The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-06-08
JAPANESE DEMAND
AMERICAN CLOTHES
Give Up Native Costumes for
Regular Suits.
DESIRE SMART APPEARANCE
Opens Market for Ready-Made APP
parel From This Country.
DESIRE SMART APPEARANCE

The men Of Japan are rapidly
changing their dress. One in four or
1--WE now wears the Occidental bust
ness suit OF Europe and America. As
q result, Japan offers a fine market
for American ready made clothing
according to a report from the Blu
reau Of Foreign and Domestic Com
merce, Department of Commerce.
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
'natty" appearance. with good lines
in their coats and trousers, and they
especially like the. rormer well cut
and with a somewhat military look.
In no other country, says the report
will the young men or the business
men OF standing spend more In pro-
portion to their income for the pur-
pose OF making a smart appearance.
1t has been said that the better
class Of American wearing apparel
cannot be sold in Japan because OF
the lON-pIlGEu 4hooA Nh oAAo0AN
japanese makers OF clothing, but
once having adopted foreign dress,
the japanese, true to his instinct FOR
neatness and smartness, wishes TO
wear only the correct style, even II II
costs more than the same clothing
made by a native or Chinese tailor.
This is shown by the fact that In
most Of the better-class tailoring
shops q 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
Tokyo, Yokohama, and Osaka taken
a few years ago present a different
aspect 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 West
srn aspect II one goes into the bank
ing houses or into the larger COM
mercial and mercantile establish
ments, or into any OF the government
offices, every employe will be found
clothed in Western garb. 1t hai
ceased to be a question OF national
sentiments many sought to make
II some years ago-and has become
q necessity, or a sort Of uniform OF
advancement, and as such Is being
adopted more and more widely.
As the new report is intended pri'
narily for those interested in market
ing some sort of wearing apparel
many of the chapters are devoted tc
methods OF carrying on such business
in Japan, but there is also absorbing
reading for all who are interested n
the Land Of the Rising Sun, for tbs
author, in leading up to the subject
of selling American wearing apparel
has discussed at considerable lengt-
the habits OF the people which govern
their choice of clothing. There are
ia pages in all, and II is sold for the
nominal price OF Is cents. Copies Of
the report, which is entitled Wear
ing Apparel in Japan" Special Agents
Series No. I30. may be obtained a.
that price by addressing the neares
district or cooperative office OF the
Bureau OF Foreign and Domestic Com
merce, or the Superintendent Of Doc
uments, Washington, D. c.