Souvenirs from the Backstage Vol.1 Igarashi Mune (Ginza Sony Park Staff)

2025.8.25

Photo： Yuco Nakamura

Illustrator： Mame Ikeda

Edit： Yuri Sudo

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It's not just the performers who create the public stage. Television, movies, media, books, events, and much more. Behind the glittering things in the world, there are always people working behind the scenes. Gifts play a part in the work of these people behind the scenes. If the gift is delicious and suited to the person and the situation, it will boost morale on set and make business go more smoothly. In this series, we ask people behind the scenes to tell us about the best gifts they can bring.
Our first guest is Munemitsu Igarashi of Ginza Sony Park, the man behind the witty special exhibitions.

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Muneshige Igarashi

He is responsible for the design and planning of "Ginza Sony Park" and "Sony Park Mini." He has also worked on merchandise and wine label designs for "Winestand Waltz" and "Le cabaret" in Ebisu, Tokyo.

Instagram: ＠igrss

The three main items at this store.

My recommended souvenirs are three kinds of sweets from "MERCI BAKE." I'm friendly with the owner, Shota Tashiro, and all the staff at "MERCI BAKE," so it's a shop I visit whenever I have the chance to buy sweets. Actually, I'm not a big fan of sweets, so I go there just to see the staff and pick up something while I'm there.

Perhaps because of the store's location at Shoin Shrine, there are many people who know about the store but are unable to visit frequently, so they will be truly happy if you give them this as a souvenir.

The lineup of sweets available in store changes depending on the season, but to me, the rare cheesecake, latte, and carrot cake are somehow the store's three most popular items.

When I give this set of three sakes, which has a harmonious balance of sweetness, sourness, and aroma, as a gift, the recipient usually fights over it. I am very happy to see such a peaceful dispute.

Clockwise from the left: Carrot cake 490 yen, Rare cheesecake 500 yen, Latte jar 580 yen (seasonal)

Speaking of which, when I worked with stylist Akio Hasegawa some time ago, I gave him a tin of cookies from "MERCI BAKE" as a thank you, thinking that he probably hadn't been there before. I didn't ask him what he thought of them, but I'm sure he enjoyed them. I hope so.

A culture that makes everyone happy.

When choosing a gift, like "MERCI BAKE," I try to choose something from a store where I can see the faces of the people working there. That way, I can give it to the recipient with more confidence. I also often choose gifts that I eat regularly or that I use regularly.

If the characters try to look cool by choosing something they wouldn't normally buy just because it's a gift, and it turns out to be bad, then all the characters will be unhappy.

As for gifts I've received in the past, last year when we planned a collaboration program with (NO) RAISIN SANDWICH, created by Hirano Sakiko, at Sony Park Mini, a smaller version of Ginza Sony Park, Sakiko herself brought a large number of rice balls as a gift when we were setting up.

I believe the rice balls were from Teto Tewo, a rice ball specialty store in Komazawa, and I was really impressed that he brought such delicious rice balls as a gift to a site that requires physical labor such as setting up the building. He is truly the epitome of appetite.

Looking back, I think that gifts are not only a joy for the recipient, but also for the person choosing them. I spend happy and joyful moments pondering which store to buy from, and browsing the various options in the store. Gift giving is a culture that makes everyone happy.