Shinohara Tomoe, from popular ’90s TV talent to communications design entrepreneur

Shinohara Tomoe will be remembered for being the teenager with multi-colored clothes, talked with an annoying style and often a spazz onscreen.  It was a phenomenon as others copied her style known as “Shinora”.

That was then, this is now…Shinohara who designed her own clothing and accessories, would take that skill and put it into her dream job.

In fact, Shinohara graduated from Bunka Women’s University Junior College, Department of Clothing, Fashion Creative Course, Design Department.

Shinohara married Ikezawa Tatsuki, an art director three years ago and the two would start their own company and work together. And now they both run the successful communications design business, STUDEO.

Shinohara told Chanto Web in an interview in regards to designing, “I liked it. I started by making clothes for dolls myself, and when I was in junior high school, I saw fashion magazines and fashion newsletters on TV, learned the names of designers, and made clothes on my own. Although I could learn design in high school, I didn’t have a fashion department to learn sewing, so the university decided to go to a place with a fashion department. At the same time as I wanted to live a life of design, I was very pleased with the debut and the work that came out, so my dreams were always moving at the same time”.

But how is it working with your other half?  Shinohara said in a recent interview with “With Online”, “My theory is that even if a couple fights 10 times, they only have to make up 10 times. That’s why I try to convey what I’m thinking and listen to the other person’s story. My husband, who I got married three years ago, is an art director and we set up a company and work together. Opinions may conflict, but I feel that he advises me because I want to make something good, and I respect him as an artist, so I listen to my husband’s words obediently. I do it. Even if there is an argument, there are more words than “I’m sorry” for my family. For example, “What do you do with rice?” Or “Would you like to go somewhere?” When it comes to housework, I’m doing what I can. He’s more meticulous, so he cleans it when he notices it. I’m in charge of cooking, but when I don’t have time, I only make simple dishes and rely on delivery”.

Shinohara continued, “There are many women who work hard, so you may think that you have to make a different menu every day or make a lot of items, but the other party does not want much. In order to know that, it may be important to convey your feelings, listen to the requests from the other side, and make suggestions. In the case of my home, it became easier after the negotiations were concluded with ‘Is it okay to continue the same menu because I am busy and I don’t have time to cook rice?’ If you don’t convey your situation and feelings in words, you won’t be able to move the other person’s heart. This is the same as a work presentation. In the end, both work and marital relationships may be successful if we put each other’s thoughts and wishes into words and rub them together. My husband taught me that letters are the basis of design, and I started learning calligraphy. It’s a good time to study and it’s an important time to moisturize your life”.

Shinohara is in charge of designing and supervising hotel uniforms at the accommodation facility “OMO7 Osaka by Hoshino Resorts”, which opened in April 2022.

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