In house favorite, Pingmag, profiles Kume, a traditional t-shirt manufacturer in Japan that stays focused on producing a domestically made high quality shirts. So how did said company get purely into the business of t-shirts?

“It was the 1950s, and at that time you never saw anyone wearing a t-shirt out on the streets in Japan. But my father was a real movie watcher and he was strongly influenced by the American culture he saw projected up on the silver screen, and I guess he wanted to emulate it. Then, one day he saw a movie where Marlon Brando was wearing a t-shirt. My father saw it and thought, ‘That’s it!’”

Read the full story at Pingmag, “The Adventures of the Japan-made T-shirts: Kume”

This article originally appeared on Selectism.com.

Pingmag | Japan Made T-Shirts: Kume

© 2008 Selectism for Titel Media. Author: Jeff Carvalho | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us |

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The Ping Mag family of sites continues to report and explore the long history of Japanese textiles and industrial manufacturing with this great piece on Cast Iron Tea Kettles. “Yamagata is the home to some of Japan’s oldest iron foundries. This is also where some of the most innovative cast iron manufacturers are based today. Among these, the oldest of them all is Kikuchi Hojudo.” There is a 960 year legacy of cast iron works in Yamagata! That number to me is staggering. A fascinating read.

More images from the Kikuchi Hojudo Cast Iron Factory in Yamagata after the jump.

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© 2008 Selectism for Titel Media. Author: Jeff Carvalho | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us |

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Some incredible imagery from avante garde watch maker, Haruo Suekichi over on PingMag Japan. "Reminiscent of Jules Verne and influenced by manga, his finely crafted watches are of a vintage futuristic kind. And what started with an unsuccessful attempt to hawk them at a flea market has turned into an enterprise whose analogue objects of desire are hard to get. PingMag had a chance to sit down with Tokyo’s very own Steampunk poster boy in his studio in Yoyogi Uehara."

Read the full interview at PingMag.

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Bless Pingmag MAKE for kicking out some of the best features covering the the world of quality craftsmanship and manufacturing in Japan. Their feature, "85 Years of Soap" gives coverage to a tiny soap company, Tohoku Sekken Sat Kojo, that has been producing one simple plain white bar of soap for more than, you guessed it, 85 years.

A great write-up on a company being able to focus in and do one product incredibly well with out a drop of marketing money to support it.

Read the full story at Pingmag.

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Every so often one can sit back and examine the details in the textiles used in the the clothing and drapery that cover (well most of us) and protect us. But for others, the bare assembly of the fibers used in making those textiles is what really feeds and progresses fashion. PingMag Japan examines the very fiber of it all with their latest, "Natural Textiles From Forest and Field." "Grasses, roots, flowers, and barks, all taken from the wilds of her own backyard are what make up Tsuru Watanabe’s dyes. Tsuru has been dyeing and weaving textiles for over forty years, and her trade has taken her on travels all over the world. With a philosophy based on the Folk Art Movement, she makes her all-natural textiles without any chemicals."

Read the full essay with some beautiful photography at PingMag.

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Japan’s PingMag profiles a trend in Japan which many in the West may not be aware of: adult colouring books. “Colouring books for adults have become popular in the last few years for their purported mental effects, helping people to reduce stress and relax.” Ping’s article continues with suggestions and recommendations to some of the more popular adult colouring books on the market as well as text reminding us that staying within the lines takes patience and concentration.

A great and interesting read for all. 

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PingMag shows the international appeal of Father’s Day with a nice spread on how their picks for the Day of the Dad. "The third Sunday of June is upon us, which means Father’s Day is nearly here! Huh, in Japan, we nearly forgot about that tradition. Now to remind you, while popular Mother’s Day gifts are traditionally flowers, jewellery, and sweets, Father’s Day gifts seem to be the equivalent standards such as socks, whiskey, or golf items… Yawn. To spice the gift giving ritual up a bit, PingMag recommends seven extraordinary presents from Japan — from a science mag to build his own Theremin to an “Instant Ramen Timer,” this will leave your dad wide-eyed, we guarantee!"

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PingMag has a great write-up on the history of the Japanese School Uniform. Its history goes way back – “The school uniform, seifuku, in Japan started over a hundred years ago, in the Meiji period. According to the Tombow Uniform Museum, first a more formal kimono, shirt and hakama combination was selected by the Ministry of Education, to “escalate” the profile of students.”

Though not dedicated to menswear, this story is a very nice read into one aspect of Japanese culture that many in the Western world seem to obsess over. And for those looking to buy your own modern Japanese school uniform, visit Conomi!

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Pingmag interviewed Serbian photographer Boogie recently. It’s a nice in-depth read and also they present a strong selection of his works. Read it here.

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