FILE 01. Ribbon & Maki Yanagita / Daikanyama, Tokyo

柳田真樹 / 東京生まれ。スタイリスト

スタイリストの柳田真樹さんが暮らすのは、代官山の住宅街にある瀟洒なマンション。夫と2歳になる娘と暮らすその住まいは、彼女の好きな花や犬をモチーフにしたアイテムに囲まれていた。「小さな頃から、家に犬や猫がいるのが普通だった」という環境で育った柳田さん。しかし、結婚を機に動物のいない暮らしをはじめて経験。家に帰り、ドアを空けると小さな足音が駆け寄ってくる、そんな毎日を送っていた彼女にとって、ペットのいない生活は非日常そのもの。その違和感を埋める存在として10年前に飼い始めたのが、愛犬のリボンだ。お気に入りのソファから動こうとしないリボンを、柳田さんにお願いして散歩に連れ出してもらった。ブルドッグは暑さに弱い犬種。リボンの体調をケアしながら、氷水を片手に近所の「DAIKANYAMA T-SITE」までゆっくり歩く。平日にも関わらず多くの人で賑わう敷地を歩いていると、偶然出会った柳田さんの友人はもちろん、すれ違う人たちがその愛らしい姿に惹かれて、自然と声をかけてくる。「犬というよりも、もはや子どものような存在です」。そう言って柳田さんは笑う。散歩の帰り道、日射しを避けて逃げ込んだ日陰から、なかなか動こうとしないリボン。慣れた様子で、そっとそばに寄り添う柳田さんの姿に深い愛情を感じた。

Ribbon & Maki Yanagita / Stylist / Daikanyama, Tokyo

The stylist, Maki Yanagida lives in an upmarket apartment in the residential area of Daikanyama, Tokyo. The house where she lives with her husband and two year-old daughter is filled with her favorite flowers and item designed on a dog motif. "It was so natural that I had dog and cat around my house in my childhood", Ms. Yanagida said. However, after she got married, she experienced for the first time the life without a dog. When she came home, she used to hear the patter of little footsteps every day. To make up for that lost feeling, she started a new life with her bulldog Ribon. We asked Ms. Yanagida to take a walk with Ribon who seemed not so wolfing to go out. Bulldogs don't deal so well with heat. She took care Ribon with iced water and walked slowly to "DAIKANYAMA T-SITE". Though it was on week day, there were many people around. Some passers by, including their friends, came across Ribon and commented on how cute she was and petted her. "Ribon is not just a pet but like a child now", Ms. Yanagida smiled and said. On the way back home, Ribon took reprieve from the sunlight in the shade of nearby hedge. She didn't try to force her to walk and so we understood how much she cared for her.