Issue #27

Words by Cory Ohlendorf | Photography courtesy/Bandana

Do you know Brutus? The 44-year-old lifestyle magazine is one Japan’s most-respected and well-known men’s publications. The brother magazine to the legendary Popeye, it was launched in the summer of 1980 by Heibon Publishing (which would later reorganize as Magazine House in 1983).

Further departing from Popeye, the bold, confrontational design, upscale “advertorials” and explicit sexuality of Brutus reflected the mature, edgy masculinity of Japan’s modern working man. It was envisioned as the city boy’s next stage of development as a consumer graduating into wage-earning adulthood.

Unlike traditional men’s fashion magazines at the time that emphasized only clothing, Brutus combined high style with in-depth cultural journalism, offering a broader perspective on lifestyle. It was the “thinking man’s fashion magazine,” and built its reputation by covering a diverse range of topics, from avant-garde styles to underground music, international travel, and emerging artistic movements. The magazine was instrumental in introducing Japanese readers to global subcultures and trends, often featuring interviews with foreign artists, designers, and intellectuals.

From its inception, the bimonthly magazine has featured a regular “Et tu, Brute?” column—referencing the infamous betrayer of Julius Caesar but also the moral ambiguity of its namesake comic book character, whose likeness appears as a coda at the end of early columns. These references depart from the cheerful innocence of Popeye, acknowledging the corruption of adulthood as the Brutus reader becomes increasingly burdened by life experience and responsibility.

However, following the didactic approach of Japanese magazines, Brutus was a means to educate its reader on a socially-acceptable, and quintessentially masculine style of both living and consumption. Regular special issues, known as tokushu, became a defining feature of Brutus. These highly researched deep-dive thematic editions, covering topics like gourmet food, architecture, cinema, and literature, attracted a loyal readership and expanded its influence beyond just fashion.

Even today, Brutus continues to push a refined tastes and a stylish approach to living well, with its website broken down into sub-categories like Eat, Drink, Watch, Listen, Wear, Drive and Think. The digital hub is full of interested reads and editor-recommended products, but the print magazine still retains its sophisticated cool. The kind of magazine a stylish man of a certain age should have on his coffee table.

You know UNIQLO has a reputation for unbeatable quality at amazing prices, but this suit will surprise you. It certainly surprised me when I tried it on. The first thing you’ll notice is the fit—it’s relaxed and unstructured, the perfect summer suit. The second is the fabric, an extremely lightweight and breathable quick-drying stretch fabric that was jointly developed by UNIQLO and the famed Toray fabric mill. It’s got a bouncy drape that works well layered over dress shirts, knit polos and plain ribbed tank tops. Combined with the slightly high-waisted pleated pants, it makes the suit look and feel a whole lot more expensive than it really is—and that’s what we really love about this beloved Japanese brand.

Tsuki ga kirei desu ne (月が綺麗ですね) is a phrase that directly translates to, “the moon is beautiful, isn’t it?” But it’s a phrase that is a poetic, almost secret substitute for saying “I love you”. It’s said that during famed Japanese writer Natsume Sōseki’s teaching years, he overheard a student awkwardly translating “I love you” into its literal and direct translation. Soseki believed—as a product of his time and culture in the Meiji period—that this direct translation rejected Japanese sensibility. Thus, this more subtle, nuanced translation was born.