Deep in the Taito ward of Eastern Tokyo lies an unassuming shop, surrounded by bikes, lined with clothing racks, and marked by a small sign that reads: CCP (Crazy Character Print). Behind the sleek, cyclist-approved apparel of CCP stands Tsutomu Kijima, the mastermind whose commitment to producing smart and practical garments has made CCP a cult favorite among Tokyo's riders.
Kijima’s journey into fashion began as the youngest of five children, inspired by his older sister’s love of American records and fashion icons. At 12, he began buying his own clothes, igniting his interest in design. While studying at a design school, Kijima gained industry experience across various roles. In 1984, while working at Ozone Community, Kijima co-founded Hysteric Glamour with Nobuhiko Kitamura. After growing Hysteric Glamour for several years with Kitamura, and even launching the children’s sublabel Hysteric Glamour Mini, he decided to go independent.
Kijima then founded CCP in 1996 as a silk screen printing company, initially designing clubwear inspired by his love of techno, trance, and ambient music. Around the same time, he opened Global Chillage Tokyo, a Shibuya record shop popular amongst DJs where he also distributed Blueroom Minipod speakers. As Kijima and his team began commuting by bicycle, they discovered the joys of riding and identified a gap in the market for casual cycling apparel. This shift marked a turning point for CCP, as Kijima and team began pioneering cycling-oriented design.
The CCP team, led by Kijima and supported by Designer Sato, Press & Shop Manager Megumi, and others, is united by a deep love for riding. CCP embodies a philosophy of making only what they want to wear, not making what they don’t want, and producing only what is necessary. This approach, coupled with originality and quality to boot, has cemented CCP as one of the most genuine brands to come out of Japan.
