{"id":377692,"date":"2024-12-17T16:28:01","date_gmt":"2024-12-17T08:28:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/?p=377692"},"modified":"2024-12-17T18:18:16","modified_gmt":"2024-12-17T10:18:16","slug":"capturing-tokyos-cool-shoes-for-japanese-city-boy-style","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/2024\/12\/17\/capturing-tokyos-cool-shoes-for-japanese-city-boy-style\/","title":{"rendered":"Capturing Tokyo\u2019s Cool: Shoes for Japanese City Boy Style"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For half a century, Japan has been at the vanguard of various fields, reshaping the landscape of many industries such as technology, (home) entertainment, and fashion, among many others. This proclivity for innovation and reinvention has made the country a mill for trailblazers, tinkerers, tastemakers, and trendsetters. Japan’s fascination with Americana, a collateral of post-war occupation, has led the country to become a nation with a strong passion for fashion. A people who didn’t just regurgitate what they consumed but refined it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the decades following Yohji Yamamoto and Rei Kawakubo’s Paris debut in 1981, the country has become a de facto fashion mecca, ahead of the pack by a mile for microtrends. One such trend is the Japanese City Boy style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What Is Japanese City Boy Style?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Like many things from contemporary Japan, the City Boy style is a product of various influences. Based on the book Ametora: How Japan Saved American Style<\/em> by W. David Marx, POPEYE Magazine<\/em> coined the term “City Boy” during its nascent days in the mid-’70s<\/span>. The magazine was the original purveyor of menswear fashion news, focused on the preppy Ivy League staples of the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back then, their modus operandi was to fly out to these American universities to photograph the students’ outfits and present them to an audience back home. The magazine has since evolved beyond this scope, but the City Boy term they created remains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Capturing<\/a><\/figure>
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Ametora: How Japan Saved American Style<\/strong><\/em>
W. David Marx<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ivy League Inspiration<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned, City Boy style is heavily inspired by American Ivy League fashion, characterized by staple pieces like button-down shirts, chinos, and sports jackets. Over the years, it has borrowed from adjacent subcultures like streetwear, but its spirit is always present. Its evolution is a testament to the Japanese penchant for improving on what they’ve borrowed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Japanese<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Japanese<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Vintage POPEYE Magazine cover; June 2012 issue<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Modern Adaptation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

City Boy style may be more pervasive among an older demographic, the working class, at least those in their late twenties and above. It could be a natural maturity in their sartorial sensibilities, moving on from the streetwear staples of graphic tees and hoodies to incorporate more sophisticated options. All while maintaining the edgy elements of streetwear. Thus, the amalgam of disparate features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A style that tells the tales of preppy American college campuses, echoing the urbane grace of French and British workwear and whispering the rugged refinement of traditional outdoor gear. From the youthful energy channeled by varsity clothing to the effortless cool of skate culture. But throughout, a distinctly Japanese quality reigns supreme. In some way, it’s Japandi<\/em> for clothes, a fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian minimalism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Japanese<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Japanese<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Key Elements<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Japanese City Boy style is an adaptation of classic items for urban living. Some key elements of the Japanese City Boy style include the incorporation of oversized, or rather, relaxed fits, layering, neutral colors or earthy tones, and functional fabrics. Comfort usually takes precedence, and thus, sneakers are subsumed on top of the preppy options of boat shoes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Japanese<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Japanese<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Shopping for Japanese City Boy Style<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Popular Japanese City Boy Brands<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\"AURALEE\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Margaret<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"nanamica\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Kaptain<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"1LDK\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Sillage\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Nonnative\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Engineered<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"baloriginal\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Ennoy\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Graphpaper\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"DIGAWEL\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Popular Japanese City Boy Shoes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\"Ronnie<\/figure>
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Ronnie Fieg x Clarks x adidas Samba<\/strong> “Wheat”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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View on SNKRDUNK<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Ronnie<\/figure>
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Ronnie Fieg x Clarks x adidas Samba “Kithmas “<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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View on SNKRDUNK<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Supreme<\/figure>
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Supreme x Clarks Wallabee “Maple”
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View on SNKRDUNK<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"NEIGHBORHOOD<\/figure>
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NEIGHBORHOOD x Clarks Desert Trek GTX “Black”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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View on SNKRDUNK<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"WTAPS<\/figure>
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WTAPS x New Balance 990v6 “Gray”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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View on SNKRDUNK<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Engineered<\/figure>
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Engineered Garments \u00d7 New Balance 990v5 CG5 “Black”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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View on SNKRDUNK<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"New<\/figure>
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New Balance 993 “Gray”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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View on SNKRDUNK<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"New<\/figure>
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New Balance 1500 Made in Japan “Gray”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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View on SNKRDUNK<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Nike<\/figure>
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Nike WMNS Zoom Vomero 5 Premium “Designed by Japan”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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View on SNKRDUNK<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"PaperBoyParis<\/figure>
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PaperBoyParis x BEAMS x New Balance M1500<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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View on SNKRDUNK<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Mizuno<\/figure>
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Mizuno Wave Prophecy Moc “Black”
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View on SNKRDUNK<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"HAL<\/figure>
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HAL STUDIOS \u00d7 ASICS GEL-1130 MK 3 “Glacier”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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View on SNKRDUNK<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Source: reddit<\/a>, Tom Hoy<\/a>; POPEYE Magazine; Pinterest<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the latest releases, breaking news, and exclusive interviews, stay tuned to the\u00a0SNKRDUNK Magazine<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0@snkrdunk<\/a> on Instagram. Explore the\u00a0SNKRDUNK App<\/a> and use the welcome code from the banner below before making your first purchase.<\/span> Additionally, if you want to try a pair out,\u00a0visit our stores<\/a>\u00a0in Singapore and Japan!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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