Yoshikazu Yamagata (山縣良和)

Hirofumi Kurino／栗野 宏文（United Arrows Senior Adviser and Creative Advisor）

Individuals who will carry the future of Japanese fashion are trained at coconogacco. Fashion does not only include clothes and appearance, but also the way people feel, the way they think, and the communication with the world itself. In other words, learning fashion means learning what is important as a human being. I have been a judge of graduation shows at fashion schools such as Antwerp Academy in Belgium, Royal College of Art in London, and Polimoda in Florence. I have witnessed many debuts of new designers. I think that coconogacco is at a level that is comparative to these schools and it may even be pursuing deeper areas. From 'coco' (here) 'no' (of) 'gacco' (school), the school of here or now, outstanding talents are being grown into the future of our world.

Masao Morita／森田 真生（Independent Scholar）

From my perspective, Yamagata-san’s life work concentrates on taking the chaos of the world towards life and creation rather than destruction and death. Contrary to its progressivity, his creations also have a certain primitiveness similar to the ancient mythical world. I look forward to the day when the students sprout out of coconogacco, the “kuragenasu tadayoeru konton” (uncongealed, transparent shape shifting jellyfish) like an “ashikiba” (reed). (In reference to “Kojiki”)

Sarah Mower（US Vogue Contributing Editor and Ambassador for Emerging Talent for the British Fashion Council）

In my job as a fashion journalist, I am always looking to discover young talent. It is even better, and more meaningful, when that talent comes in the form of a movement. Isolated designers are often very interesting, but they are hard to find, and it is often very difficult for them to operate alone, without support. So I was very excited when Hirofumi Kurino introduced me to Yoshi Yamagata and his school a year ago. I have been waiting and wondering why young Japanese designers have not been appearing, at least to western eyes, for such a long time. After Undercover and Sacai, it's hard to name any Japanese label we know about. Now, I am sure that Coconogacco is going to generate a whole new determination to act together, exchange ideas and speak to the world. The thinking amongst these students seems to me refreshing, emotionally honest and personal. I like the feeling that there both dreamy idealism and hard-core realistic work ethic behind it, and that the graduates want to say something through clothes, performance, and telling their stories. I hope we will hear very much more about that in Europe and America, and that Coconogacco will soon be in everyone's minds as the new movement which tells the world how young Japanese people are feeling.