Over the past year, FASHION HEADLINE has had many valuable opportunities to interview a wide variety of people, from designers and creators to actresses and idols, to hear about their passions and passions, their outlook on life, their philosophy, and even their future plans. So, on the final day of the New Year, we've compiled a selection of interviews that we hope you'll take the time to read. Please take a look.

■Fumi Nikaido x Yoshie Itabashi of Candy Stripper Talk "My Roots. My Heartbeat"
Fashion brand Candy Stripper, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2015, has collaborated with Fumi Nikaido to announce the new brand, FUMI NIKAIDO "Roots" Candy Stripper. Nikaido describes this special collaboration as, "This is my roots. This is my heartbeat," and we're sharing a double talk with Yoshie Itabashi, designer of Candy Stripper.

■Why is The Pool Aoyama at Shinjuku Isetan? Inside the Mind of Fujiwara Hiroshi
In June, a pop-up store for "The Pool," directed by Fujiwara Hiroshi, was held at Isetan Shinjuku. This was the first and last pop-up store for "The Pool Aoyama," a limited-edition concept space that truly embodies Tokyo, which announced its closure next spring after only two years in business. One year after the launch of The Pool Aoyama, we took a peek inside Fujiwara Hiroshi's mind.

■Before the Fashion Momoiro Clover Z was Born -- Idols Reflect the Times, Too
Just as fashion reflects the times, perhaps idols also tell the story of the times. On a certain day in January 2015, the members of Momoiro Clover Z appeared at a studio in Tokyo to shoot the Spring/Summer 2015 image visuals for "PINK HOUSE." The brand, celebrating its 30th anniversary, opened a pop-up shop titled "PINK HOUSE—flower shower, eternal girlhood" in February at the TOKYO Kaihoku (Tokyo Liberation Zone) on the second floor of the main building of Isetan Shinjuku. Momoiro Clover Z members were chosen as muses to herald the arrival of spring. How does Momoiro Clover Z reflect the fashion of today?

■Food essayist Sakiko Hirano, DJ Misoshiru, and MC Gohan discuss "Miscellaneous Information About Shinjuku's Food"
Tokyo is a city brimming with international flavor. Shinjuku, in particular, is one of those areas rich in variety. Shinjuku is packed with so many restaurants, it's difficult to narrow down your recommendations to just one. We spoke with foodie Sakiko Hirano, DJ Misoshiru, and MC Gohan at Shanghai Xiaochi, one of Kabukicho's most popular spots, about Shinjuku's food scene. ■Rhizomatiks' Daito Manabe on "The Fusion of Technology and Expression" Today, artists are creating more than just beautiful objects based on shape, material, and color. For example, they are also creating interactive, experiential works and new media that utilize technology, thereby recreating communication and community. We spoke with Daito Manabe, a globally active technology pioneer working in the fields of art, advertising, and entertainment, about the potential of technology and expression.

■Hermès "Petit H" -- Creativity is about dreaming and giving dreams. Pascal Mussard
In October, an exhibition and sale of Hermès' object collection "Petit H" was held at Shoseien Garden in Kyoto. We had the opportunity to speak to Pascal Mussard, artistic director of Petit H, who was visiting Japan for the event, in her beloved city of Kyoto. What is the meaning behind these unique objects, born from dialogue between artists, designers, and artisans?

■Why did Azuma Makoto open a flower shop in Shinjuku Isetan? Spreading the Value of Flowers to the World
"I don't have any particular goal. I just want to raise and spread the value of flowers. Not just at Isetan, but all over the world." In March, Azuma Makoto opened his first department store store, FLOWER OF ROMANCE, on the fifth floor of the Isetan Shinjuku store. Some may wonder why Azuma, who has stoically pursued flowers as haute couture for the past 15 years, decided to open a store in a department store. However, an interview with Azuma revealed that this store opening marks the beginning of the next step for Azuma.

■Yoshida Yo's Past and Future -- "Fashion Completes 80% of a Role"
Actress Yoshida Yo has portrayed numerous women's lives. "I love acting more than anything," says actress Yoshida Yo, and there is a dignified aura around her. However, her consideration for those around her and her gentle voice as she speaks, looking people in the eye, give the impression of a person of great character. What kind of woman does she admire? And what are her goals for next year?

■The beauty created by the fusion of technology and artisans would not be possible without Japanese craftsmanship --Artist Noritaka Tatehana
Tatehana's 3D-printed heelless shoes adorned the feet of models on the runway like glaciers piercing the cold sky. For the 2015 Autumn/Winter Paris Collection, designer Iris van Herpen, who sublimates cutting-edge technology into fashion, chose Noritaka Tatehana's heelless shoes. What does Tatehana mean by the fusion of Japanese craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology?

■Unravelling the trajectory of M/M(Paris) through posters from the past 20 years like a game
A poster exhibition by France-based creative duo M/M(Paris) was held in Shibuya in April. This is their first exhibition since "The Theatre Posters" in 2008, but why did they decide to hold such a poster exhibition in Japan? We spoke to Matthias Augustyniak of M/M(Paris), who was visiting Japan for the exhibition.

■Simone Rocha: "Flowers are like fashion"
Irish designer Simone Rocha is gaining more and more prominence every year. Her collection for the Spring/Summer 2015 season, featuring fresh red flowers reminiscent of chinoiserie, was particularly striking. We conducted an interview to unravel the relationship between Simone and the flowers that often play a central role in his creations.

■If Ernest Hemingway were alive today -- Yamashita Hirofumi x Kogure Masahiro
Yamashita Hirofumi is the man who worked as a buyer and press at Propeller, a shop that has become legendary in Harajuku street culture. In 2010, he launched his own brand, MOJITO. In this interview, he passionately discusses the brand with Kogure Masahiro, former editor-in-chief of MEN'S CLUB.