Watch PARCO's 55th-Anniversary 'Happy Holidays Campaign' Visuals by Haruomi Hosono, Keiichi Tanaami & Naohiro Ukawa

Japanese retailer PARCO Co. Ltd. is celebrating the 55th anniversary of the PARCO shopping complex with a special name featuring a musician Haruomi Hosonothe late visual artist Keiichi Tanaami — who died in August at age 88 — and his first disciple Naohiro Ukawa.

Carrying on his mentor's legacy, Ukawa directed the HAPPY HOLIDAYS Campaign that also marks Hosono's 55 years in music, with an epic historical mandala blending rare photos from his childhood through to his works with Happy End, YMO, and up to the present day with the iconic motifs and characters by the internationally acclaimed artist and graphic designer Keiichi Tanaami.

“I feel greatly honored to have been asked to participate in this memorable 55th anniversary of PARCO as creative director,” says Ukawa. “This project is a cultural mandala that visually fuses artwork by my mentor Keiichi Tanaami, who passed away suddenly shortly after his 88th birthday, with the historical transition of Haruomi Hosono, who also miraculously celebrated his 55th anniversary in the same year as PARCO. The history of PARCO, which has continued to lead the pop avant-garde culture of Japan since its period of rapid economic growth, resonates with the 55 years of time flowing through this mandala, and a cultural mantra emerges… This visual world has a three-dimensional structure with a complex interweaving of such multiverses.”

Ukawa also serves as creative director for the commercial that celebrates Hosono's 55-year music history using generative AI technology to bring photos and Tanaami's signature motifs to life, accompanied by Hosono's original music and narration to ring in a special holiday season.

“By some amazing coincidence, my music career began in the same year that PARCO was founded, 55 years ago,” says Hosono. “I prayed for 'Happy Holidays' while composing this music.”