"Once I step off the pitch, I need time to switch between work and private life. That's why I think clothing is important."

Tomoaki Makino, a member of the Japanese national soccer team and a professional soccer player, is able to switch between his professional and personal life. This demonstrates his high level of awareness as a professional athlete. The businessman's adage, "The more capable a person is, the better they know how to rest," also applies to Makino. He knows that only by creating an environment where he doesn't become exhausted can he dedicate himself to his next task.

Although she's known for her natural, easygoing personality, her words on this day were very serious. She's especially known for her strong opinions on fashion, having had them since her first year as a professional.

"One day, I went to practice in my jersey and a senior player got really angry at me. He told me that I had to inspire people not only on the pitch, but also through my clothes and belongings. I've always liked clothes, but that's when I started to seriously think about expressing myself through fashion. I decided to use my salary on things that would showcase myself."

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His suits are custom-made, and his casual wear ranges from surfer style to vintage clothing. He's also adept at styling with tailored jackets. He holds a "fashion gathering" with his friends once a month, where they exchange ideas and rack their brains over what to wear. He values clothing as a means of communication.

Using clothing as a communication tool proved useful even during her time abroad.

"I brought a lot of clothes from Japan, but that alone wasn't enough to fit in with my teammates. There's a certain off-duty style that's appropriate for the community there, and it's usually German designer brands or street brands. Wearing the same brands of clothing helps you get accepted as part of the group. I went shopping with my teammates at our favorite clothing store in Cologne, and that's how I finally felt accepted as part of the group. But when I wear those clothes back in Japan, they sometimes stick out in a strange way (laughs)."

These days, given his age, he often wears a jacket. Makino, who values his relationships with people outside of soccer as well as meeting with superiors, says, "I always keep enough clothes in my closet to suit any occasion."

"Right now, if I were to wear a suit, I'd definitely prefer a double-breasted one. I actually wear suits quite often. By the way, I'm in charge of directing the team's official suits together with the supplier."

He slips onto an iconic Adidas suit, casually paired with a T-shirt and shorts. The stretchy seersucker fabric is just the right balance of casual and dressy. This well-balanced suiting seems to suit Makino's sense of style perfectly.

Jacket ¥31,320 Purchase here
Shorts ¥14,040 Purchase here

"I've been really impressed with this recent Adidas series. It used to be more like jersey material, but now that it's seersucker, it has a really refreshing feel to it. It looks like it would be cool in the summer, and I feel like I'd rather wear it than a black or navy suit. Lately I've been into suits and jacket-and-pants styles with braces, so I'd like to wear this suit with braces as well."

Recommending the latest trend of wearing braces shows a very sophisticated sense of fashion. He has a great understanding of the balance between fashion that expresses one's individuality and fashion that serves as a communication tool for others. The reason he has so many friends off the pitch is probably a testament to this well-balanced sense of fashion.

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