Even those struggling with their body shape can find clothes they love at ISETAN MEN'S . Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 7th floor = Men's Authentic, which carries sizes XL and above, and a wide variety of brands offering larger sizes are available. This project features a dedicated buyer coordinating the latest fashion items for athletes who lament that they "can't find clothes that fit" because of their body shape.

This time, buyer Yoshio Uematsu, who has experience as an athlete during his student days, is featuring American football players. Although body types differ depending on the position in the sport, he visited the Fujitsu Frontiers, who are leading the X League, to reaffirm at ISETAN MEN'S that people of all body types have the right to enjoy fashion.

Three players from the Fujitsu Frontiers, Japan's top American football team, made an appearance.

This is a formidable team belonging to the X League, Japan's corporate American football league, and has won the Rice Bowl, a national championship game between corporate and collegiate teams, three times in a row. The players work at their respective offices during the week, and in addition to the team's three weekly practice days, they come to the gym or field after work to train.


In addition to competing in league games, they are also actively involved in promoting American football by holding American football clinics at local elementary schools and co-hosting events with the professional soccer team Kawasaki Frontale, receiving strong support from the local community. With the opening game on August 24th aiming for their fourth consecutive championship, Supermens has prepared full outfits for the three players who are balancing their work and American football careers.

#1 Tsuyoshi Mori (WR) | "My arms are long for my build, so off-the-rack shirts don't have sleeves that are too short."

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© OSAMU IKEDA

"The wide receiver position is where you catch the ball. Maybe that's why my arms are long for my build. With off-the-rack clothes, long-sleeved shirts are often too short, which is a problem. Some dress shirts don't even have buttons that fasten on the sleeves, so I have my suits and shirts custom-made. During the cool-biz season, I can manage with short-sleeved shirts or roll up my sleeves, so off-the-rack clothes are a lifesaver then (laughs)."

If the shoulder width is chosen, the sleeve length is too short; if the sleeve length is chosen, the shoulder width is too wide and the overall length is too long. Choosing an oversized fit and having it altered is an option, but after trying it several times, she felt she had reached her limit.

"Some brands are just right. With imported brands, if you try them on, you can find some that fit you well, but American football players are basically salaried workers, so they can't just buy things on a whim (laughs). As for domestic brands, BLACK LABEL CRESTBRIDGE clothes fit me well, so I personally wear them often."

To Mr. Tsuyoshi, who was saying this, we prepared a suit set from BLACK LABEL CRESTBRIDGE . It's made of 100% polyester material that has a wool-like feel but is printed to give it a woven look. He was concerned about the sleeve length, so we ordered the suit one size up from his pants size, and as you can see, it fit perfectly. We paired it with a polo shirt as an inner layer for a casual look. The pants have an elastic waistband, so they fit comfortably even without a belt.

"The combination of a polo shirt and suit is refreshing. I haven't really dressed like this before. Am I going to wear this to the office? In my department, considering the time, place, and occasion, it's probably better to wear a dress shirt with it if I'm going to the office. But the next department has a relaxed dress code, so if I transfer there, it would be fine (laughs). I'll keep in mind that if I buy a set-up where I can purchase the jacket and pants separately, I can choose clothes that fit my body type, so I'll keep that in mind when choosing suits in the future."

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© OSAMU IKEDA

The game is controlled by the intelligent and decisive play of the linebacker (LB)—Shuhei Takeuchi, with his sturdy build, plays the crucial defensive position of LB. Positioned behind the defensive line, he is an all-rounder who inspires the entire team on offense and puts himself on the line as a hitman on defense. Despite his heavy build, he is often required to make split-second decisions and must always be aware of the entire game. It is a key position that also requires the intelligence of a playmaker. Takeuchi played basketball in high school. He started playing American football in college and quickly rose to prominence, being selected for the Japanese national team in his third year. In his fourth year, he contributed to the team's long-awaited promotion to the first division. As a professional player, he has been selected for the Japanese national team at the World Championships and boasts numerous awards in the X League, making him a star player.

"Balancing work and American football is my theme. If I practice harder than anyone else, I have to work harder than anyone else too."

While working at the Yokohama office of a Fujitsu Group company, she takes the train to Kawasaki for practice. She says she makes sure not to dress sloppily even then.

"I believe there's a connection between clothing and work. People who dress properly can do their jobs properly. I think it's the same in sports. Of course, the uniform is important, but if you dress properly even when traveling, it changes your mindset when you face the game. When you go to training, if you walk around sloppily in a jersey, shorts, and sandals, you won't get the results you want. That's why I try to dress properly, even in sportswear."

He is very conscious of his appearance and has a deep interest in fashion. When he was younger, he used to buy a lot of street brands, but now that he's an adult, he prefers outdoor brands for casual occasions. However, he says that the lack of ready-made clothing options for business attire is a source of frustration for him.

"With a neck circumference of 45cm, it's difficult to find ready-made dress shirts. I can somehow fit into a suit jacket, but the pants are definitely too tight around the thighs. If I were to somehow fit into them, I'd have to wear hakama (traditional Japanese trousers) (laughs)."


Therefore, this time we have prepared a popular functional material suit set from Mackintosh Philosophy's "Trotter" series. The high-quality wool-like material is stretchy and has plenty of elasticity. The pants, which hug Takeuchi's strong thighs, do not feel tight even when bending and stretching. This brand also has a wide lineup of super men's sizes.



"They even have shirt sizes! It looks like a regular suit, but it's so comfortable I could run around in it. I like simple, easy-to-move-in clothes, but I didn't know there were suits that were this comfortable. I always had my suits made to order, but with ready-made suits, I can wear what I want right away without waiting for them to be finished. I can also browse casual clothes at ISETAN MEN'S , so I think I'll enjoy shopping there."

#81 Teruaki Clark Nakamura (WR) | He has a thick chest and broad shoulders. He is particular about "size."

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© OSAMU IKEDA

Behind the scenes, this handsome player is a fashionista both at work and on the field—Teruaki Clark Nakamura is a mood maker for the team thanks to his cheerful personality. Like Tsuyoshi, he plays the wide receiver position and, at 175cm and 77kg, has a well-proportioned physique compared to other players. His sharp features are said to be among the best in the X League, but he also has an exceptionally strong sense of fashion.

"We all wear the same uniform, but we can choose our own gloves and shoes. I'm particularly particular about the color scheme. Our team color is red, so I always incorporate red into our home uniform, and I use black as an accent color to create a sharp, refined look."

In fact, for home games, he uses black supporters with his uniform, creating a contrast with the red of his uniform to create balance. It's a subtle detail he uses to stand out from other players.

"I'm very conscious of my appearance, so I adjust my socks every time a match is stopped due to a knockdown. I've even had people on social media comment that I'm too concerned about my socks! But deep down, I'm happy that they noticed (laughs)."

Even with casual clothes, I'm particular about the size and fit. While I can wear a standard L size for jackets and such, I actually have a broad chest and shoulders, so finding clothes that fit just right is difficult. For business attire, if I find slacks that fit my waist, my thighs won't fit, and if my thighs fit, the waist is too big.

"My workplace is mostly desk work, so casual business attire is generally acceptable, but I still struggle to choose business clothes. I can manage with dress shirts, but slacks are difficult, so in the summer I often wear trousers from a custom-made suit."

For Mr. Nakamura, who finds it difficult to choose ready-made trousers, we prepared the same MACKINTOSH PHILOSOPHY suit set as Mr. Takeuchi. He wore a T-shirt underneath and sneakers for a more casual business look. The suit set, made of a so-called crinkly material, is lightweight and breathable, stretchy, and water-repellent, making it suitable for a variety of business situations. In addition, it offers a comfortable fit for those who have difficulty finding clothes that suit their body type.

"This is incredibly comfortable to wear. It's stretchy, so it fits snugly to my body, and I can move around actively in it, which is great. Plus, this suit is washable at home? That's fantastic for the sweaty season. And since sneakers are allowed in the office, I can wear this straight to work!"

Super men's buyer Uematsu talks about "the future of American football"

Many athletes find it difficult to find ready-made clothing that fits their well-trained bodies. But with Supermens, they can find the clothes they like, just like any other customer. Knowing the joy of choosing and wearing clothes is a joy for both the athlete and their fans. They will be able to shine as star athletes even when they are off the field.

After the photoshoot, an interview with the three players ensued, and the conversation extended beyond fashion to the current state of American football. Although he retired long ago, buyer Uematsu's passion for the sport runs deep. He laments that American football is still far less well-known than rugby, which is experiencing a surge in popularity ahead of this year's Rugby World Cup in Japan. According to data, there are 20,000 American football players in Japan, compared to 110,000 for rugby. Yet, globally, the ratio of players is 4.8 million for rugby and 25 million for American football.

Uematsu: Rugby is incredibly popular right now. To be honest, I feel a sense of frustration and unease about it. It's been over 20 years since the X League was established, but have attendance figures increased?
The Nakamura Frontiers have won championships as a team, and thanks to that, the stands are almost always full. You can tell we have true fans because attendance isn't affected by the weather.
Takeuchi: As fellow local professional sports teams, we cooperate with Kawasaki Frontale. Frontiers fans support Frontale, and vice versa.
We also hold events together .
We also had a big flag made for Nakamura , right?
Uematsu, is that the big flag that's spread out in the stands?
The Tsuyoshi Kawasaki Kazoku (a private cheering squad for Frontale) collected donations and made the flag for us.
I think the Frontiers are probably the only ones who spread out their banners across the entire stands during halftime to cheer on Nakamura .
Uematsu's passionate support must really boost the players' motivation!

For these kinds of activities, collaboration with the local community is essential. In Kawasaki, where the team office is located, American football clinics and various sports events are frequently held at elementary schools. Furthermore, not only as a team, but also through personal connections, players proactively take on roles such as coaching university teams, and various other forms of interaction continue.

When I went to Okinawa for work, I found out that Ryukyu University has an American football team. When I went to see them play during my stay, someone called out to me, "You're Nakamura from the Frontiers, right?"
Uematsu is amazing! He looks just like an idol!
Nakamura's relationship with him has continued through that connection, including him giving him practice advice and gifting him personal equipment and clothes.
Uematsu Takeuchi also appeared in interviews with local media, didn't he?
Takeuchi: I'm from Nagano Prefecture, and I played basketball until high school. I started playing American football after going to university in Aichi, and during my time there, the team was promoted from the second division to the first division, and I was even recommended for the Japanese national team. I want to spread the appeal of American football by passing on these experiences to the younger generation. I want it to become as popular as baseball and soccer.


Uematsu: People think American football has complicated rules, right? But I don't think there's any other sport that offers such a wealth of strategies and intellectual gameplay, with each team having its own unique style of play. In America, the NFL Super Bowl is more exciting than the MLB World Series, so the situation with American football in Japan is really strange.
Is it because the game freezes so often?
I guess the image is that the Takeuchi game stops when a foul is committed.
Even Uematsu baseball would stop, wouldn't it? It seems to me that the timing isn't much different from when the pitcher throws the ball and the catcher returns it. But the rules are certainly complicated. If you understand the basic rules, I think it's easy to understand because there are official challenges (reviews using video replays) and announcements in the stadium.
Nakamura: Even now, I sometimes think, "Wait, there was a foul like that?" (laughs).
At Fujitsu Stadium Kawasaki, there's live commentary broadcasted after every down, and former Frontiers players provide commentary, sharing inside jokes and making the game more enjoyable and easier to understand than watching baseball or soccer in silence. Plus, before the game, there are events outside the stadium where they explain the rules and highlight the key points of the match. Since last year, they've been experimentally introducing a system where even people unfamiliar with American football rules can enjoy watching the game, such as setting up an area inside the stadium with audio commentary. So please come and watch with confidence!


Buyer Uematsu said he sincerely respects the fact that the players have an environment where they can pour their passion into something else while also working as businessmen. He smiled and said he was happy that he was able to contribute, even in a small way, to the spread of American football in Japan from his current position. As he was leaving after the interview, he added, "Actually, the day after I received the job offer from Isetan, I got a call from Fujitsu." He didn't say anything more, and suddenly the number "80" on his back seemed to float and then disappear.