Asia's 1st Director-Designer & World's 1st Actor-Director-Designer
SØHØ: World's 1st Actor- Director Designer
Kansai Yamamoto coat over custom SØHØ hakama and antique samurai chest guard from the SØHØ Museum to depict a modern day Bodhidharma — the most iconic warrior monk in Asian history and the founder of Zen & Kung Fu as well as the cultural mascot of Japan and beloved symbol of Chinese and Korean heritage.
The Meaning of SØHØ
Named Named after Takuan Sōhō, the greatest Zen master in Japanese history and spiritual mentor to both the Tokugawa Shoguns and the legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, SØHØ is a world-renowned authority on Japanese culture, heritage, and spirituality. His deep knowledge has led him to lecture alongside professors and deans at over a dozen elite global institutions, including Harvard, Oxford, the University of Tokyo, and Seoul National University.
Furthermore, SØHØ is arguably the only individual in the world capable of freely quoting in Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit from the foundational texts of Asian civilization—the very scriptures utilized by the founding architects of classical Japan, from Prince Shōtoku to Kūkai, worn by the Samurai in their textiles and armor, and that fundamentally inspired the HaaT collection of Issey Miyake. SØHØ's core mission is to preserve this profound Asian heritage by presenting it in a cool, avant-garde, yet fiercely authentic manner to inspire present and future generations. Every aspect of his art exhibitions, cinema, and fashion is deliberately interconnected to foster immense pride in Asian heritage while cultivating cultural amity and deep cross-border ties between Japan, Korea, and China.
Kimono inspired SØHØ suit jacket over Victor & Rolf haute couture vest and House of Miyake trousers to represent SØHØ Couture's commitment to represent the best of Japanese heritage & archives for an uber exclusive clientele
As the world's first Actor-Director-Designer, SØHØ is pioneering fashion driven feature films on an unprecedented global scale. Further, while curating one of Japan's rarest fashion archives and honoring the masters of Japanese fashion, SØHØ couture is bringing something unique by adding authentic Samurai textiles and armour as well as modern manifestations of Samurai uniforms from the SØHØ Museum. With a presence in Tokyo, Kamakura and Gangnam, and having lived in London and Paris in his youth, SØHØ fosters pride in Asian culture, heritage & traditions via unique fashion, cinema, museum exhibits & speaking events that link the traditions and heritage of the East with the global appeal of the West.
SØHØ Couture
Custom SØHØ Signature Lambskin jacket inspired by Samurai Jinbaori and custom chain mail detail inspired by Samurai armour over a Comme des Garcon shirt promoting the free spirit that guides Rei Kawakubo's fashion mandate. With respect to Rei, Yohji, Issey, Kansai, Hysteric, Julius, Undercover and all of the Japanese legends, SØHØ is bringing something new to Japanese fashion by merging actual Samurai elements & textiles from the SØHØ Museum and also pioneering fashion cinema on a global scale that is unprecedented in history.
Repping Asians on Global Stage
In line with the mandate of Gandhi & Okakura Tenshin, and the example set by Kamakura literati like Kawabata who wore a Hakama to accept his Nobel prize, Kurosawa who wore a Hakama on his first overseas trip for the opening on London's National Theater and Ozu who wore a Hakama on many occasions including his nomination to the Japan Art Academy, SØHØ always wears Kimono and/orHakama at major events from the US Congress & meetings with Prime Ministers, Ambassadors, Generals and Ministers of Japan, Canada, India and the US to global forums like the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Righteous Among the Nations and Olympic & Paralympic Games. SØHØ's mission to preserve and promote Japanese culture and Pan-Asian heritage via cinema, fashion and couture is unique and peerless. Furthermore, SØHØ has been given unique permission from major Samurai clans to wear their official Kamon which is a high honor.
Fashion is not just how you look, but who you are
SØHØ has also used Bushido-themed events to raise millions for charity and has lectured on Samurai heroism and ideals at major forums earning praise and commendations from high ambassadors, Cabinet Ministers, Journalists and academics of Japan, USA, Canada, India and Israel. Furthermore, SØHØ has used his unique platform to combat hate and anti-semitism in the spirit of Sempo Sugihara and in unprecedented projects with the Simon Wiesenthal Center. Similarly, SØHØ was chosen by Japanese legend Surai Sasai to speak before a million people in India due to his expertise in Japanese culture —and also honored by the Head of Shaolin and Tiger Jeet Singh for his grasp over Samurai martial arts. SØHØ believes that art, fashion and cinema should uplift the spirit and guide humanity towards the positive ideals that lie at the heart of Asian and world civilization. Also, as Tokugawa Ieyasu wanted Japan to foster close ties with Korea —the land of Sejong, SØHØ maintains an office in Gangnam as well and has been welcome by Korea's biggest institutions from the National Parliament to the top Korean entertainment network Dongguk (encompasses Korean KPOP Royalty and film legends from Choi Min-sik to Lee Jung-jae). The founder's vision extends beyond couture, directing institutions that preserve and propagate Japanese and Asian heritage through diverse artistic, cinematic and scholarly endeavors.
SØHØ Couture
Soho Museum of Samurai Art
6pac Pan Asian Cinema
Avant-garde atelier and archivist of radical Japanese fashion. Please visit our 14 nation cinematic runway at FirstKpopFilm.com
Private museum dedicated to rare samurai artifacts and sacred textiles. Please visit SOHOMUSEUM.JP
Cinematic production house exploring luxury, fashion masters, and samurai history. Please visit 6PAC.JP & Shogunate.jp
