Akiyama:“After that, we decided to make something together, and as we talked more, I felt that we could create something really interesting. I’m not a designer. I’m more of a craftsman, so I’m better at making things than designing from scratch. Ideas need a spark or a hint. That’s why the WTAPS’ brand aesthetic as a hint for creating jewelry felt really meaningful to me. They didn’t just say, ‘Make this exactly as it is.’ After giving me the keywords, they left room for my own interpretation, so I could expand the ideas while imagining them, which was really fun.”

Akiyama:“Before I started making grills myself, I worked at a workshop that primarily made jewelry for women. It was there that I learned techniques for metalworking and gemstone processing. The owner of that workshop often said, ‘First, train your eye.’ He meant that you should be able to notice subtle inconsistencies that wouldn’t be apparent if a piece were perfectly finished—to develop an eye that can truly discern quality. At first, I didn’t understand what he meant, but after doing it for many years, I came to understand it myself. I trust the eye I developed there and always make sure not to overlook anything. I think that continues to form the standard of quality for GRILLZ JEWELZ and my own approach to making things.”

Akiyama:“Nowadays, it’s not unusual for idols to wear grills. The fact that it’s becoming more widespread isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but my own background is in hip-hop, and I’ve always tried to stay true to that. On the other hand, wallet chains were, until recently, not really something we would have considered, but now even US rappers use them regularly. In that sense, it’s a timely and very contemporary item. The base is a Miami Cuban link, a style similar to what’s known in Japan as ‘Kihei’. A classic, popular chain in the US. I thought it would be interesting to make a wallet chain using that style, so I suggested it myself.”

Akiyama:“The other badge originally started with the idea, ‘How about making a badge in silver?’ Honestly, my first thought was, ‘Can we even make something like that?’ But as we started creating samples, the form became appealing, and it eventually evolved into this final shape. It was a challenge based on a reference I had hardly ever seen before. There are so many things you only realize once you actually make something, and there were flashes of inspiration that wouldn’t have come from me alone, so the process of making it was truly enjoyable.”

Akiyama:“I’ve been making grills on my own and creating jewelry for over 20 years now. There’s a song by Ozrosaurus called ‘MABOROSI,’ and it’s about constantly chasing the visions you imagine… The lyrics say something like, ‘I don’t care who’s who, I’ve forgotten how to weave words, how to rhyme, how to write lyrics.’ I think what that means is that it’s no longer about consciously writing rap—it’s about letting whatever comes naturally flow into the music. Nowadays, those lyrics really resonate with me. I feel the same way now: I’m simply manifesting the images that exist within me, nothing more, nothing less.”