NEIGHBORHOOD's Shinsuke Takizawa Talks about Motorcycle Culture and Harajuku Neighbors

Seeing as the Japanese brand NEIGHBORHOOD takes inspiration from American heritage, it makes sense that its founder Shinsuke Takizawa delves into his love of Motorcycle culture among other topics when BELIEF Moscow sat down with him for an exclusive interview. “Motorcycle culture seems like a good representation, but for me it is rather vintage here that I really care about.” And Vintage is what’s made apparent when visiting a NEIGHBORHOOD store; traditional Americana aesthetics that nods at iconic Motorbike makers such as Harley Davidson and Indian Motorcycle. Quick yet enlightening for any NEIGHBORHOOD fan, the following BELIEF Moscow’s interview concisely reveals the brand name’s history and the importance of the “hand-made” era.

What is the story behind the name “NEIGHBORHOOD”? How it was born?
The story goes back to 1994 between myself and a few friends of mine that studied at Harajuku. It was just a sort of “neighborhood” for us. When I reflect now on what neighborhood meant, it was what Harajuku was for us at the time.

So essentially, Harajuku neighbors made the NEIGHBORHOOD?
Yes.

If we talk about bikes as an element of aesthetics and the philosophy of 
NEIGHBORHOOD, what are the bikes, the era in the motorbike production and
 culture that NEIGHBORHOOD is most closely related to?
That is a simple yet very difficult question. Motorcycle culture seems like a good representation, but for me it is really vintage that I care about. Why vintage? For example, at the time a bike was really a bike, it was the most authentic in the way it was made. I not only like bikes, but all things, products, industrial products that were more “human-made” and people really cared for what they did. So, I feel more warmth in vintage for those reasons.

What are your top five favorite motorcycle models?
• Harley Davidson 1936 EL
• Indian Motorcycle 1939 Inline 4
• Crocker Motorcycle Hemihead Small Tank
• Brough Superior SS100
• Vincent Black Lightning