Brand First! "niko and ..." Announces "Looking for Encounters. Audition" for a Chance to Star in Ads

ADASTORIA Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: 2-21-1 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Yoshiki Kitamura), which operates over 40 multi-brands within the &ST HD Group under the mission "Play fashion!", and its style editorial brand "niko and ..." have been running the Spring/Summer brand campaign since Thursday, April 16, 2026, under the theme "There are encounters even among close friends," featuring actress Juri Uesaka. For the Fall/Winter brand campaign, which also adopts the same theme, the company will hold the "Looking for Encounters. Audition" starting Tuesday, June 2, 2026, to publicly recruit participants for the Fall/Winter brand campaign.

The theme of the 2026 brand campaign is "There are encounters even among close friends." Two movies featuring actress Juri Uesaka and three other cast members as protagonists are currently being released. They depict moments of rediscovering the charm of things already known, such as long-time close friends or a cherished watch—a "second encounter." One of the meanings embedded in the brand tagline "Deau ni Au" is that "wonderful encounters are hidden not only in new things but also in familiar ones."

In this audition, applicants submit an episode where they felt the campaign theme "There are encounters even among close friends" via the dedicated "Looking for Encounters. Audition" website. Winners will appear in the "niko and ..." 2026 Fall/Winter brand campaign and will also receive the items they wore during the shoot.

*The above is an image. (This is the advertising visual released on Thursday, April 16, 2026.)

■ "Looking for Encounters. Audition" Overview

An audition will be held to publicly recruit participants for the "niko and ..." 2026 Fall/Winter brand campaign.

Any encounter is welcome, whether with friends, family, lovers, pets, objects, or places. Please apply with an episode where you felt "There are encounters even among close friends," discovering a new side or something unknown about people, things, events, or places you already knew. Winners will appear in the "niko and ..." 2026 Fall/Winter brand campaign, photographed by Nico Perez, just like the Spring/Summer campaign.

*This is an excerpt. Please check the dedicated "Looking for Encounters. Audition" website for details.

Campaign Graphic Photography:

Nico Perez (born 1986).

A photographer based in Tokyo. Graduated from Queen Mary University of London (Film Studies). He first visited Tokyo in 2006 and was inspired by the city's blue atmosphere. In 2009, he was selected for a workshop by photographer Rinko Kawauchi in London and moved to Tokyo the same year. After moving to Tokyo, he first learned about the analog printing process in a darkroom when visiting Kawauchi's office, which deepened his interest in analog prints.

Perez's photography possesses a poetic, emotional, and personal sensibility, sometimes evoking cinematic beauty. He captures fleeting moments of everyday life, personal relationships, and delicate moods shaped by color.

In 2015, he gained attention with his first photo book and exhibition, 'Momentary.' He works on both commercial and personal projects. He has held eight solo exhibitions and continues to be based in Tokyo.

https://www.instagram.com/n_perez_/

Application Period:

From 10:00 AM on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, to 11:59 PM on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.

Application Requirements:

Applicants (advertisement participants): Can apply as an individual or as a group (friends, family, lovers, pets, etc.).

*If applying as a group, one representative should apply.

Age Requirement: Must be at least 18 years old at the time of application (high school students allowed).

*Only those who do not violate school or company regulations.

Other: Must reside in Japan (nationality不限). Must be able to participate in the shoot scheduled for mid-to-late August in Tokyo.

Notes:

*Please obtain permission for the advertisement appearance from the other person featured in your application episode before applying.
*Please apply with an episode based on your own experience.
*Applications using someone else's episode or photos as your own, or using AI-generated episodes or photos, will be invalid.

Winner Benefits:

(1) Appearance in the "niko and ..." 2026 Fall/Winter advertisement

*The applicant themselves (plus the person featured in the episode) will appear.

(2) Advertisement posters displayed in Tokyo

*The visual will be displayed on advertisement posters in Tokyo (location TBD).

(3) Gift of items worn during the shoot

*The worn items will be sent later, so it may take some time.

*As the items will be given after their release, the design may differ from the one worn during the shoot.

*No monetary compensation other than the benefits (1), (2), and (3) listed above.

Application Method:

Please fill in an episode where you felt "There are encounters even among close friends" and other necessary information for application.

(Name, your photo, etc. Please check the application form for details).

*Please refer to the dedicated website below for the application terms and conditions.

*Please see the dedicated website below for details.

<"Looking for Encounters. Audition" Dedicated Website URL>

https://www.nikoand.jp/2026_campaign/deauniau2026/#campaign

Episode Examples:

Episode Example ①)

What I encountered was the thoughtfulness of my childhood friend.

I recently noticed that when we walk together, she always walks on the road side.

All these years, without me realizing it, she's been protecting me. Thank you.

Episode Example ②)

I ran into my company's department manager at the local public bath.

He always slicks his hair back with gel.

But there he was, after his bath.

Wow, so he has an afro. That's the story.

Episode Example ③)

What I encountered was the rooftop of my apartment, which I entered for the first time in four years of living there.

Beyond the open view, I could see Tokyo Tower and Mt. Fuji.

If only I had known about this place on that day I wanted to cry, that day of the shooting stars, that day of the Blue Impulse flyover...

I'm moving out this month.

Episode Example ④)

I decided to read the only volume (volume 7) of a manga that had been sitting at my usual coin laundry for ages.

Now I've ended up collecting the whole series.

Episode Example ⑤)

My boyfriend of three years is good at flash anzan (mental arithmetic).

He said it's because he used to do abacus. He seems so spacey, but he's fast at calculations.

I fell for him just a little bit again. Just a little bit.

■ About niko and ...

"niko and ..." is a style editorial brand that develops apparel, miscellaneous goods, furniture, and food and beverage.