I, Osaka: Verdy

Verdy has been one of the main characters of Tokyo’s creative scene for a while. Working across fashion, music, nightlife and art, he’s as comfortable contributing visual and creative direction for Blackpink and Ice Spice as he is for Budweiser.

While a graphic artist and designer by trade, Verdy thrives with projects that bring people together in real life. The parties and exhibitions around his ventures help shape the scene and aren’t about exclusivity or insider access; people simply show up because something is happening.

Made in Osaka

While he’s inarguably ‘Tokyo’, Verdy’s roots are in Osaka, and that connection endures. For him, the city is easy to explain. It’s cheaper than Tokyo. The food is good. Nights are fun. The people are interesting. Compared to the capital, it’s looser, less polished, and often more relaxed.

When in Osaka, Verdy gravitates toward calm areas like Tanimachi and the surroundings of Osaka Castle. At night, he finds himself in Amerikamura, where clubbers, musicians and skaters gather. He keeps an eye on the city’s young energy, pointing to places like the select shop Coflo as a hub for emerging Osaka talent.

Pizza for the people

Henry’s Pizza, now celebrating its fourth anniversary, is the most visible expression of Verdy’s bond with his hometown. On paper, it’s a New York style pizza shop. In reality, it’s more like a community hub.

With Henry’s, he wanted to create something affordable, but not disposable. The interior was carefully thought through, but what happens in the clubhouse-like gallery upstairs is just as important. People might come in for pizza and end up encountering an artist they didn’t know before. That overlap is intentional.

When the young Verdy was getting into culture and fashion, overseas artists, exhibitions and live shows – most of the things he wanted to see and go to – were concentrated in Tokyo. Being in Osaka often felt like watching the scene from the outside. Henry’s helps bridge that gap.