To a tee

Tokyo’s hottest T-shirt shops boast designs by some of Japan’s top talents. Hanna Kite dresses down.

In a country that has stores devoted to Tintin and Honda shirt collections, it’s not hard to stumble on a few funky graphic tees. These six Omotesando short-sleeve specialty shops, in particular, offer some of the finest examples of T-shirt art anywhere in Tokyo. Often collaborating with or led by the top designers in Japan, they offer the best selection in cutting-edge styles—and sometimes even at budget-pleasing prices. The more Japan-inspired stores provide easy gifts for hip relatives and friends back home, but there’s no reason to be selfless. With summer closing in, you can be sure to find a shirt that suits you. Fuji Rock, after all, is only a couple of months away.

BeamsT
BeamsT (pictured above) is immediately recognizable by the rotating T-shirt contraption in its window. Always at the forefront of fashion and design, BeamsT has a summer selection that features garments in the very trendy colors of lime, lavender and light pink. The clerks we spoke to say that since the weather has warmed up and layers are coming off, more of their younger customers are interested in designs that cover the whole shirt and patterns with flowers and butterfly accents. Shirts with a “softer” homemade or stenciled look are also popular. Some T-shirts, such as Lightning (¥5,040) by The Wonderful Design Works, have been paired with similarly inspired flip-flops.

3-25-15 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-3470-8601. Open 11am-8pm. Nearest stns: Harajuku, Meijijingumae. www.beamsT.com

graniph

The company that runs graniph is only a few years old, and their Harajuku shop is even younger: just two months. The owners decided that customers shouldn’t have to pay an arm and a leg for a quality shirt. So they came up with a plan: one shirt costs ¥2,500 and two shirts just ¥4,000. Casual is the theme here. The clerks want visitors to look at as many shirts as they like, so they don’t refold every garment the instant someone has touched it. Graniph has about 300 patterns—animals, women and cityscapes are just the beginning—that appeal to pretty much anyone. Some of the patterns are only possible because of cutting-edge printing techniques. Graniph also has a shop in Shimokitazawa.

3-25-5 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-5785-2808. Open noon-8pm. Nearest stns: Harajuku, Meijijingumae. www.graniph.com

Akiz
It’s a bit hard to believe, but Akiz’s buyers actually visit the US mainland or Hawaii six or seven times a year to fill their shelves. Probable Guinness world record for small business in Aoyama aside, Akiz (pictured right) sells domestic goods that are pretty impressive too. Our favorites include their Japanese-style wares, like the T-shirt with a geta sandals logo and the words “The Man” written underneath, and T-shirts made in collaboration with Puma Japan. While their trademark indigo dragonfly is popular among foreigners, Akiz, says store manager Hagimori, aims to be a fusion between old and new Japan. He recommends their rhino and elephant side print (¥5,800) shirts.

6-2-7 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-5466-5567. Open daily 11am-8pm. Nearest stns: Harajuku, Meijijingumae. www.akizjapan.com

Densuke
Densuke is a Mecca for anyone who fancies Japanese style but doesn’t want a big red dot and a “Nihon ichiban” on their chest. The shop specializes in taking traditional Japanese motifs from the Edo period and other historical eras and finding a place for them on a shirt. These tees would look just as classy on your mother as on your brother, and Densuke’s owners unveil new designs every couple of months, so it’s always worth the trip. This summer they’ve introduced no-sleeve tops and a diamond-and-wave pattern T-shirt. The owners also happen to be some of the kindest people you’ll ever want to meet.

3-28-5 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-3478-7351. Open daily noon-8pm. Nearest stn: Harajuku, Meijijingumae. www.densuke.com

Shop 33

Shop 33 started in Kichijoji as a used-record store and evolved into a music and clothing boutique that honors the music and club scene. The Harajuku location features the designs of TAR, CCP and the brilliantly named Visible Elephant 47, as well as some handpicked CDs. Shop 33 has been painted in red, white, hot pink and gray to echo the stripes of their main contributors, The Designer’s Republic. While the store is quite tiny, a small door by the toilet leads to an annex. The shop itself is a bit hidden; when you start to wonder if you are lost, you’re almost there. Online orders can also be made in English.

5-18-8 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-5468-3133. Open Thu-Tue noon-8pm, closed Wed. Nearest stns: Harajuku, Meijijingumae. www.shop33.com

Ijiit Keiji Itakura
After working with the design company A/T for six years, Keiji Itakura opened his Omotesando shop (pictured right) in February because he wanted to develop his own style—in his words, “casual clothing with a mature look as well as an avant-garde touch and cuteness.” One of his T-shirts has what appears to be a human skull made up of the silhouettes of tigers, giraffes, and the like; on the reverse, the same animals are all lined up in a row. Part of his Rabics line includes tees that come with a Rabbit sticker. The idea is that the customer can place the animal sticker where they like, making each shirt a one-of-a-kind.

5-11-9 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-3499-7355. Open daily 11am-8pm. Nearest stns: Harajuku, Meijijingumae. www.ijiit.com

Photos by Hanna Kite

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