THE JAPAN NEWS


 

Kneeling down in blue denim overalls, he looks up to strike a pose. The T-shirt and cap, both in vivid red, are a great combination. But at first glance, it’s hard to tell what gender he is — the impression he gives is that of a cute, sporty girl.

Meet Yutaro, an 18-year-old model dubbed a “gender-neutral boy” who is known for his mysterious appeal.

 

Yutaro defined his distinctive taste in fashion while working at secondhand clothes stores. After finishing middle school, he started working for the Osaka outlet of Santonibunnoichi, a secondhand clothes chain known for selling pop and innovative items. Yutaro said he was fascinated with the divergence he saw in the items he handled — they were in colors and shapes very different from today’s clothes. The one-off aspect also captivated him.

“You can enjoy making unique and distinctive fashion combinations with them. It’s very appealing,” Yutaro said.

 

Yutaro began appearing on TV and at fashion events after he was introduced as a “charismatic shop assistant” on TV early this year.
While he owns about 400 to 500 pieces of clothing, Yutaro constantly visits secondhand stores to be inspired and get new ideas for enhancing his fashion expertise.

I went to see Yutaro at Santonibunnoichi’s Harajuku outlet in Tokyo, where he still serves customers whenever he has the time. He made several combinations — from something chic to something cute — and personally dressed in them for me, transforming himself into someone different.

 

His first choice was a pair of pajamas with pink stripes worn that he matched in a completely inconceivable way with a pair of white, thick-soled sneakers to accentuate the loose silhouette. The white color of his sneakers, as well as the cap he coordinated it with, reinforced the pink, which is typically regarded as a female color.

He then matched a white shirt with a pair of slim, black pants — both from his personal wardrobe. He looked older and more mature, and the black socks and leather shoes made him look smart. Overall, he produced a nicely easygoing impression with the help of the shirt’s overly long sleeves. His combination of denim overalls and red T-shirt and cap is one of Yutaro’s favorites.

 

Yutaro recently released “Boku dayo” (It’s me), published by Gakken Plus Co. — a book on personal grooming and fashion. Yutaro said he was concerned about seeing young people dress less uniquely these days, possibly because of the prevalence of cheap, easy fashion items. “I wish they would be more expressive, rather than worrying how they are perceived,” he said.