Are you looking for large size clothing in Japan?
The time when the physical difference between Japanese and Westerners was so large that it was hard for them to use Japanese cars was long gone. There are Japanese as physically big as Westerners, and of course, the fashion stores follow. But they are still a minority, so if you are size XXL it may be hard to find Japanese clothes that will fit. Here is a guide to where to look.
When Japanese cars were first exported to the West, they faced an unexpected problem: The seats were too small. The average Japanese was much smaller than Westerners, and they would not fit in the seats.
That was quickly fixed, and fast forward fifty or so years, and you will now find Japanese people with bodies built like Westerners. Many blame the changing diet, where meat and bread have replaced the traditional fish and rice. And of course, they have to buy their clothes somewhere.
For men, it is relatively easy to find outsized clothing. Just go to one of the many XXL stores that have popped up all over Japan. Big and Tall, XL, and several others specialize in large-size men’s clothing. But you may have as much luck looking in ordinary clothing stores. The ubiquitous Shimamura and Avail chains have clothes in up to 6XL (which typically corresponds to XXXL in the US). Even Uniqlo has large sizes, although not on the Big and Tall level.
Many department stores also have a larger-than-ordinary department. For formal wear, Aoki or Konaka the Flag will have suits in relatively large sizes — at least for men.
The conversion between the Japanese XL (with multiple X prefixes) and sizes in other countries is not all that straightforward. And it is always better to try on the clothes before buying. Even when growing wider, Japanese customers typically are still shorter than their Western brethren.
Gentlemen typically have a very easy time finding clothing, even when looking for outsized sizes, compared to ladies. Men often could not care less about the clothes they wear, and even if the Japanese can be as style-conscious as Italians, you will also find couples in matching pink trainers and sweatshirts, especially if you venture outside the Tokyo city center into the countryside. Go to western Ibaraki, and you will discover that the (very funny) movie Shimotsuma Monogatari is a documentary. Not all Japanese follow the latest fashion or are icons of style.
Not that women’s clothing is hard to find. Shimamura and Avail will have large sizes for women, too. The problem may not be so much the size as the style.
Most clothing stores in Japan are oriented toward the young elderly, which might translate roughly as people in their early 60’s. If that is the fashion you want, there is an abundance to choose from.
But if what you were looking for was aimed at a somewhat younger audience, you will have to work extra hard (if you are looking for maid wear, gothic, Lolita, or gothic Lolita, you will anyway have to look for specialty stores in Harajuku or Shibuya, where they exist but may be hard to find). It may be easier to order online — if you order from within Japan, the large online shops allow you to pick up your purchases in a convenience store. No need for a fixed address. But while Amazon often delivers overnight, this may not be true of all online stores. Check carefully before ordering so you will get your packages on time.
For large-size ladies, finding fashionable clothes that are not oriented toward an elderly audience is more difficult. In Tokyo, there are store-in-stores in the large department stores that not only cater to those looking for high fashion but also those looking for larger sizes. The easiest way to find them is to go to the information desk. In large department stores like Isetan, Takashimaya, and Mitsukoshi there are almost always English (and Chinese) speaking staff available.
Takashimaya may even offer to provide you with a personal shopper (at least if you have the right credit cards), and it is not uncommon for the department stores to offer a discount to foreign visitors on top of the ” tax-free” discount (where you get back a large part of the sales tax you paid). Be prepared to show your passport.
But if you thought clothes were difficult, wait until you try to find shoes. The Japanese may have become longer and wider, but that is not true for their feet. Japanese shoe sizes would hardly fit a Scandinavian 10-year-old. The feet of the average Japanese, even if taller than their ancestors, is still several sizes smaller than a European or American of the same length. And the shoes you will find in the stores reflect this.
Japanese shoes are measured from the tip of the big toe to the heel. They normally do not take account of the width of the foot. This means a shoe size 28 may be long enough for your foot, but too narrow. Usually, European size 43 will correspond to something between 28.5 and 29, but the width can be a different matter.
Stores typically do not stock shoes above size 27, and if they do they will stock a lot fewer. The best bet if you are not looking for fashion shoes but just something to put on your feet is a home improvement store. Strange though it sounds, home improvement stores are great places to find large-size clothes and shoes.
The home improvement stores stock clothes for outdoor workers, which means made to wear with a warm sweater underneath — and so bigger than ordinary Japanese sizes. And they have shoes to fit. They will not be particularly stylish, of course. If you are going for a punk look, they will be perfect, and the boots are often a good deal to bring home.
The working men’s stores may not be much to write home about. But there are other brands of chains where you could go to find clothes which, at least will be a little more fun and shoes that are a better fit than most of the shoe stores in Tokyo. If you can find it (there is none in central Tokyo) look for a chain called Workman Girl. They carry stylish working clothes and often have a shoe department that will have big ladies’ sizes of reasonably stylish and guaranteed comfortable shoes.
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