The History of NOWHERE | JUN TAKAHASHI (UNDER COVER) & NIGO (A BATHING APE)

The year NOWHERE completely shut its doors was the same year I was born in Japan. I never experienced Harajuku in the ’90s, but since high school I’ve always looked up to Hiroshi Fujiwara, Nigo, and Jun Takahashi. In less than a decade, they gave Japanese youth new perspectives, new culture, and a new spirit one that still lives on today. Even though I wasn’t there, I feel I’ve inherited that energy and I want to pass it on to my generation and the next.

Special thanks to the creators whose visuals and archives made this video possible:
@Life is FASHION by AKIRA (NOWHERE images)
@vanitasism (Nigo interviews)
@OUIOUI (Jun Takahashi interviews)
@SABUKARU (Last Orgy)
@GQJapan (quotes)
and the countless contributions across YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, and archives.

1. April 1, 1993 – NOWHERE opens in Ura-Harajuku
2. November 3, 1993 – Store renovated and redesigned
3. January 15, 1994 – Sister store anywhere opens in Sendai
4. April 1, 1994 – 1st anniversary (release of T-shirt & frayed coach jacket)
5. Summer 1994 – Pop-up store Somewhere appears only at club events
6. September 1, 1994 – NOWHERE LTD. opens (focused on UNDERCOVER)
7. March 1995 – NOWHERE LTD. renovated
8. Spring 1995 – Exterior of NOWHERE redesigned
9. March 1995 – Photos show the store interior at the time
10. April 1, 1995 – 2nd anniversary (anniversary book & T-shirt)
11. August 30, 1995 – Original NOWHERE closes
12. September 1995 – NOWHERE LTD. closes
13. October 13, 1995 – NOWHERE reopens at a new location in Harajuku
14. April 1, 1996 – 3rd anniversary (commemorative soda can)
15. November 1996 – anywhere store renovated
16. February 21, 1997 – NOWHERE interior renovated again
17. April 1, 1997 – 4th anniversary (Hiroshi Fujiwara design T-shirt)
18. April 1, 1998 – 5th anniversary (commemorative T-shirt)
19. April 1, 1999 – 6th anniversary (box set release)
20. May 1, 1999 – NOWHERE relocates to Aoyama
21. 2000 – NOWHERE closes permanently; founders shift focus to BAPE (Nigo) and UNDERCOVER (Jun Takahashi)