My New Jacket I

I finally found a store I could love in Tokyo. Most clothing stores in Tokyo are from American and European designers. Sometimes, Chinese and Hongkong designers make a bigger splash than home grown ones. Living in San Francisco and New York, I always thought it strange the lack of Japanese designer boutiques. Brands exist, but they don't shine like American and European ones. And oddly, even in Tokyo, the American and European ones continue to dominate Japanese brands.

Admittedly, I am partial to the Tokyo-style of boutiques for American and European designers. The layout of stores and space available for men's clothes is better to me than San Francisco or New York. I wonder if Japanese feel the same about shopping in San Francisco and New York?

The store -- or rather brand -- is called The Suit Company. They have stores throughout Japan, and they embody the young, fresh Japanese salary boy. That's right -- you heard it here first: salary boy. Forget about the tired and worn salary man (サラリー・マン) and office lady (OL). The new generation isn't afraid to spike hair, wear pointy shoes, and viscously clash stripes and colours. They have taken the uniform from a previous generation one notch up.

Tighter waists, smaller shoulders, and slimmer fits are the style. They are barely out of the tanning salon in Shibuya (渋谷), running to the steel towers gracing Tokyo's growing skyline. If Otemachi (大手町), Marunouchi (丸の内), and Shimbashi (新橋) were for the salary man, Minato-ku's (港区) Akasaka (赤阪), Toranomon (虎ノ門), and Roppongi (六本木) are for the salary boys and girls.