Underwear with Nobility

Hot off the press: Samurai underwear!

It’s made by a Tokyo-based company called Rogin (pronounced “rogue-in”) whose tagline is, “Underwear for men who fight to live”!

It’s a form-fitting long underwear whose colors and patterns are beautifully inspired by traditional kimono robes and Japanese Samurai family crests. I can describe it in one word: Hot.

On my last trip to Tokyo, I noticed more stores carrying T-shirts and hoodies decorated with old-school patterns. Underwear is a new one, but it totally brings out the Samurai sexiness in a guy. Washboard abs wouldn’t hurt either.

The company says they expect these boxer-briefs will appeal to the growing number of women interested in Japanese history. Late-night study sessions anyone?

Priced between $80-$90, each design is named after a famous Samurai warrior like Nobunaga Oda and Ieyasu Tokugawa. And the material seems to work like Uniqlo’s Heat-Tech line – it’s a breathable mesh that keeps you warm and soaks up dampness really well.

It’s cool to think millions of Japanese salarymen might be suiting up in these. Maybe now they can start sticking it to the man!

Himawari

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Coin Purses: Buy Them, Trade Them, Gift Them or Make Them

You may have noticed I’m obsessed with shopping in Kyoto. It seems like everything there is adorable – especially gifts and souvenirs. Whether it’s face-blotting paper, candy, charms, stationary or snacks, I’m a sucker for cute and useful items that I can buy in bulk and hand out to my friends and family. Included in this category are Japanese coin purses.

Unless you need it for laundry or parking meters, change is a pain to carry around. It makes noise and gums up the bottom of your pockets or handbag. So I try to make the most of the situation and give my coins a place to shine in a little coin purse that fits inside pretty much any bag and gets lots of attention whenever I use it. Most Japanese coin purses have a beautiful flower design and a “kiss clasp” (awww). The one I got from Kyoto, however, is a bit different; it’s a soft fabric vintage-looking Hato Hasi with a frog charm snap to keep it closed.

Shizen Creations has some lovely pieces to check out. Feeling crafty? Channel your inner Martha Stewart (or MacGyver) and make your own Japanese coin purse with these simple household items: knitting needle, fabric, glue, pliers, purse frame and a paper bag!

Sarah S.

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Thinking of doing business in Japan? We can make it easy for you!
japanizmo, a Los Angeles based company, provides practical solutions for U.S. ? Japan business projects. Our experienced Japanese staff will support all phases of your business project to seize business opportunities and turn your vision into a reality. >> Learn more
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Onsen: Not Your Ordinary Dip in the Water

Hello everybody! \(^o^)/ My name is Himawari, an American-born girl transplanted to Japanese soil, then replanted in the golden state of California. I’m a hybrid of both countries, so even though the U.S. is my home for now, there are things about Japan that I really miss.

Among those are public bath houses, which Japanese people call “onsen“. I have to admit, it’s pretty intimidating to undress in a roomful of other females, (Junior high school gym class all over again!) but once you get used to that, it’s a great way to relax. The routine is always to wash yourself before dipping into the hot bath. Soap and shampoo are usually provided.

Many bath houses have different “themes”to their tubs which can sometimes fit 50 people. I’ve gone into a tub that shoots out tiny electric currents from the sides of its walls as a way to stimulate the body. Another one was infused with green tea. But my favorite one is the jet-stream bath which blasts warm water directly to stiff back muscles. Ah~~

In Tokyo, there’s an onsen “theme park”which harks back to the days when samurai warriors controlled the country. “Oedo Onsen Monogatari“offers you the full Japanese bath house experience, from putting on a summer kimono to getting a rubdown by their resident masseuse, to slurping up hot soba noodles afterward among a row of festive food stalls.

Their baths are pretty neat, too. And not just the conventional ones with water. Imagine having a woman bury you to your neck in a hot pile of sand. Japanese girls love it because it’s supposed to be a good way to lose weight. Not that most of them need to.

The theme park has another attraction, their outdoor foot bath walkway. I’ve nicknamed it the “maze of death” because you’re stepping barefoot along hundreds of pebbles and stones lodged into the bottom of the shallow pool. Believe me, it’s painful~! But again, the health effects are supposed to be excellent because the rocks stimulate different parts of the body through your feet. Hey, no pain, no gain, right? (^_^)

Himawari

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Thinking of doing business in Japan? We can make it easy for you!
JPBizDirect, a Los Angeles based company, provides practical solutions for U.S. – Japan business projects. Our experienced Japanese staff will support all phases of your business project to seize business opportunities and turn your vision into a reality. >> Learn more
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