Brown in Town

A blog about Japan, clothing and other desiderata. All photos are my own, unless otherwise noted.

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Gojira, Ginza, Tokyo.

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Ginza, with Tokyo Tower in the background.

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Goju-no-to (five-storied pagoda), Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima, Japan. 

Some 600 years old (although it had some major repair work done in 1945), the vermillion-clad pagoda is constructed so as to resist typhoons and earthquakes. 

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Archway tile, Ryoan-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan.

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It’s not every day that, whilst wandering the streets of a foreign city, you stumble upon the historic site of Miyamoto Musashi’s first duel against the then pre-eminent Yoshioka school of swordsmanship. 

This tree, located near Kitano Tenmangu shrine in north-western Kyoto, apparently marks the spot of Miyamoto’s duel against Yoshioka Seijuro on the 8th of March 1604. Miyamoto arrived late (as was his habit) and struck Seijuro a single blow on his left shoulder, knocking him out and crippling his arm. 

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Incense. Kinkaku-ji, Kyoto, Japan. 

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Setting sun, Mizumoto-koen, Tokyo. 

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New Year's Day, Kyoto.

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Autumn leaves, Hozu River, Kyoto.

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Here's lookin' at you, kid. 

Ceremonial mask, Papua New Guinea. 

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Tokyo Sky Tree on a cloudy summer's evening. 

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Another batch of G.Inglese shirts via Deer Style in Brisbane.

The chambray is my favourite of the four - it has a lovely hand and feels both soft and durable. I'm really looking forward to wearing it. 

Inglese really do make fantastic shirts. The collars are beautifully shaped, and both collars and cuffs are nicely springy and are neither too firm nor too floppy. The fabric choices offered if ordering via Deer Style are great, and the construction of the shirts is better than any other of my Italian shirts. 

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Crouching tree, hidden lantern. 

Rikugien garden, Tokyo. 

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Rikugien garden in the rain. 

Tokyo, Japan.

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Temple lantern, Japan. 

Only another week until I'm back there on holidays again. 

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Some new shirts by G.Inglese of Ginosa in Italy, via Rene of Deer Style in Brisbane. 

These are, quite simply, hands down the best shirts that I have. Better than my Borrelli or Barba shirts, better than my shirts from Hilditch & Key or Turnbull & Asser, they are both beautiful and beautifully made. 

The springiness and roll of the collar, the little "nubs" of hand-stitching along the seams, the hand-shaped buttonholes, the mother-of-pearl buttons that are not too thin and yet not too ostentatiously large, the silky softness of the cloth and the excellent fit make these shirts an absolute delight to wear. 

If you'd like some, too, get in touch with my friend Rene at Deer Style: [email protected]