The founder loves Japanese culture
Stefan Bogner, founder, editor-in-chief and photographer of “CURVES”, visited Japan to celebrate the completion of the first Japanese edition.
Have you heard of the magazine “CURVES”? It’s a magazine with a “road” theme, and is filled with beautiful, artistic photographs of the world’s most beautiful and distinctive roads. Each issue basically focuses on one country or region, and 25 issues have been published so far. To commemorate the fact that Japan was chosen as the theme for the latest issue, the magazine’s founder, Stefan Bogner, visited Japan.
Stefan Bogner was born in 1968. He runs a design office as an industrial designer, but wanted to create a magazine with a road theme, so he visited Porsche to ask for cooperation. “At first, we were pretty much turned away,” says Bogner. However, after the third attempt, he finally got Porsche’s approval, and launched CURVES in 2011. Since then, he has been driving his Porsche around the world on roads.
Bogner says he loves Japanese culture and products. “Ever since I was a child, I’ve loved Japanese products like Walkmans, cameras, and keyboards. Of course, I also love Japanese anime, movies, music, and food.” Bogner smiles and says that 70% of his inspiration comes from Japan, and it seems his love for Japan is genuine.
Travel plans are basically made using paper maps.
Using a drone to take aerial photos gives a clear view of how the road runs over the terrain.
For Bogner, creating a Japanese version of CURVES was a dream come true. With the cooperation of Porsche Japan, he spent about 10 weeks driving from Hokkaido to Aomori, Nikko, and Noto. He basically used paper maps to plan his trip, but Bogner’s style is to move freely to a certain extent without planning everything, and he even met people in Japan who told him about some great routes.
From mountain trails to the hustle and bustle of the city
He says he feels a strong sense of Japan in the shopping district overlooking Mount Fuji and the Metropolitan Expressway.
The Kawazu Nanataki Loop Bridge in Izu impressed Bogner, who said, “There’s no way there’s a road like this in Germany.”
The completed CURVES Japan features beautiful photographs of many Japanese roads, from winding roads perfect for driving surrounded by nature to the roads of Tokyo’s big city. Many of the photos were taken from the air using a drone, and it’s interesting to see roads you’ve already driven on look different from when viewed from a car. Looking at them makes you realize that Japan has such beautiful roads. Looking at them makes you want to drive on them!
In addition to roads, the book also features the towns, people, and food that Bogner encountered during his travels. Along with photographs, there is also a travelogue that describes the roads, towns, people, and shops he encountered, which is also very interesting to read. Bogner says that he would like to visit Japan again and ride in the Kansai area, which he was unable to go to this time, as well as further south. It looks like the day when CURVES Japan Part 2 will be completed is approaching.
CURVES Japan is available at authorized Porsche dealers nationwide and at TSUTAYA in Daikanyama, Tokyo.
This luxurious magazine is over 300 pages long and is available at authorized Porsche dealers nationwide and at TSUTAYA in Daikanyama, Tokyo.
REPORT / Gensuke Nagata
PHOTO / Porsche Japan, GENROQ
