Located on the 8th floor of the Isetan Shinjuku Men's Building, Salon de Shimaji is more than just a bar. Across the hallway, there's a select shop next door that embodies Shimaji's aesthetic. In Part 2, we'll focus on his carefully selected items. "Everything here is my personal favorite. My customers buy my absolute favorites, like this TRUEFITT & HILL grooming set." A corner designed to resemble a study features Shimaji's personal humidor (a box for storing cigars), along with Smythson notebooks and Pelikan pens. Other items on offer include cosmetics, clothing, bags, accessories, books, and even whiskey. Apparently, Shimaji sometimes guides customers from Salon de Shimaji to the shop and personally serves them.
"My cosmetics are Shiseido Men. What's interesting is that the regulars at the bar buy Shiseido Men here and compete with each other to see who has the best skin condition. My planner is Smythson. Smythson is a British stationery brand. The theme color here is Nile Blue, and I love this matte, pale blue," he says, and the conversation flowed one after the other as he talked about his favorite products.
To allow his fans to experience his style at home, the "Salon de Shimaji Set" (14,700 yen) was released last year, which allows customers to make Salon de Shimaji's classic "Spicy Highball" at home. It's a "full-featured set" (Shimaji) that includes Talisker 10 Year Old, tonic soda, a pair of glasses, pepper and millet, and 12 "quote coasters" with messages such as "Poisonous snakes are not in a hurry," all housed in Shimaji's beloved blue box.
At the bar, you can talk directly with Shimaji about the "authentic" items he carries in his shop.
"How do you find good things? It's simple. By spending. Spending and spending... and then you'll soon know that good things are good things. Your taste will be refined and you'll become a better connoisseur than an antique dealer."
Shimaji says that his own books are the best-selling items at Salon de Shimaji. The second issue of the literary magazine "Magna Carta," edited by Shimaji, will be released on March 20th, and his third collection of essays, "A Red Riding on Other People's Hair," will be released on March 28th.
