Q: What are the inspirations behind your latest collections?

Ooparts ( which stands for Out of Place Artifact ) is a central theme in the new collections. For example, one wouldn't expect to find a gold totem in the shape of an airplane in an Incan archaeological site. When I proposed my ideas to the team at Puma I presented them with what looked like an academic paper. It was meant to detail the discovery or excavation of a sneaker like object at an ancient site or ruin. In a sense it would frame the sneaker as an artifact, not as a modern invention. I then showed them a mock up of the Puma logo as crop circles or land carvings similar to those at Nazca in Peru.

For the fall collection I looked to the idea of a Humanoid. It's not exactly an android but rather a Humanoid, or an unfinished robot. The construction of the shoes reflects this idea in that they are not glued to ones body. The story I brought up for this particular collection is that of a Robot who is instructed to go on an errand for his creator. He walks through a park where kids notice the robot and ask him, "why are you not wearing any shoes?", the robot does not have an understanding of the word "shoe". It is then input into his brain and he then returns to his creator with the desire to wear shoes. So essentially what comes across is is the idea of an unfinished being.

Right now there is so much focus shed on the collaboration between fashion and sport. I wanted to put some non-fashion elements into my collaboration with Puma. I wanted to bring in elements outside of fashion into the pieces. I'm personally very interested in subcultures, and evolving cultures. They are something I look to quite often.

Q: Outside of fashion, what other disciplines of design do you gain inspiration from?

I am interested in production/industrial design, i.e cars, appliances and such. as they have real everyday importance and use.

Q: Being a Japanese designer do you see yourself as continuing down the path of traditional Japanese arts and crafts as practiced by Shokunin ( Japanese artisans )? What importance does your heritage play in your designs?

To me it as importance to have a continued flow from the past present and future. I work directly with puma which is a german company - and i myself have my own brand in Japan. So I'd like to input the Japanese elements into these collaborations whether it be shoes or clothing. I'm interested in incorporating traditonal Japanese dyeing techniques in the production process, but i dont wish to merely rely on old, traditional processes, im more interested in creating something new.

I spent 18 months working with craftsmen learning to hand carve traditional wooden shoe molds by hand so that i could gain an intimate understanding of the production process. That's something that influenced me greatly.

Before I started working with Puma I did a lot of research into the histroy and DNA of Puma. I feel an obligation to show in the end product something more than just a collaboration - but rather an infusing of ideas and traditions. Now-a-days people use the term "collaboration" all the time. But when I first started working with puma I hadn't really heard that word ( pertaining to fashion ) . I'd rather look at my involvement with puma as a Chemistry. It's more organic than one would think - and sometimes my work leads me to create something that i hadn't envisioned and that's exciting.

Q: The designs of the shoes are very structural – It's apparent that there is a lot of importance in the form and structure of the shoe whilst they still maintain a very distinct visual appeal. What holds more importance for you the form or the function of the shoe?

I look at construction and aesthetic at the same time. To me there are two types of comfort i keep in mind when designing - one is wearability - in that the shoe doesnt cause pain, and positively affects the wearer. But I also think about mental comfort so that the wearer doesnt look down and see a horribly designed shoe which makes them feel bad about wearing them. (insert laughs )

Q: Speak about the new limited edition Puma Mihara book you've just released...Tell us about some of the artists involved. What was the main idea behind the creation of this book, are there any narrative threads explored here ?

We spoke earlier about the importance of maintaining a continuity from past to present and future, but often times when people speak about japanese cutlture they reference older traditions like kabuki, ikebana, calligraphy and at times manga may be mentioned - but that's relatively new. So the artists I worked with on this project all work within the context of the Japanese tradition ( cultural arts ) but bring new life to it and find new ways to express themselves to it through their work. Likewise in working with puma - the idea is that one wears sneakers or shoes so that one can venture out - go outside and challenge oneself. Wearing shoes to me is like a challenge in a sense that one is preparing to venture into an unknown. I approach my projects in much the same way.

Q: Speak to whats next for you- will you be jumping to the next collection or anything entirely different?

I'm thinking of new projects - but in terms of "what" - I havent given it much thought. A lot of my friends now have kids. I dont personally have any children yet but I'd like to design something for children. Possibly a play ground or child seat or baby stroller. I'm studying the structures and meaning of those objects and seeing where it takes me...