This "Adult Field Trip" begins with actor Yukiyoshi Ozawa making a surprise appearance to the GUIDE crew, who were summoned by the underwear buyer at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building !

In front of the surprised crew, Ms. Ozawa smiled and said, "I have an item I'd like to introduce to you all." She then spoke about AKAPAN, the brand for which she serves as director, which will be holding a pop-up shop from January 14th (Wednesday) Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building B1F, Underwear, Socks, and Nightwear.

What does "AKAPAN" mean?

Ozawa-san: "Akapan" is a brand name, spelled "AKAPAN" in Roman letters.

As the brand's first flagship product, Ozawa has created a striking red pair of boxer briefs. The visuals were shot by the legendary photographer Kazumi Kurigami. Ozawa's strong creative vision of his red briefs style—"gentlemanly yet wild in a tuxedo" and "let's go wild and powerful"—makes a lasting impression on the brand's worldview.


Ozawa-san: We were very particular about the materials. The composition is 96% cotton and 4% polyurethane for stretch. I've worn red pants from various companies for nearly 20 years, but the cotton ratio is usually around 95% at most.


Ozawa-san: We went through about eight rounds of samples and tried many different formulations before finally arriving at the perfect texture. When we got down to 96%, I realized, "Wow, just 1% makes such a difference!" That's why I can confidently recommend 96% cotton.

The color is PANTONE®︎ "Flame Scarlet." From deep wine-like reds to bright, vermilion-tinged reds, Ozawa, who has a deep understanding of the nuances of red, has carefully selected this particular shade, which somehow evokes a European atmosphere.

Is Ms. Ozawa's closet "all red"?! What's the reason she's drawn to "red"?

Ozawa-san: Actually, for nearly 20 years I've only worn red underwear. My closet is completely red, and every morning I wonder, "Which red should I wear?" So I thought, why not make my own? That's how it all started.

"I only buy my underwear and socks at the underwear section of ISETAN MEN'S because they have all the red underwear I need," says Ozawa. "But when I ordered 12 pairs of red socks at once, they were out of stock and had to be ordered," she says playfully, sharing an anecdote that highlights her love for Isetan.



Tashiro: First of all, why is red such an important color?

Ozawa-san: My father is the principal conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and loves baseball. He's a huge Red Sox fan, and I was naturally drawn to the team from a young age, seeing "red socks, red caps, and red jackets." Red has power, you know.


Ozawa-san: Even when I wear costumes for work (acting), I can keep my underwear on. That's why I always wear red pants. And like the color of torii gates and red fundoshi (red loincloths), 'red' is a color deeply rooted in the Japanese people. I named the brand AKAPAN as a tribute to red fundoshi.

The message embedded in the Bistag | The Earth and the four words residing in the letter "a"

AKAPAN's brand tag incorporates multiple messages. The design features a globe motif surrounded by a red loincloth, forming a lowercase "a". The top line reads "SEIZE THE DAY", and the bottom line reads "SAVE THE PLANET". In addition, words such as "CONT. 1974" and "OUR'S MADE" are also included.



Ozawa-san: This logo has the image of a "red loincloth" wrapped around the Earth, and its shape is that of a lowercase "a". It's the "a" in AKAPAN.

Tsuchiya: The worldview comes across at a glance. The retro color scheme is cute.

Ozawa-san: The "SEIZE THE DAY" above is a strong message of "seize the present." I want people to wear it with the feeling that "every day is a battle," not "today is a battle so I'll wear red pants."
The phrase "SAVE THE PLANET" below literally translates to "AKAPAN will save the planet." "CONT. 1974" is my birth year, representing how my long-standing fascination with the color "red" continues to this day. "OUR'S MADE" is a call to action, meaning "Let's create it together." It embodies the idea of nurturing a movement together, not just individually.


Tashiro: I like that the brand name tag is also used on the packaging. It would look great as a gift.

A pop-up shop will be held on the first basement floor of ISETAN MEN'S building starting Wednesday, January 14th!

During the event, in addition to the main item, the red underwear, the store will also feature AKAPAN original socks in the same color, "Flame Scarlet," and original T-shirts (navy/white) with "SEIZE THE DAY" printed on the back, available exclusively at the pop-up. Furthermore, a 3-piece gift box containing boxer briefs, a T-shirt, and socks will also be available, making it a great gift option.



Tsuchiya: A glimpse of red socks looks like it would be effective. I usually prefer black socks, but I'd like to try wearing these.

Ozawa-san: I'm confident in the feel of the fabric. I want people to feel like they're "taking a half-step ahead" by wearing red underwear as a "hidden fashion statement."
AKAPAN is the brand name. While we are committed to the color red, we are also considering the possibility of expanding to other colors in the future. We hope that each person will enjoy interpreting AKAPAN in their own way.


During the pop-up period, there's a possibility that Mr. Ozawa might make an appearance at the store. This is a rare opportunity to experience the comfort of AKAPAN's materials and its unique worldview. Every day is a challenge—why not experience AKAPAN's movement of incorporating the energy of red into everyday life at the ISETAN MEN'S pop-up?

[Watch the full video here!]
Let's delve deeper into the charm of AKAPAN! AKAPAN, produced by Mr. Ozawa, is now available at Isetan!