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13 Interesting Japanese Men’s Clothing Brands

If you’re looking for some cool Japanese clothing brands, look no further than this hand-curated list.

SUICOKE ZAVO VS
SUICOKE ZAVO VS

Japanese men’s fashion is widely regarded as the most stylish in the world, and it’s easy to understand why — it has a special way of mixing formal and casual elements from Asian, European, and American fashion.

No matter where you go in Japan, you’re guaranteed to see plenty of fashionable guys walking around, as shown in this neat style/travel vlog.

But for as much attention as Japan’s fashion scene gets, the country’s many excellent clothing brands often get overlooked.

Sure, you know about UNIQLO, and you may have bought from ASICS without realizing that it’s a Japanese company. But unless you’re a fashion connoisseur, you probably don’t know about the most captivating Japanese clothing brands.

I’ve rounded up 13 of the most influential Japanese menswear brands that should be on your radar. 

You just might find your new favorite brand here (especially if you prefer completely uppercase or lowercase brand names).

From sweaters to streetwear, this list has it all. 

The 13 Best Japanese Menswear Brands

Here are 13 fantastic Japanese men’s clothing brands that you should be aware of.

MUJI

Not many fashion brands set out to create ordinary clothing, but MUJI isn’t a typical fashion brand. The company’s name derives from mujirushi ryohin, a Japanese phrase that translates to “no-brand quality goods.”

MUJI Cool Touch Pique Button Down Polo Shirt
MUJI Cool Touch Pique Polo Shirt

MUJI takes the lack of branding seriously — there isn’t a logo to be found on any of its clothes. As such, each item has a minimal, practical style that can be worn every day.

Okayama Denim

Okayama Denim is the definitive source for Japanese jeans. Every brand featured in the Okayama Denim store comes from the town of Kojima, which is often called the denim capital of Japan (or, depending on who you ask, the world).

Okayama Denim Studio D Artisan Distressed Ivy Selvedge Jeans
Okayama Denim Studio D Artisan Selvedge Jeans

As of this writing, the storefront carries denim from 25 brands, and Okayama Denim also sells jeans and clothing under its own brand. If you’re a fan of raw or selvedge denim, this is one site you absolutely need to know.

visvim

visvim blends classic menswear, workwear, and Americana in a unique way that results in some eye-catching pieces. Unlike many high-end brands that value style over substance, visvim balances both.

Visvim Social Sculpture 01 Slim Jeans
Visvim Social Sculpture 01 Slim Jeans

Unfortunately, visvim is prohibitively expensive for most people. That said, it’s still a brand worth knowing if only for getting some fashion inspiration.

BEAMS

Though BEAMS is a Japanese brand, it’s heavily inspired by American collegiate styles and workwear. This is especially true for its heritage menswear line BEAMS PLUS, which has everything from unabashed Ivy League tributes to refined chore jackets.

BEAMS Plus Knit Polo 2Tone Jacquard Shirt
BEAMS Plus Knit Polo

The company’s wide range of well-designed clothing has made it one of the most prominent Japanese menswear brands. If you like traditional with a twist, be sure to check out BEAMS.

orSlow

orSlow has gained a loyal cult following for its take on American workwear, and that hype is well deserved. Its garments are rugged yet refined, a combo that’s hard to do well but one that orSlow has mastered.

orSlow 1002 New Yorker
orSlow New Yorker

Most people know the brand for its slim-fit fatigue pants that are modeled after the seminal OG-107 fatigues, but orSlow’s entire catalog is worth a look. Expect to find plenty of cool work jackets, ripstop trousers, overshirts, and more.

Blue Blue Japan

The story behind Blue Blue Japan is in its name — the brand uses traditional indigo dyeing techniques to create distinctive garments.

BLUE BLUE JAPAN Minamo Sakura Chirimen Aloha Shirt
BLUE BLUE JAPAN Minamo Sakura Chirimen Aloha Shirt

Inspired by traditional tailoring and workwear, Blue Blue Japan makes versatile yet unique pieces that are all carefully detailed. The lineup has everything from woven haori jackets to patchwork tees (and, yes, almost everything is blue).

KAPITAL

KAPITAL gets a lot of attention for its bold approaches to classic American menswear. Big retro graphics, oversized silhouettes, and flashy embroidery are a few KAPITAL trademarks that set the brand apart.

KAPITAL Gauze Tenjiku Crew Pocket Tee
KAPITAL Gauze Tenjiku Crew Pocket Tee

Though KAPITAL is best known for these head-turning pieces, the brand also manufactures a lot of versatile menswear. That said, it’s a high-end brand, and it’s priced accordingly, but there’s nothing else quite like what KAPITAL has to offer.

and wander

In a nutshell, and wander is an elevated version of The North Face. This gorpcore (or “camping chic”) brand makes fashion-forward outerwear that’s somewhere in between athleisure and techwear.

adidas TERREX × and wander Xploric RAIN. RDY jacket
Adidas TERREX × and wander Xploric RAIN. RDY Jacket

Jackets, vests, and cargo pants make up a good portion of and wander’s catalog. 

The clothing is made to handle all manner of outdoor escapades, so if you want to be the most stylish guy on the hike, make sure to check out and wander.

The Real McCoy’s

The Real McCoy’s has quite the origin story. In 1978, founder Hitoshi Tsujitmoto headed to the US with an empty suitcase and stuffed it with the best vintage clothing he could find. He set out to recreate these iconic American styles, and thus The Real McCoy’s was born.

The Real Mccoys 9oz Loopwheel Raglan Sleeve Sweatshirt
The Real McCoy’s Loopwheel Raglan Sleeve Sweatshirt

Each garment is painstakingly reproduced with an attention to detail so intentional that these recreations might be better than the originals. The prices are steep, but if you’re a diehard vintage fan, it might just be worth the investment.

sacai

While it’s best known for its collaborations with Nike, sacai has a lot more going on. The brand tends to push the envelope by reimagining classic garments, and some of the results are out there (see: t-shirts with zippers and double-layer button-downs).

Sacai Sponge Sweat x Nylon Twill Hoodie
Sacai Sponge Sweat x Nylon Twill Hoodie

Yet for how odd some of the pieces are, there are others that take a gentler approach to reconceptualizing familiar items. At the very least, sacai will get you thinking about how far the limits of clothing can stretch.

SUICOKE

Footwear brand SUICOKE is the only company on this list to call itself a “cult Japanese brand.” And whether that’s narcissistic hubris or tongue-in-cheek humor, there is some truth to that, as SUICOKE’s idiosyncratic sandals have indeed gained a devoted fanbase.

SUICOKE ZAVO VS
SUICOKE ZAVO VS

These chunky, tactical sandals seem like they shouldn’t work, but somehow they do. If you embrace the socks with sandals look, then you might enjoy SUICOKE’s designer approach.

Japan Blue Jeans

Japan Blue Jeans is another superb denim company from Okayama. The brand offers high-quality, hardwearing selvedge denim at fairly affordable prices.

Japan Blue Jeans Cote d Ivoire Cotton Selvedge Jacket
Japan Blue Jeans Cote d’Ivoire Cotton Selvedge Jacket

You can find just about every type of jeans here, and denim jackets obviously abound as well. However, Japan Blue Jeans doesn’t limit itself to denim — the company also makes all kinds of shirts, pants, and accessories.

AKASHI-KAMA

AKASHI-KAMA founder Alec Nakashima is a fifth-generation Japanese American, so he knows what it’s like to be part of two worlds. And that’s precisely the same ethos he worked from while developing AKASHI-KAMA.

AKASHI KAMA Noragi Jacket
AKASHI-KAMA Noragi Jacket

AKASHI-KAMA combines the Japanese aesthetic with American sensibilities for some outstanding results. The company’s noragi jackets, haori shirts, and polos are familiar yet fresh, offering a different perspective on classic garments from both cultures.

Japanese Men’s Clothing FAQ

Curious to learn more about Japanese menswear? Here are answers to a few frequently asked questions:

Overall, UNIQLO is the most popular fast fashion brand in Japan. In terms of high-end fashion, that title probably goes to COMME des GARÇONS.

What are some good Japanese luxury clothing brands?

COMME des GARÇONS, sacai, Junya Watanabe, and UNDERCOVER are some of the most popular Japanese luxury brands.

What are the best Japanese minimalist clothing brands?

With its no-brand philosophy, MUJI is one of the best minimalist clothing brands in Japan. BEAMS and visvim are also noteworthy for their use of minimalism.

Conclusion

Today, Japan is just as much of a fashion powerhouse as France and Italy.

Japan has no shortage of excellent menswear, and if you like what you see in this list, then you’ll be glad to know this is just scratching the surface.

Be warned that many of these brands can be tricky to get a hold of stateside, but it’s usually worth the effort.

But even if you don’t try to track down items from these brands, they can still provide a healthy dose of inspiration for your next outfit.

Questions? Comments? Leave them below!

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