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Dressing in Tokyo - cultural differences

Tman1972

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I’ll be in Tokyo in a few weeks for the first time and plan on doing a lot of walking to visit the local establishments (soaps, pinsaroa, oppai pubs, massage, etc..) I know the culture is different there and I’m wondering if what I wear maybe turn people off or prevent me from getting admitted to such places. For example: If I wear jeans, t-shirt, sneakers and appropriate outerwear to walk around outside (winter coat, gloves, etc...) will that be ok or will I get snubbed for dressing like a gaijin?
 
You can wear anything as long as you look respectable. Don’t go dresses like a fool and you’ll only get rejected for either lack of Japanese or whatever the doorman chooses as a means to reject you. Lol
 
Dress it up a little. You wouldn't show up to a high-end club or brothel in New York dressed like that would you? At least wear some nice dark jeans and a collared shirt of some kind. And maybe bring some comfortable but nice leather shoes. And you want to be clean and look sharp. When you walk into these places you only have a few seconds to impress the boss.

I prefer to masquerade around as a businessman when I visit but you don't have to go that far.
 
Looking respectable doesn’t means jeans and a t-shirt unless they are tailored and the shirt says Gucci or something on it. Perhaps what Lukes is referring to is Professor-style wear. For me, I’ve dress up in a Florida-style jumpsuit and let in a place that seems off limits to most. That Boca look served me well. Left that at home this time as I’m not on vacation. I might try other random places. To try my luck again. I did see some signs that said “No foreigners”. And Foriegners Fucking go home”. Something like that. I’ve been rejected by places in a nice suite and the so keep in mind that it’s not always about your clothes. It could be the doorman’s orders from the boss. It could be lack of Nihongo skills. It could be your skin color. It could be the girls in the back. I was told by a manager that the girl I chose would only service Asian cock. She was not interested in foreigners, found them disgusting. Something like that. Then there is the image of the shop and beliefs that foreigners have dirty dicks that carry venereal diseases. Thus they may lose local business due to such stereotypes. They may or may not be true but the beliefs are there. Some my question my statements but it’s what I’ve experienced. Good luck if you are from India from what I’ve heard from them during company drinking events. On the other hand a black guy I know regularly mongers to the point of me thinking he’s an addict to sex. But the dude gets around and he’s a hoot. He did tell me that he never tries to go to a soap without a suite, but deriheru he wears whatever he feels like at the time. So Id say wear a nice blazer with nice jeans or slacks and or a suit. But that is my opinion.
 
Looking respectable doesn’t means jeans and a t-shirt unless they are tailored and the shirt says Gucci or something on it. Perhaps what Lukes is referring to is Professor-style wear. For me, I’ve dress up in a Florida-style jumpsuit and let in a place that seems off limits to most. That Boca look served me well. Left that at home this time as I’m not on vacation. I might try other random places. To try my luck again. I did see some signs that said “No foreigners”. And Foriegners Fucking go home”. Something like that. I’ve been rejected by places in a nice suite and the so keep in mind that it’s not always about your clothes. It could be the doorman’s orders from the boss. It could be lack of Nihongo skills. It could be your skin color. It could be the girls in the back. I was told by a manager that the girl I chose would only service Asian cock. She was not interested in foreigners, found them disgusting. Something like that. Then there is the image of the shop and beliefs that foreigners have dirty dicks that carry venereal diseases. Thus they may lose local business due to such stereotypes. They may or may not be true but the beliefs are there. Some my question my statements but it’s what I’ve experienced. Good luck if you are from India from what I’ve heard from them during company drinking events. On the other hand a black guy I know regularly mongers to the point of me thinking he’s an addict to sex. But the dude gets around and he’s a hoot. He did tell me that he never tries to go to a soap without a suite, but deriheru he wears whatever he feels like at the time. So Id say wear a nice blazer with nice jeans or slacks and or a suit. But that is my opinion.
Can we see a sample of your Boca Style Florida Jumpsuit? I am having a hard time understanding exactly what that is.
 
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I did see some signs that said “No foreigners”. And Foriegners Fucking go home”

I saw a sign where Foreigners and Welcome were in large letters and the rest of the words in the sign were letting us know that were were not...


guy I know regularly mongers to the point of me thinking he’s an addict to sex.

aren't we all... :)
 
Can we see a sample of your Boca Style Florida Jumpsuit? I am having a hard time understanding exactly what that is.

Don't feel lost. I live in FL and have no idea what look he is talking about...
 
I can imagine you being puzzled. It might be that you just don’t pay attention enough, a type of tunnel vision, or something of that nature. It’s simple, wear any brand t-shirt with sweats. Some like the Chanel or Gucci jumpsuit. I call it the Boca-style. Something I saw sported in Florida. I’m sorry you missed that fashion.
 
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You know, I bet Alice would rock in some brands like Chanel, or Adidas. Adidas, with all of their softer colors, would look great on you. I go for the Gucci look.
 
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Japanese don't do formal or business very well but they absolutely kill with smart casual. Somehow the people in the office technically wearing the same things as me look stylish whereas I look like a slob.
 
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Japanese don't do formal or business very well but they absolutely kill with smart casual. Somehow the people in the office technically wearing the same things as me look stylish whereas I look like a slob.
My impression of Japanese men trying to look stylish is that they usually fail because they they copy perfectly some look they saw in a magazine or movie. They always go way overboard and end up looking like like foppish poseur wannabes. The Italians are the ones who naturally get it right. They always dress very sytlishly and look very cool but it comes off as original and natural. I still want to see the boca jumpsuit! I can imagine a guy in sweats and a gucci t shirt. Is that the boca look?
 
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This is probably not nice to say but often times non-westernized Asians look funny to me when in "stylish" garb. It's like looking at the opposite of conventional masculinity because they dress so flamboyantly. They try to copy the jpop and kpop men.
 
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An impovement imo.
To me, manner of dress says a lot about a person. But ultimately how someone chooses to dress is their own decision. How others receive it also depends on that person's beliefs. It's not for me to decide so I'll just leave it there.
 
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I don't dress up often. I have not had an issue going into pretty getter in jeans and a sweatshirt. I've also not had issue with gaijin friendly hotel heath shop. I think it's not so much that you are wearing jeans, t-shirt and sneakers, but that they don't look all ratty and dirty, and that you carry yourself as someone who is respectable. If you walk into a shop and you speak proficient polite Japanese and you are in a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt you're more likely to be more well received than the guy in the suite who acts like an ass.
 
A lot of it depends on your grooming and body type and age. If you are overweight or old, its hard to look presentable in anything other than a suit or at least slacks and a fitted shirt.
If you are in good shape, young and well groomed, you’ll still look good in jeans and a nice t-shirt.
Doormen will base their assesments on the whole package.

Ps no need for a red blooded male to be wearing gloves in this weather.
 
My impression of Japanese men trying to look stylish is that they usually fail because they they copy perfectly some look they saw in a magazine or movie. They always go way overboard and end up looking like like foppish poseur wannabes. The Italians are the ones who naturally get it right. They always dress very sytlishly and look very cool but it comes off as original and natural. I still want to see the boca jumpsuit! I can imagine a guy in sweats and a gucci t shirt. Is that the boca look?
That's not smart casual