As summer approaches, the rainy season is upon us once again. This is a time when it's easy to feel down, so it's nice to lift your spirits with some special items. For May's "#IsetanMensFavoriteItems," we feature Yoichi Okada, who, as editor-in-chief of Isetan Men's Net since April 2025, is well-versed in various genres beyond just men's fashion. Okada, an outdoor enthusiast, will introduce his three essential items for the rainy season!

profile

Yoichi Okada
Studio Alta Co., Ltd., Editor-in-Chief of Isetan Men's Net
Joined Mitsukoshi Co., Ltd. in 2001. Gained experience in a wide range of roles within the men's departments of Mitsukoshi and Isetan, without being limited to any particular category. In April 2025, assumed the position of Editor-in-Chief of Isetan Men's Net, a web media outlet that provides information about Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building .

What is Okada's current mood, as he embodies the concept of "department store"?

Boost your mood with must-have umbrellas and shoes to enjoy the rainy season.

Left: FOX UMBRELLAS
"Folding umbrella"

□ Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 1st Floor: Hats and Umbrellas

Right: PARABOOT "Chambord"
View items priced at 96,800 yen
□Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building, B1 Floor, Men's Shoes

*The image is of the person's personal belongings.

It was almost 10 years ago, but I was looking for leather shoes that I could wear even in the rain. One solution I found was to "put rubber soles on suede shoes," but most of those were brown-based. I was looking for black leather shoes that were also water-resistant, and these were recommended to me. I fell in love with the look of these "Chambord" shoes and bought them. Unlike other leather shoes, I like that they develop character as you wear them in without trying to keep them shiny, and I often wear them with jeans during the rainy season.

I've been using a FOX UMBRELLAS folding umbrella for about 10 years now. Back then, a senior colleague I admired would carry FOX UMBRELLAS long umbrella in an Ohba Seikaban attaché case on rainy days. I thought that style was incredibly cool, but I'm not a fan of long umbrellas, so I bought a folding one. To be honest, it's a bit heavy for a folding umbrella, but it makes using an umbrella on rainy days enjoyable. The handles come in various styles, and I really like the feel of the wooden material.

Enjoy a heartwarming cup of coffee from "jincup" even on a rainy day.

Akihiro Woodworks "jincup ceramic"
9,900 yen to 13,200 yen

□ Isetan Shinjuku Main Building, 5th Floor, ISETAN HOME ESSENCE
*The image is of the person's personal belongings.

This cup is made by Akihiro Woodworks, a woodworker in Kagoshima whose creations I discovered through my hobby of camping. Lately, I've been doing a lot of "group camping"* with multiple people, and it's such a luxurious time to go camping with people I've met through social media and events, and to brew and drink coffee together in nature using our favorite coffee equipment. Many people around me also own one, and everyone takes out their own "jincup" and enjoys their coffee time.
Of course, I use them at home too, and my current trend is drinking green tea from the ceramic cups that were recently released. Even on gloomy rainy camping trips, drinking from my favorite cup soothes my spirits and gives me energy for tomorrow. Plus, there's a wonderful story behind the creation of these cups, which warms my heart.

Text & Photo: ISETAN MEN'S net

*The information in this article is current as of May 2025.
＊All prices include tax.
＊The information in this article is current as of the time of publication. Product information may be revised or changed without notice.

For inquiries, please contact Isetan Shinjuku Store at 03-3352-1111 (main number).
For inquiries via email, please click here.