Otokomae” is the origin of our media name. Since the launch of OTOKOMAE, we have been providing information on how to become a manly man from various perspectives. In this project, we interviewed some handsome men and extracted the essence of what it takes to become a man-beautiful man, especially in terms of appearance, or the “essence of man-beautifulness.
Fashion Advisor: Tomohiro Okushutani
For the first interview, we spoke with Tomohiro Oshuya, who has just launched his own clothing brand, CATAMARAN, while working as a fashion advisor. His appearance, his mannerisms, and his conversation overflowed with the sex appeal of a man. We will now explore what he thinks is the “essence of manliness.
Tomohiro Oshuya: Tomohiro Oshuya has worked at select stores such as United Arrows for many years, building up a career in sales, assistant buyer, VMD, and wholesale. As of June 2023, he has over 12,000 followers on Instagram.
The essence of manliness (1) “80% dressed up to blend in with the city.
Mr. Okushutani showed up at the cafe where we were meeting, dressed in a cleverly dressed down suit.We immediately asked him about the key points of today’s attire.
I put together a dress casual look with a suit, polo shirt, and a military jacket thrown over a rough jacket. The point is to dress up 80%. While the suit is dressy with a chief on the chest and leather shoes on the feet, a casual polo shirt is chosen as an inner layer to keep the style from being too formal.
– ( Editor ) 80% dressed up, I think that’s very easy to understand. It’s the secret to wearing a suit naturally as everyday wear. Are there any other points you keep in mind when styling?
When I think about how to dress, I always think about blending in with the cityscape. For example, Tokyo has a gray image with its many buildings and concrete, so I put together a base of monotone items such as a gray suit and black shoes to match. And to match the casual Harajuku streetscape, I downplay it with a military jacket.
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U.S. ARMY fatigued jacket purchased from dead stock
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A knit polo by “Vandori,” a knitwear brand for which he serves as an advisor.
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Belts from BRITISH EQUIPMENT PUBLISHING, a famous store where British lovers gather.
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Alden’s “990” plain toe, which he purchased in Milan on a business trip.
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– ( editor ) The urban medium gray suit looks great against tanned skin.
The suit was tailored by Giotto, a select store in Shizuoka, and is a freshly unloaded piece. I surf as a hobby, so my skin is naturally tanned. I used to be into the “gyaru-o” style, but now I don’t burn for the sake of it.
I have always had a complex about being skinny, so basically my suits are tailored with resilient English fabrics that don’t pick up body lines.
A good “sense of slackness” for adults is created by assessing the condition of things.
Another key point is that we try to choose what we wear as beautifully as possible so as not to spoil our adult elegance. I try to pay special attention to the collar, cuffs, and feet, which are the ends of the clothing, because they are unexpectedly seen by people.
( editorial staff ) Indeed, cleanliness is important from the viewpoint of not spoiling the elegance of the outfit. The fatigued jacket you are wearing has a vintage look to it, but it is not noticeably damaged in any way, such as tears or faded color, which gives it a sense of class.
I also value “looking at the condition” of things. White things should be white, and black things should be black. Also, I think it is important to determine what should not be dirty, such as suits or dress shoes, while some items, such as jeans or work boots, are cool because they are damaged or have changed over time.
The essence of manliness (2) “Calculated, unkempt hair” arrived at in the pursuit of natural coolness.
In terms of personal appearance, hair style is as important as clothing. Next to fashion, we asked Mr. Okushutani about his hairstyle.
As expected
I’m sorry I can’t give you an answer, but my hair is almost always appropriate (lol). I’m only half joking when I say that I have my hairdresser cut it in a neat and calculated way so that it looks like a natural hair style. I think it is what is called “unkempt hair,” but if I had to pick a particular point, it would be that I do not trim the sides of my hair. I have my hair cut short so that it doesn’t look “naughty”.
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The rough hairstyle requires only 1 to 2 minutes to set.
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The key is to let the hair flow naturally without trimming the sides.
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– ( editor ) Which salon do you go to?
It’s a hair salon called ACQUA in Omotesando. I’ve had my hair cut by the same hairdresser for almost 10 years now. I have made a few minor adjustments, but when I think back, this is the only hairstyle I’ve had for the past 10 years. This hairstyle does not look that uncomfortable even when it grows long, so I go to the hairdresser once every two months or so.
ーー (編集部) How did you arrive at that hairstyle?
I think I arrived at this hairstyle by pursuing natural coolness. And actually, the first time I had this hairstyle cut, I showed the hairdresser a picture of a sculpture from a book (lol).
ーー（編集部）I didn’t expect it to be a sculpture! It’s unexpected, but it seems to have a hint for a natural and cool hairstyle that fits your skeletal structure. Is it a famous sculpture you showed your hairdresser?
No, I think it was a totally unknown sculpture. I wish I could show it to you here, but unfortunately I forgot it too. I wish I could show you the sculpture here, but unfortunately I forgot it myself.
As for styling products, I’m all about Cook’s Grease.
As
for setting my
hair
. I use grease to make my hair stand up and shiny, then let it blend in naturally. That’s really all there is to it, but in my case, I find it calming to have an unconscious part of my hair somewhere, like not caring how it looks in the back. So my base hairstyle hasn’t changed in about 10 years, but it actually differs slightly depending on how I set it every day. By the way, yesterday the parting was reversed (lol)
.
I don’t like my styling products to be sticky, so I’ ve always used ” Cook’s Grease ” Extra Hard, which gives a nice wet look and setting power even with only a small amount. It is sold everywhere, so I can easily buy it, and it has good holding power that keeps my hair style in place even in the evening. I also like the pineapple scent.
Click here for details and purchase
The Elements of Manliness (3) “Incorporating the ‘experiences’ gained from travel into one’s appearance and behavior “
Those I consider manly are attractive not only on the outside in their physical appearance, but also on the inside. And I believe that the outside and the inside are closely related.
ーー（編集部）Is it true that by improving one’s inner charm, one can develop a mature, sophisticated, and relaxed appearance, which in turn exudes charm in one’s personal grooming?
Yes, I do. And in my case, I feel that the experience of traveling abroad has led to my inner growth.
ーー（編集部）I have an image that Ms. Okushutani frequently travels abroad, such as to Pitti Uomo in Italy and the Paris Collection.
That’s part of it, but what I feel has led to my personal growth is my private travels. I have always been curious, so I often traveled alone. For example, before Corona, I went to Hong Kong alone to see ” Art Basel,” the world’s largest art fair.
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‘ The Scrabble Players, a work by British contemporary art master David Hockney
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Art Basel Hong Kong 2015
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My travel destinations are often chosen from my favorite movies and books. I actually wanted to visit Hong Kong after seeing the 1995 movie ‘ Planet of Love,’ starring two handsome men (Tony Leung and Takeshi Kaneshiro).
On another visit to London, I went to ” The Ritz Restaurant ” in the hotel where Anna, played by Julia Roberts, was a regular guest in the movie ‘ The Lover of Notting Hill. I remember that I happened to pass by the restaurant the day before my reservation, so I took a peek as a preliminary inspection and was told ” You can’t go in there in sneakers,” and was turned away at the door. Compared to Japan, I realized that dress codes in restaurants overseas are much stricter, regardless of whether it is day or night. On the day of the event, you enjoyed your meal wearing a well-prepared jacket style and leather shoes.
When traveling
alone
, In any situation, the only person you can rely on is yourself. I believe that you will improve your inner self without even realizing it. Where will you go and what will you do? There are various restrictions on travel, such as budget, means of transportation, time schedule, and so on. While it is fun, you cannot afford to make mistakes in TPO. I believe that by putting some thought into these moments, we can develop a sense of “casualness” that is appropriate for adults.
( editorial department ) When I ask you about the fabric of the suit you are wearing today and the episode you had in London, I wonder if your style is influenced by the British culture.
That’s part of it, but I think the country that has influenced me the most is Italy. When I was working at United Arrows in my 20s, Classico Italia was the center of attention, and I strongly admired the fashionable people who participated in Pitti Uomo and their seniors who wore dress wear in a cool manner. I really wanted to experience the real atmosphere of Pitti Uomo, and I even paid my own expenses to accompany them.
I was shocked when I saw with my own eyes for the first time the handsome men of Italy. Not only their behavior, but also their suits and jackets had an overwhelmingly different sense of style. Even when they wore no tie and were dressed down, they didn’t look sloppy. I think that experience is definitely reflected in the way I dress 80% of the time now.
Element of manliness (4) “Polishing one’s inner self through reading, and deepening one’s appeal as an adult.
As the last element of manliness, Mr. Okushutani cited ” reading. He reads anything that interests him, regardless of genre, from practical books to novels, art, and photographers’ collections.
Reading is essential for gathering information. I read at least five books a month. I like to talk to people and I think people who have a lot to say are more attractive, so I think it is effective to make a habit of reading as a way to create stories.
ーー (Editorial board) Could you tell us about some of your favorite authors and book titles, Mr. Okushutani?
Recently, I have been hooked on autobiographies of men who lived cool lives, such as the late Shintaro Ishihara, former governor of Tokyo, and the late Kazuhiko Kato, a musician known as a stylish man. By reading such books, we can get very good stimulation and inspiration because we can learn what this person felt in that scene and how he overcame the ordeal.
ーー（編集部） Is there a reason why you read on paper instead of on your phone or tablet?
At one point I tried smartphones and tablets to switch to digital, but it just didn’t feel right somehow, so I ended up settling for paper. I have found that there are ways to enjoy paper, such as buying used paperback books for 100 yen, so I buy several titles I am interested in at once.
I often use the gap between train rides for reading. This is an afterthought, but I think you look more intelligent with a book in your hand than looking at your phone in the car. I also don’t want to show off to people what I’m reading, so I read with the cover inside out.
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