Tag Archives: Japan

olympics 2020

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics Might Be Canceled

As the world continues to find a way to contain the growing coronavirus outbreak, rumors that the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games could be canceled are now circulating. Dick Pound, a senior member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), stated that the organization has a 2-3 month window to determine whether to proceed with the event amidst increasing pandemic concerns.

 

“In and around that time, I’d say folks are going to have to ask: ‘Is this under sufficient control that we can be confident about going to Tokyo or not?’” Pound told Associated Press. He continues to say that due to the scale of the event, cancellation is the only option. “You just don’t postpone something on the size and scale of the Olympics. There’s so many moving parts, so many countries and different seasons, and competitive seasons, and television seasons. You can’t just say, ‘We’ll do it in October,’” he said.

 

The news comes following an uptick of cases in Japan — additionally, Italy also experienced a sudden rise in cases that affected Milan Fashion Week. Other sporting events in the country have been affected, with J-League football games canceled until mid-March and matches in Europe being played behind closed doors. But as of now, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games are scheduled to proceed as planned.

seek

SEEK is the Underwear Brand You’re Looking For

Whether you’re a guy that wears boxers, briefs, or longjohns, buying underwear is always a chore that you don’t really think about until it’s too late. Yikes. When the time comes to replace your undies (which might be sooner than you think), instead of blindly purchasing a bulk pack of factory-made generic and soulless undergarments from Amazon, consider treating your junk a little bit. You deserve better than that.

 

SEEK is a Japanese underwear brand that is ready to go international this spring. Already stocked in high-end Japanese department stores like Isetan and Hankyu, the company is ready to share its premium intimates with the world. What makes them so special? The brand utilizes a state-of-the-art “cut off” technique that uses high-pressure adhesive to cut the material, essentially eliminating the need for seams and ensuring that the fabric won’t unravel or bunch. How’s that for a seamless fit?

 

The latest line — SEEK AIRZ — takes things even further by eliminating the waistband. Using the same patented cutting system, jersey fabric is processed in a new way that renders traditional elastic waistbands unnecessary. Further treatments make the pieces 30% more absorbent than regular underwear for optimum breathability and comfort. In terms of underwear, this is about as exciting as it gets.

 

SEEK will launch in US retailers later this spring. Take a look at some of the latest styles in the slideshow above.

 

 

louis vuitton

A First Look at the First Louis Vuitton Restaurant

It won’t be long until you’re able to order a cup of Louis Vuitton coffee. Just last week the French designer announced that it would be venturing into hospitality with the opening of its first restaurant as part of its new expansive flagship in Osaka. Fortunately for fans of the label, there won’t a major wait time: curious customers will be able to get a first taste of the new store and its cuisine when it opens this Saturday.

 

The monolithic multi-level flagship store will actually house two dining options — Sugalabo V and Le Café V — which were both designed in collaboration with Japanese chef Yosuke Suga. In addition to providing customers access to clothes, accessories, luggage, and more, the new flagship will provide an opportunity for fans of the Virgil Abloh-headed label to live, breathe, and even eat Louis Vuitton. This is the retail experience millennials crave.

 

The new Louis Vuitton store will open on February 1 at 2 Chome-8-16 Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0085, Japan.

 

louis vuitton

 

louis vuitton

 

loewe

Loewe’s Elephant Will Guard Your iPhone

Loewe‘s elephant just got a new job as a sturdy iPhone case. The Jonathan Anderson-run Spanish brand — which recently showed a dazzling Fall 2020 collection in Paris — released a range of elephant-shaped calfskin leather phone cases from its Spring/Summer ’20 show in a variety of nine light colors, including gray, tan, yellow, and pink. More colors will be released throughout the year, with a sleek black model expected to launch in Japan in February. Each handcrafted case is available in two sizes and includes an adjustable and removable strap to ensure your smartphone is always within reach. And even though the elephant’s elongated trunk and blank eyes are slightly redolent of a plague doctor’s mask, a leather shell in one of Loewe’s most famous designs is a pretty solid way to give your iPhone the dependable protection it needs.

 

The Loewe Elephant iPhone case is available online now.

tokyo 2020 olympics

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics Will Provide Athletes with Cardboard Beds

Beyond all the glitz and fanfare of the summer games, the Olympics have a notorious reputation when it comes to sustainability. With all the fairly rapid and expansive construction required to host the world’s top athletes and their supporters for the event (an estimated 500,000 people are expected to attend), the planning can have a devastating toll on the environment. But for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympics, officials are pursuing an alternative method to limit the impact of the event.

 

Athletes competing in Tokyo 2020 will be sleeping on cardboard beds (18,000 will be made for the Olympics and 8,000 for the Paralympics) throughout the duration of the games. Each bed is made out of recyclable cardboard that can support up to 200kg, which is more than any registered competing athlete. The accompanying mattresses and pillows are made with polyethylene materials that are also recyclable and will later be repurposed into plastic goods. Further emphasizing this commitment to sustainability, each medal is being made from recycled products and the symbolic Olympic torch has been remade with upcycled aluminum.

 

For one of the biggest events in the world to making such a strong effort in limiting its environmental impact is a pretty big deal, and shows that sustainability at a large scale is indeed possible. The Tokyo 2020 Olympics will take place from July 24 – August 9.

 

 

Eye/LOEWE/Nature Heads Outdoors for Summer 2020

LOEWE‘s Spring/Summer 2020 men’s Eye/LOEWE/Nature collection seeks to escape the metropolis and seek refuge in nature. Presented with a video campaign, British actor Josh O’Connor hikes through the foothills of Japan’s Mount Fuji after evading the neon lights of Tokyo. An additional photo series features photographs by Gray Sorrenti in the same location.

 

“I think Eye/LOEWE/Nature shows how I see the LOEWE man: he is kind of day-to-day, but at the same time wants to experiment,” says creative director Jonathan Anderson in a statement. “In a weird way, there is a conservatism to him, but there is an eccentricity inside.”

 

The collection features just that — a range of technical-wear inspired by the great outdoors. It’s the kind of attire that’s appropriate for hiking but can also translate to streetwear upon returning to the city. Plus, most of the pieces are made from organic and recycled fabrics and the brand will donate 15 euros for every product sold to environmental causes.

 

Take a look at the campaign above now.

Teppei Fujita onitsuka tiger sulvam

Teppei Fujita of Sulvam Designed a Capsule for Onitsuka Tiger

Teppei Fujita, the designer behind Japanese label Sulvam, designed a capsule collection with Onitsuka Tiger as part of its ongoing series in honor of the shoe maker’s 70th anniversary. Fujita opted to rework Onitsuka Tiger’s signature Tai-Chi-Reb style, a shoe inspired by tai-chi and worn notably in the Kill Bill series. The reimagined style is a stark monochrome sneaker, accented with grey line stitching details and white stripes against the black leather exterior. The collection also features a similar black and white tracksuit embellished with more contrast stitching.

 

“Fashion is free,” Fujita said in a statement. “That’s how I could maximize the attractiveness of both brands by destroying our fixed image in a good way.”

 

The Onitsuka Tiger x Sulvam collection will be available in select stores and online on November 18.

prada

Prada Will Host its Resort 2021 Show in Japan

For its Resort 2021 collection, Prada will show in Japan. While the Italian designer is one of the mainstays during Milan’s own fashion week, it’s now one of the latest designers to travel to Asia to stage its presentation. Back in 2018, Dior presented its first Pre-Fall Men’s collection in Tokyo to critical acclaim. Both Coach and Tommy Hilfiger have staged separate shows in Shanghai. As the fashion industry continues to be consumed on a global scale thanks to streaming and social media, legacy designers are no longer anchored to one place.

 

Further details and an actual location for the Prada Resort 2021 show will be revealed at a later date.

berhana Harry Israelson

Here’s What Inspired Berhana’s Debut Album

I first met Berhana in 2012, when he still went by Amain and we were both enthusiastic undergrad students at the New School — back then, he was studying screenwriting and I was doing fashion, or writing, or something and I knew nothing about his musical inclinations. In the years since, the 27-year-old film graduate has blossomed into a full-grown artist, whose referential and astute observations are channeled into smooth and airy R&B tunes. A move to Los Angeles and an EP later, Berhana tells me what he’s been up to ahead of the release of his debut album, HAN.

 

“As soon as I graduated, I was writing packets and doing everything I needed to submit to shows, while I was making the EP,” he says. “There was one show that I thought I was gonna get but was like ‘Alright if I don’t get this, I’m not doing this, I’m just gonna finish the EP.’ And I didn’t get it.”

 

He didn’t get the show so he finished the EP. In 2016, he released his self-titled debut, a collection of six diverse yet cohesive tracks that were anchored by the lead single “Janet,” a sharp and longing ode to actress Janet Hubert who originated the role of Aunt Vivian in the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. It was this balance of topical nostalgia and casual humor that instantly distinguished Berhana from other artists in the genre.

 

 

For HAN, Berhana worked on a lot of the album during an extended trip to Japan where he was exposed to a lot of “’70s and ’80s Japanese funk,” which influenced the direction of the album. “The project is very cohesive — it fits together like a puzzle. And right now people are only seeing one thing,” he says, referring to his recent album singles “Health Food,” “Lucky Strike,” and “I Been.” There’s a neon glow that pulsates through each of the bouncy disco-tinged songs, and it’s easy to imagine how the energy of a city like Tokyo inspired the record.

 

“A theme I wanted to hone in on for the album was travel,” he says. “Getting from a place in your life to another, and having that in a literal sense as well. That’s the thing I was honing in on, exploration.” This artistic journey and discovery in Japan allude to a parallel to Lost in Translation (which won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 2004), which he also cites as a major influence. Coincidentally enough, by getting lost in his most fully realized body of work yet, Berhana has found himself.

 

HAN will be available to buy and stream on October 18. Pre-order the album here and watch the video for “Health Food” below now.

 

 

 

 

 

nanamica tokyo

Nanamica’s New Japan Store is Earthquake-Proof

Following temporary closure for renovations, Nanamica has re-opened its Tokyo store. The pleasant and airy store — Nanamica Tokyo — is now earthquake-proof and will serve as a touchpoint in the Japanese city for the brand’s international fanbase.

 

The shop’s interior emphasizes the label’s penchant for elegant and simple Japanese design. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the open layout with sunlight, which further illuminates concrete floor panels and polished light wood flooring that contrast the exposed overhead vents that line the ceiling and evoke an industrial tone. This combination of natural with urban echoes the label’s own design ethos, mixing minimal and sophisticated design cues with highly functional materials in a range of elevated and timeless staple pieces.

 

Nanamica Tokyo is open now at 12-8 Uguisudanicho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo.

 

Coca Cola Facetasm collab collection

Facetasm Launches Capsule with Coca-Cola

Inspired by a trip to Coca-Cola‘s archives in Atlanta, Japanese designer Facetasm is releasing a new workwear-inspired unisex capsule as part of its Fall/Winter 2019 line. The 22-piece collection includes t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, trousers, and caps that incorporate the industrial uniforms in a modern context, with subtle line-stitched detailing and branded Coke patches adorning the denim pieces.

 

“This project is a mashup of street and luxury. We hope consumers enjoy the vibe created by the two totally different companies coming together on this collaboration,” Facetasm founder Hiromichi Ochiai said in a statement. The collection launches today at L’Eclaireur in Paris and will roll-out internationally throughout the summer. Check out some of the pieces in the slideshow above.

homme plisse issey miyake spring summer 2020 menswear paris show

Homme Plisse Issey Miyake Spring/Summer 2020 Recap

Guests at the Homme Plisse Issey Miyake Spring/Summer 2020 presentation were treated to an outdoor affair that reflected the lighthearted nature of the Japanese designer’s latest range. While other labels seemed to lean heavily into pastels, Miyake opted for a more bold approach (though there were still plenty of softer hues too) with bursts of color highlighting the structural details (the signature pleats were more subtle this time around but still accented more utilitarian items) and structure of the pieces. The al-fresco theme was emphasized literally with models dancing and playing with red soccer balls as they took the runway, which I’m sure to them was a walk in the park.