Designers and clothing retailers are spotting what has previously been a niche trend now gaining widespread popularity in Japan, drawing a growing number of fashion-forward customers from within the country and overseas: T-shirts.
Not just any old T-shirt though, the objects of desire are designs that reflect an aspect of Japanese culture printed in kanji, hiragana and katakana 〞 the funnier and quirkier the message, the better.
※I＊m looking for a foreign girlfriend,§ reads one shirt prominently displayed by the entrance of a boutique in Tokyo＊s fashion hub Harajuku in Shibuya Ward, grabbing the attention of passers-by 〞 Japanese and non-Japanese alike.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.