Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on December 2009

Photo by James Hadfield

Uniqlo’s UT T-shirt line lost some of its luster when the chain started selling the previously limited edition garments nationwide, but your friends and relatives overseas need never know that even grannies in Gunma are wearing the same tee as them. If you’d like something Japan-specific, the current line-up includes some ace designs featuring artwork by manga scribes Rumiko Takahashi (Urusei Yatsura), Taiyo Matsumoto (Tekkon Kinkreet) and Fujio Akatsuka (Tensai Bakabon). And, seriously, you’ve gotta love any T-shirt that comes packaged in a plastic container.

UT T-shirts, from ¥1,500. Available at UT Store Harajuku: 6-10-8 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-5468-7313. Open daily 11am-9pm. Nearest stn: Meiji-Jingumae or Harajuku.