Even if you have concerns about your body shape, you can become more fashionable Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 7th floor = Tall & Plus Size Super Men (hereinafter referred to as Super Men) -- In this project, the Super Men buyer will coordinate the latest fashion items for athletes who had previously given up on fashion from the start, thinking "anything that fits is OK" because of their body shape.

This time, we feature Ryuhito Noro, who is aiming to become a member of the Japanese national team for 3x3 basketball, which will become an official event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. As a professional basketball player, he practices from morning till night, and his daily routine of going back and forth between the court and home means that he "had neither the time nor the need to dress stylishly." However, as he has traveled overseas and achieved good results in matches, he has become a player who attracts attention, and he has had to start paying attention to his clothing. We should also keep an eye on Japanese basketball, which won a bronze medal at the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2018 and is in a position to aim for a podium finish at the Olympics.

Super Men's Buyer Yosuke Imaizumi (left in photo) and athlete Ryuhito Noro (right in photo)

The highly anticipated 3x3 basketball team for the Olympics has emerged.

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Six players on a court half the size of a five-on-five basketball court. In 3x3 basketball, where players compete with intense physical contact, not only technique but also physique is a crucial factor. Ryuhito Noro, who belongs to the professional 3x3 team "BEEFMAN.EXE," is a leading example of a Japanese player with a gifted physique. He played a key role in last year's Asian Cup, where his team won a bronze medal, and he is currently one of the most anticipated players to represent Japan in basketball 3x3, which has been officially selected as an Olympic sport for both Tokyo in 2020 and Paris in 2024.

3-on-3 basketball, which originated as street basketball "3on3," adopted a globally standardized official rule system in 2007 and was renamed "3x3 (Three-on-Three)." While dedicated courts are still few, the game is easy to set up, meaning it can be played anywhere as long as a suitable location is available, not just in an arena. Many games are played outdoors, with venues ranging from shopping mall parking lots to the gates of historical sites. In fact, official matches are held in a variety of locations, including the approach to Futara-san Shrine in Utsunomiya, Japan, and a waterfront park overlooking the Sydney Opera House in Australia. The presence of DJs and MCs during games is similar to extreme sports like skateboarding and BMX, and the atmosphere at the venue reaches a fever pitch comparable to a festival or event.



"Look, isn't this the opera house or something? The photo is great, isn't it? I didn't take it, a professional photographer did. Oh, it's disappeared. That's not it... Ah, this is it. It's really photogenic, isn't it? It's outdoors, and 3x3 is outdoors, so it's photogenic. Also, this is from a recent game, hmm? Where was it, the photo, the photo..."

Mr. Noro took out his smartphone and showed me some photos, and it was endearing to see him fumbling with it from time to time. His gentle and kind personality, which shone through despite his agile and hard-contact playing style, was surprisingly mild-mannered and I was taken aback. I visited Yokohama B-COURT, the outdoor basketball court in Yokohama City that is the dedicated court for his team. It has excellent access, being adjacent to a subway station. Mr. Noro, a professional 3x3 player, "comes to work" here every day to practice, and sometimes moves to the gym to train. In addition, he also teaches basketball to children twice a week, which is also part of his "job." The interview took place in March, when the sounds of spring were just beginning to be heard, on a bench next to the court, gathered around a heater.

There is only one goalpost, the court is half the size, and the ball is a size smaller. The rules are similar to 5-on-5 basketball, but the biggest differences are the "12-second shot clock" and the "21-point knockout system." The game is played in 10-minute periods, and players must shoot within 12 seconds of gaining possession of the ball. The first team to reach 21 points wins regardless of the remaining time. As a result, the speed and power play, with a shot being taken every 10 seconds, keeps you on the edge of your seat. Teamwork is important, but individual point rankings are key to national team selection, so there is a fierce competition for points throughout the season. Last year, Noro's highest ranking in Japan was 2nd. This year, he is doing well, currently ranked 6th, but of course, his goal is to reach the highest rank. "I definitely want to be number one," he says in a calm tone, but with a sharp gaze.

It was only after turning professional that I realized I was being watched even off the court.

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"Basketball uniforms and shoes are stylish, aren't they? Hip-hop artists wear the apparel, and basketball shoes like Air Jordans have become fashion items. As someone who plays basketball myself, I think that's another amazing aspect of the sport."

When I asked Noro-san about her usual fashion sense, she looked thoughtful for a moment, as if wondering, "What should I say?" Then, after seemingly deciding on an answer, she replied somewhat awkwardly.


"...Actually, I know I sound like I'm some kind of big shot, but I don't really care about fashion at all. I haven't bought any casual clothes in years, and I always wear tracksuits. I don't have any particular preferences for basketball shoes either; anything is fine as long as it doesn't hurt my feet. I have a unique build, being tall and having broad shoulders, so I gave up on being fashionable a long time ago. I'm really not fashionable at all, sorry about that."

As Mr. Noro spoke apologetically, I pressed him further, asking what kind of clothes he wore when he was younger, during his student days. Gradually, the reason he "gave up on being fashionable" became clear.

"Since I was a child, I was tall and big, so the most important thing about clothes was that they fit; I couldn't really choose designs or colors. My feet are 31cm, so I'd just buy whatever fit. I never really had to choose my clothes carefully back then, so I still don't really understand fashion. Now it's such a convenient age where you can easily find plus sizes online. I think kids these days are really lucky."

Many large Japanese athletes have become accustomed to giving up on finding clothes that fit because they can't find anything that fits. Noro is one of them. Some sports require professional athletes to wear suits for away games, travel, and press conferences, but it seems that this rule doesn't exist in 3x3 basketball, where the athletes are still young. That said, always being in jerseys and training wear might be the right thing to do for a stoic athlete, but it probably doesn't suit a superstar that children look up to.

"When I see my stylish seniors, I sometimes think I want to be stylish too. But I'm convinced that they won't have my size, so I don't know where to go shopping for clothes, and I don't know how to choose clothes either. I wonder where everyone else buys their clothes. I just found out for the first time that they have my size on the 7th floor of ISETAN MEN'S , so I finally know where to buy clothes. From now on, I'll have to rehabilitate my coordination skills. Oh, actually, since I'm a beginner, it's not rehabilitation, I have to learn from scratch (laughs)."

Isetan buyer coordinated Noro's outfit.

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Having given up from the start, believing he had nothing to wear, Noro is being lectured on fashion by Yosuke Imaizumi, the buyer in charge of super men's clothing. He has a track record of introducing clothing that can be worn by sumo wrestler Minezaki Oyakata and active rugby players, and can propose clothing that suits tall or large people, especially athletes, for both public appearances and private life. This time, Imaizumi has prepared four styles of outfits: smart casual, athleisure, street casual, and comfort suit. Let's have the buyer himself explain each outfit.

BLACK LABEL CRESTBRIDGE
Coat: ¥45,360 Hoodie: ¥23,760 Shirt: ¥19,440 Pants: ¥19,440

"The styling of a sweatshirt hoodie paired with a peacoat-style jacket is a smart casual look that Ms. Noro has said she wanted to try for some time. A style like this, where you wear a jacket over a familiar sweatshirt item, won't compromise your dignity when you visit your team's office. It's a style I'd like her to wear when having dinner with senior colleagues or going out with her family," (Imaizumi).

Noro, who rarely wears a jacket, was happily flapping the sleeves. Creased slacks had also been prepared, but unfortunately, Noro's lower body was larger than the buyer had anticipated, and the team uniform pants were custom-made, so they had to use something from another outfit.

"Now that I'm over 30, I feel like I need to become an adult who can wear jackets. I've always admired the idea of wearing a jacket with a parka or a jacket with a T-shirt, even without a tie. I can't fit into most ready-made slacks, but I heard that they have larger sizes at the store, so I think I'll sneak in next time."

BLACK LABEL CRESTBRIDGE
Parka: 32,400 yen
T-shirt: 12,960 yen

"Black Label parkas have a sporty yet luxurious feel that sets them apart from typical sports brands. Professional athletes generally wear jackets and jerseys from their sponsors on the court, but I think they're allowed to wear whatever they want in their private lives. When choosing casual wear in those situations, I think choosing a sophisticated brand is a must," (Imaizumi)

This cotton zip-up hoodie is similar to a training uniform, which gives Noro a sense of security. It's easy to move in, yet the silhouette is moderately slim, setting it apart from simply oversized zip-up hoodies.

"This is really comfortable to wear. It doesn't feel out of place at all, so I might even practice in it. I've only ever worn hoodies like this as part of my team uniform or sponsor's collection, so it's fun to have other options."

EMPORIO ARMANI blouson: ¥127,440; Hydrogen T-shirt: ¥20,520; Solido pants: ¥30,240

──"One more thing, this blouson style is from Emporio Armani. If you choose imported luxury brands, you can find items in sizes that Noro-san can wear. You don't have to go around to each boutique, because Super Men's has a great selection of brands all in one place, making it convenient for shopping," (Imaizumi).

This outfit is coordinated with monochrome casual items. In contrast to athleisure, which often features primary colors and chemical colors, this is a sophisticated look based on white, black, and gray.

"I don't know much about brands, but I do know Armani. However, I never thought I'd have any use for it. There are clothes from overseas brands that I can wear, but they're often not available in Japan, so even if I want to buy something when I'm traveling, I'm usually pressed for time during my travels and don't have time to shop leisurely. Isetan's Super Men's section is really convenient. I've never worn such expensive clothes before, so I'm a little nervous (laughs)."

MACKINTOSH PHILOSOPHY
Jacket: ¥37,800, Vest: ¥21,600, Shirt: ¥14,040, Pants: ¥17,280, Tie: ¥15,120

"Finally, there's the suit. The Mackintosh Philosophy Trotter series is utility wear that incorporates various functions such as water repellency, stretchability, and wrinkle resistance. It would be useful for businessmen when traveling on business trips. I think it would also be effective for Mr. Noro, who travels abroad frequently," (Imaizumi).

Even Mr. Noro, who once wore a suit and worked as a company employee while also playing basketball, says that his suits back then were custom-made at a mass retailer. Even now, he only owns one suit in his closet.

"I don't usually wear suits, but I have children, and I'm sure there will be times in my life when I'll need to wear one. When that time comes, I don't want to choose a suit just because it fits; I want to choose one in a color and pattern that I like. I thought it would be absolutely impossible to choose one from off-the-rack suits, so being able to try them on is a new experience for me (laughs)."


"I've always lived in a tracksuit," Noro said with a shy smile, explaining that it was only after turning pro that he realized he was being watched by others. His seniors had told him, "You should dress properly in your everyday clothes too," but he didn't know what to do. In recent years, major sports have sometimes invited experts to give fashion lectures. It's true that fans and children alike would be more impressed if star players were dressed in stylish clothes rather than tracksuits off the court. Noro himself felt that being fashionable was also important for the basketball players he admired.

"I thought it would be better to practice than to spend time shopping for clothes. I knew I wouldn't be able to go to the Olympics without that much practice," he said, undoubtedly expressing his true feelings as an athlete. However, in a few years, his son's kindergarten graduation and elementary school entrance ceremonies will be coming up. Everyone hopes that he will shine both on and off the court, becoming the coolest man he can be as an athlete and as a father.

Photo: Tatsuya Ozawa
Text: Yasuyuki Ikeda

*All prices include tax.

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Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 7th Floor = Super Men's for Tall and Large Sizes
03-3352-1111 (main representative)