By T. Jayani, JadeTimes News
T-shirts featuring the names of Scottish councils have unexpectedly become a fashion sensation in Japan. The Tokyo based brand Shoo La Rue has launched a range that includes names like Falkirk, Clackmannanshire, North Lanarkshire, and West Lothian as part of their "Cutie Blonde" collection. These T-shirts have gone viral on social media, with the brand promoting them as having a "fun" pattern and recommending pairing them with "voluminous wide pants."
David Clements, a freelance football coach originally from Glasgow, was surprised to find one of these T-shirts, priced at 1,489 yen (£7.20), in a shopping mall. Clements, who splits his time between Glasgow and Saiki in the Oita region, remarked that it was extremely unusual to see any UK influence in the area.
Clements shared his astonishment with Scotland News, noting that in his time in Japan since 2010, he had rarely encountered another person from the UK, let alone seen Falkirk featured on a T-shirt. He expressed his disbelief at seeing the T-shirt prominently displayed on a promotional rail, suggesting the brand’s pride in the collection.
Clements, 39, pointed out that Japanese brands often include Western words or locations on their clothing without consulting a native speaker, which could explain the random dates and errors on some items. For instance, the Clackmannanshire T-shirt bears the slogan "clarity precedes success" beneath a Mediterranean scene, and the Falkirk design inaccurately indicates the town is in West Lothian.
He also highlighted that such mis transliterations occur in reverse, with brands popular in the UK. He mentioned that his wife, Nozoki, often laughs at brands like Superdry, which use random Japanese characters that make no sense.
Considering the potential for this trend to catch on, questions arise whether fashion enthusiasts in Kyoto will embrace Kilmarnock or if Oban will become popular in Osaka. While it is uncertain, one enterprising student in Tokyo, Michi Ochiai, mentioned to Scotland News that he might consider sending the T-shirts home if there is demand, though he hasn’t received any requests yet.
