Fashion Designer Junko Koshino Reflects on Her Friendship with Singer Katsura Tokiko and Lyricist Yukawarei Koichiro

Fashion designer Junko Koshino has shared her reflections on her long-standing friendship with singer-songwriter Katsura Tokiko and lyricist Yukawarei Koichiro, describing how three accomplished artists from different fields have remained connected by shared creative values. Despite pursuing entirely different professions and possessing distinct personalities, Koshino explains that the trio is unified by a common artistic drive—the desire to create something new and share it with the world, always considering how to bring joy and emotion to as many people as possible. This shared creative spirit, rooted in what Koshino calls their "artist souls," has sustained their bond over decades.

Koshino recalled the early days of her career and the surprising connections that predated her formal friendship with Tokiko. While working as a young designer in the Nishi-Azabu neighborhood, Koshino lived in an apartment managed by a Russian family, where she developed a love of Russian cuisine, particularly pirojki. This led her to visit a restaurant called Sugaree in Shinjuku, which she later discovered was opened by Tokiko's parents during the era when Russian folk songs were popular in listening bars. Unaware of this connection at the time, Koshino and Tokiko eventually became close friends and later recorded a magazine interview together at the restaurant. Koshino emphasizes that this early coincidence suggested their friendship was somehow destined from the beginning.

Koshino also paid tribute to Yukawarei's substantial contributions to Japanese popular music as a prolific lyricist who created numerous hit songs and nurtured emerging musical talents throughout her career. Known for her gracious demeanor, rich imagination, and eloquent command of language, Yukawarei has consistently used her craft to express new worlds and ideas. Through Yukawarei, Koshino was introduced to singer Keiji Kawashima, whose peace-themed song "Ima-jin" impressed her greatly. Koshino has featured Kawashima as a model in her fashion shows and invited him to perform.

While acknowledging that their trio might be described as "intense," Koshino characterizes their friendship with affection and humor, reflecting on their shared laughter whenever they meet. The three women have maintained their bond despite seeing each other less frequently in recent years, a testament to the deep artistic connection they established decades ago. Koshino's account reveals how artistic ambition and the pursuit of creative excellence can form the foundation of enduring personal relationships that transcend professional boundaries.