Portrait of a Hat Profile.19 Akio Otsuka

Tell me about when you started wearing hats.

I think it was when I was in high school. Knit cap don't really suit me, but when I bought a knit cap with a small brim at a shop somewhere, I thought, "Oh, it's quite decided." That was probably the first time I wore a hat out of fashion. Since then, I have been wearing more hats in private. At the store, I actually try it on my head and buy what I think is good. There is no particular shape, and even hat shops try on different styles, so it might be a nuisance for the shops (laughs).

Who would you like to wear a hat?

The hats of characters in movies, especially Western movies, leave an impression on me. I used to admire Humphrey Bogard's hat in "Casablanca". Even now, I can't help looking for hats in stores that left an impression on me in movies I've seen at work or in private. I was given the chance to voice Daisuke Jigen (Lupin III), and ever since the first season began on TV when I was in elementary school, I've been fascinated by it. If you were a boy who grew up in Japan, wouldn't you admire that hat and cigarette? I also think that Jigen's hat figure has been input somewhere.

Please tell me what you pay attention to when you wear a hat.

I have about 8 hats now, and I change them depending on my outfit and mood. It's to the extent that bright colors are cooler in summer. In my case, I choose a hat after deciding what to wear for the day. Even though there are 8, it's a rotation of 2 or 3 at most. The only thing I'm careful about when wearing a hat is to hold the top of the hat as much as possible so that I don't pinch it. You'll get shabby in no time. But I just do it out of habit (laughs).

Please tell me about the hat you are wearing today.

I bought this at CA4LA 's Daikanyama store 4 or 5 years ago. When it comes to hats, I don't really care about the brand, I choose a hat based on whether it matches my head, face, and atmosphere. This was a brand called KNOX (turning his hat inside out). Is it a bespoke model by CA4LA? I did not know. I wear this hat quite often. My favorite thing recently is COLLABORATION model I received from the production company after I started doing Jigen no Voice. At the time of recording? I have to wear headphones, so I can't do it while wearing a hat.

What does a hat mean to your life?

Until now, when I go out, I wear it almost all the time except when I go to the neighborhood, so it was like a partner. But I'm sure I'll get bald more and more (laughs), so from now on, I think I'll be your 'companion'.