Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-10-18
'jAPS- WANT T0GS
OF STRIKING CUT
TASTE IN CLOTHES MEANS BIG
MARKET FOR MAKERS OF
WESTERN ATTIRE.
Americans Miss Right Share Of Trade,
Says Bureau Report.

Says Bureau Report.
Rapid adoptions OF western dress in
Japan has made Nippon one of the
most promising markets in the world
for European and American makers Of
wearing apparel, especially ready.
made clothing, but according TO re-
port just issued by the bureau of for
eign and domestic commerce, depart
ment Of commerce, the American man.
facturers have not been getting their
share of the business.
The report estimates that at least
one in every four or five male Japa-
nese is now wearing western clothing.
This means from 100000 to 6,000,-
600 persons, and the number is rapidly
increasing. 1t is evident, therefore,
that there is large market for for
eign style clothes, wherever made
ca. 1t is also evident that this market
is rapidly increasing. At the time the
war started at least two countries
Germany and England-were manag.
ing to supply Japan with a large
amount of readytowear clothing.
They were doing this at prices gener-
ally much in excess of the Japanese
made products and selling them in the
keenest competition with the Japa-
nese articles, because of the superior
quality of material or the workman
ship, or both.
According to the author of the re-
port, Special Agent Stanhope Sans,
the Japanese like to dress well and
in as strict conformity as possible
with the best prevailing fashions,
whether in their native or in adopted
foreign costume. They are not eco
nomical in the sense that they will
wear old or inferior clothes. They
wish always to make a neat or nat
ty" appearance, with good lines in
their coats and trousers, and they es-
pecially like the former well cut and
with a somewhat military look. In no
other country, says the report, will
the young men OF the business men Of
standing spend more in proportion to
their income for the purpose of max
ing a smart appearance.
1t has been said that the better
class of American wearing apparel
cannot be sold in Japan because of the
low priced labor available for Japa-
nese makers of clothing, but once hav-
ing adopted foreign dress the Japa-
nese, true to his instinct for neatness
| and smartness, wishes TO wear only
| the correct style, even if it costs more
than the same clothing made by ma
tive or Chinese tailor. This is shown
by the fact that in most of the better
class tailoring shops a point is made
of having the cutting at least done by
an English or American tailor.
There is no more striking evidence
| of the growth of foreign influence in
Japan than that furnished by the
shifting of the national costume.
| Every day sees some change in this
respect. Pictures of street scenes in
Toxic of japanese street life from that
| revealed by pictures taken today in
| the same thoroughfares. In the
| crowded hours of the day the streets
| of these cities present quite a western
| aspect. If one goes into the banking
houses or into the larger commercial
and mercantile establishments or into
any of the government offices, every
employe will be found clothed in west
ern garb. 1t has ceased to be Ques'
| tion of national sentiment-as many
sought to make it some years ago
and has become a necessity or sort
| of uniform of advancement, and az
such is being adopted more and more
widely.