Japan is a big fan of conformity and harmony… and whether you just nodded your head in agreement or raised your eyebrows thinking “tell me about it”, I’m sure you would agree that this is true for the most part. But what does this have to do with buying suits in Japan?
A lot. Because suits are part of everyday life here.
Types of Suits
There are 4 main types of suits that seem to be very common in Japan.
1. Recruit Suits
According to reports, in the late 1970s, a partnership between Isetan, a big department store, and the Business Association of University Cooperative, saw suits for job-seeking University students advertised under the brand “Recruit”. This was the beginning of the “Recruit Suits“.
It was well accepted as these Recruit Suits could not only be used when attending job fairs and interviews, they could also be used when the young people started work.
Identifying these suits is really easy, as they are always either black or a dark blue-black color, and worn with a white shirt underneath. They are also always plain and the material doesn’t usually look very durable. This goes for both men and women.
2. Office Suits
After a year or two of working in the office, the workers tend to start allowing parts of their personality to come out, and this can be seen in their choice of suits. Many people start wearing grey and dark blue suits, and some men choose pinstripes. But the acceptable colour spectrum is limited – neutral or muted colours only. And to be honest, you would be hard pressed to find a bright red or yellow suit even if you wanted to buy one!
3. Weddings and Funerals
These formal clothes are called Rei-fuku (礼服). They are easy to identify first and foremost because of their extremely dark shade of black – and yes there are shades of black!
One other obvious characteristic is the material’s lack of shine. These are formal clothes so it is either a plain black suit with no stripes or markings, or a plain black formal dress. And they are always made from material that has a very matte look.
In terms of pricing, they are usually quite expensive, and so not everyone owns one. Fortunately though, they can be rented! You can try searching for 礼服 レンタル.
But talking about suits specifically, if you do decide to splurge on one, you won’t need to worry about what to wear the next time you have to attend either event. You will just need to make sure you have the right accessories/items, like a white tie for a wedding, and a black tie for a funeral.
4. Entertainment Industry
I use this term loosely, as this can cover both day and night time entertainment.
Turn on your tv and you might see a variety show host or comedian wearing a light coloured suit.
Walk into a host/hostess bar, and you might also find different coloured suits.
But umm…it’s not just for ‘entertainers’. I mean, I’ve seen hair stylists wear versions of these light coloured suits too. The groom at a wedding might also wear a white suit or a tuxedo for that matter. But the point is, they aren’t common in most office environments.
5. Pyjama Suits
“Wait what? I thought you said 4 types of suits?” you say? 😀
Well it’s a new thing! A pandemic invention necessity! And I just had to add it in!
These pyjama suits appeared sometime in 2020 and there were a lot of smiles, laughs, and “Oh, I need to check it out” comments when people heard about them.
Sure, at this point, most company employees have been informed that their work-from-home arrangement is now a hybrid-work arrangement. But I think the Covid pandemic has taught companies that their staff can work just as well from home – so participating in zoom meetings from home is still a thing.
And so comfortable, stretchy pyjama suits are now sold in stores and online!
Who knows how long they will be around for, but at least they’re available now.
6. Custom/Tailor-made Suits
Ok one last one! If none of the suits mentioned above fit you, or if you have a special style, design or pattern in mind, there are custom made suits that you can get – but they do cost a pretty penny though.
How much you can customize will depend on the shop of course, but whatever it is, do check to see how many fittings you will need, especially if you need it for a special occasion.
Final Note on Buying suits in Japan
If you find yourself with a suit that doesn’t fit perfectly, you can always get it altered. And if you are keen to get your hands on discounted suits, you can try getting them during New Year period. Even if you can’t find a Lucky bag (福袋) with a suit in it, you might be able to find discounted jackets and suits sold during the first week of the New Year.
Happy shopping!
Star
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Photo credit: Freepik