Comments on: Real Men Don’t Wear Shorts

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 00:02:00 +0000

Considering Japan has special split toe socks(tabi)designed specifically for wearing with sandals(geta, waraji, zori, et cetera)… I think they thoroughly embrace the concept.

By: Pindy

Pindy — Sun, 07 Jul 2013 01:04:00 +0000

I’m in Japan now (July 2013) and I can tell you that the moratorium on shorts-wearing seems to have been officially lifted in Tokyo. I arrived having thought that I’d have no shorts-wearing opportunities, but I would say that every 8th Japanese man I’ve seen, between ages 17-45 are wearing shorts, and not the Man-Pris Japan so common in Japan, but the knee-bearing kind. Everywhere I go, as well, there are shorts on display in stores for sale, with men trying them on regularly. A quick pop in to UNIQLO has an entire wall of the things. Dickies, ever popular in Japan, are also selling massive amounts of them. I think if you’re still worried about this, you’re concerned about being laughed at by the Harajuku set.

By: Mr. Smith

Mr. Smith — Mon, 01 Jul 2013 16:58:00 +0000

Simply put, you don’t know what you’re talking about. Above the knee shorts are quite fashionable for men here and have been for some time. Ginza, Shibuya, Shinjuku, it doesn’t matter.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 00:39:00 +0000

Shorts without tights (for women of course) is a rare sight. As the heat and humidity is here, it’s full short season. I saw a lady who I’m assuming is Japanese, and she had not tights on. It didn’t really seem too unusual to me until I noticed the silent, judging stares. Also, as far as being gaijin and not expected to know better, I’ve come across many Japanese who expect your demeanor to be Japanese. Think of the baka gaijin segment. Certain things, I definitely think it’s simple regional etiquette anyone can look up. There are so many subtle etiquette things common in Japan that if you do it without thinking, you will be unfriended, especially when you’re learning Japanese for the first time. For instance, I said ganbatte to a few elderly ladies hiking up the mountain while I was going down. I got a strange look and “arigato?” in return. Turns out because of the significant age difference, kudasai was necessary, so my attempt to even try reaching out was rejected, and I may have the baka gaijin stamp on me for all eternity. Shorts is just the tip of it all!

By: Joseph Rizzo

Joseph Rizzo — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 02:54:00 +0000

You win the internet.

By: Bubba

Bubba — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 01:52:00 +0000

Real men wear very short jorts with very high-heeled, pointy toe cowboy boots.