpaper, as well as shirts from THOMAS MASON. On the first floor, there is a corner stand named Yose, conceptualized as a gathering space featuring curated offerings from various regions across the country. A new label, Vektor shop® is also part of the shop, serving as a platform for disseminating new culture through the sale of merchandise, records, and art books.