Issue #19

Words by Cory Ohlendorf | Photography courtesy

The inside of a Japanese L.L.Bean store might look a lot like one of the outdoor outfitter’s shops in America, but outside the customers tend to look a little different. There are cool guys pulling up in pristine SUVs, decked with Snow Peak gear and stylish Yama or “mountain girls” planning to utilize their new purchase on a weekend escape from their dull city jobs.

Many Japanese—following the government’s push over the past few decades for workers to cut down on long hours—have embraced time off for outdoor activities with their friends and families. And with that, has come a deeper appreciation for outdoor gear, new performance apparel and rugged heritage brands. L.L.Bean ticks all those boxes, which is why they’re enjoying such a surge in popularity.

The Maine-based brand certainly knew what they were doing when they brought their particular range of Americana to Japan. As the desire of foreign goods and well-made American classics was on the rise, L.L.Bean became something of a status symbol in the 1980s. By the early’ 90s, the Bean had built solid brand awareness in Japan, and without spending a penny on marketing, the company had 130,000 Japanese customers on its catalog list. So, naturally, it was time to open branded retail stores.

There was immediate cultural synergy between outdoorsy, practical Maine and nature-and-tradition loving Japan. One small shop in Tokyo’s trendy Jiyugaoka led to another and another, before the brand expanded to other cities and eventually opened a sprawling flagship in the city’s Kichijoji neighborhood. Today, the brand does collaborations with high-end shops like United Arrows and stylish camping magazines like GO OUT.

And while much of the assortment on offer is the same in both countries, Japan developed the “Japan fit” for local customers to suit smaller frames. That led to a separate and distinct JAPAN EDITION—a collection designed by a Japanese team for the Japanese customer. Having first released in 2023, L.L.Bean JAPAN EDITION has just returned this month with another offering, including a variety of layering pieces in soft fabrications. The latest drop only further blends Japanese streetwear cues with direct inspiration from the label’s vintage outdoorsy roots.

This capsule is centered around the Field jacket, a beloved Bean staple, offered in light blue and beige duck-like cotton fabric. The coat includes atypical double-paneled waist pockets and a zippered breast pocket. Details like the darting along the elbows give the loose-fitting piece a flattering fit. Another standout piece is the Roxbury Vest, which is an essential layering piece that will nicely transition between seasons. The windbreaker vest, offered in duo-toned colorways of navy/forest green and charcoal/purple, recalls the outdoor-geared color palettes used by L.L.Bean in the 1990s. An adjustable bungee cord waistband provides versatile approaches to styling and fit preferences.

Remember back in 2023, when UNIQLO released that small crossbody bag that became a global, viral hit that everyone seemed to pick up (myself included)? Well, they might have done it again. Because no less than three American menswear friends sent me this bag, asking if I’d seen it in person here in Tokyo.

Why? Well, the rugged rip-stop satchel looks a whole lot like another rectangular shoulder bag from another Japanese brand—Porter. But while the Porter Tanker sling bag will set you back $625 (plus tax), the UNIQLO dupe rings in at a very attainable $30. It’s got the same military styling aspects—the durable rip-stop nylon comes in both black and olive drab and comes with a water-repellent finish. There are multiple pockets and chunky, hard-wearing zippers. Sure, the hardware isn’t as luxe as Porters, but it’s a damn fine bag and looks really good for thirty bucks. Grab it before it sells out.

Boketto (ボケット) is a term that’s used as a way of describing the act of gazing into the distance without thinking about anything in particular. Boketto is an onomatepeic word meaning “to do nothing,” derived from the word for daydreaming. But it’s actually different from daydreaming, meditation, or getting lost in thought—it’s more like a moment of mental rest. If you’re feeling tired or stressed, perhaps you train your eye out the window or towards the horizon and just revel in the silence. You’ve got nothing on your mind, and that’s exactly the point.