Halfway through the year, three GUIDE members, who are starting to feel the effects of fatigue, visited the 5th floor of the Isetan Shinjuku Main Building to try out some of the latest recovery wear. Our guest, Kojima, will explain the basics of "home-use far-infrared blood circulation promoting clothing," which is registered as a general medical device, and the differences between the three brands. We will introduce them while sharing our impressions of actually trying them out, from comfort and design to the situations in which they can be used.

Three people feeling tired head to the recovery wear section.

At the Bed, Bath & Powder Room on the 5th floor of the main building of Isetan Shinjuku, recovery wear from three brands—Venex, Tential, and Wacoal/Sleep Science—is currently available. In this article, we will compare the recovery wear from these three brands, explain the characteristics of each brand, and unravel what recovery wear actually is.

Tsuchiya: I might be feeling a bit tired lately.

Tashiro: Aren't you quite tired, Okada-san?

Okada: I'm in my late 40s now, so I'm genuinely exhausted.

Tashiro: I've been feeling really tired lately, and I'm worried that this can't go on. I wanted to reconsider a popular item that I've been using for a while and that I've seen advertised on TV, so today I've infiltrated the living floor on the 5th floor of Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building , and will have my junior colleague Kojima introduce me to some new recovery wear that's right for us.

Kojima: I originally came from the Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building , and now I'm in charge of the Life Design Products Department. I heard that the three of you are tired, so I came here today to teach you something, or rather, to share some information with you.

What is recovery wear?

Kojima: I've been using the term "recovery wear," but it's not a term defined in the Act on Securing Quality, Efficacy and Safety of Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices, etc. (commonly known as the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act). The item that falls under the category of medical device is the "Household Far-Infrared Blood Circulation Promoting Clothing." This is a medical device that has been registered with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare as a general medical device.

Kojima: So, the term "recovery wear" doesn't necessarily mean it's a medical device. Even effects like fatigue recovery can't be said to be true just because it's recovery wear.

Tashiro: That's difficult...

Kojima: There is a definition for "household far-infrared blood circulation promoting clothing," and assuming that it has been registered with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, there are three main types. First, it must have special processing applied to the fabric or minerals. Second, it must radiate a certain amount of far-infrared rays. Third, it must be in the form of a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, short-sleeved shirt, or shorts. It refers to items that meet these three definitions.

Kojima: The effects and benefits obtained from this are defined as "fatigue recovery" and "improvement of symptoms such as muscle stiffness" due to the promotion of blood circulation by far-infrared rays. Today, I would like to introduce you to this "household far-infrared blood circulation promoting garment," which is a general medical device.

Try on three different brands

Kojima: Currently, on the 5th floor of the main building of Isetan Shinjuku, we have three brands that offer "home-use far-infrared blood circulation promoting clothing," which is classified as a general medical device. Today, we have selected three brands that match the lifestyles and images of these three individuals.

1. VENEX

Kojima: The clothing that Tsuchiya-san is wearing is from Venex. It's a Japanese brand and a pioneer with 20 years of history. The brand name embodies the desire to "create the standard for the next era," and is derived from the words creative and next. They conduct research and development based on the science of rest and relaxation, and produce a variety of items. With a minimalist design that keeps the logo to a minimum, it is suitable for sleeping or relaxing at home.

Tsuchiya: It's incredibly comfortable to wear. It fits snugly to the body, but it's also incredibly easy to move in. There's really no rustling or anything even when you move around, it's so comfortable. It's very stretchy.

Tsuchiya: It's made of mesh, so it might be breathable. Even though it's long-sleeved, it feels nice against the skin and is very comfortable. It's comfortable to wear!

Okada: Actually, when I was working at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building I handled Venex products, and I have the impression that it's a brand that develops products in collaboration with various research institutions through industry-academia-government partnerships with universities and other organizations. Back then, there were a lot of sportswear-type products, but now it has evolved a lot.

Kojima: This item is available in navy and black, and is divided into men's and women's versions. It's also recommended as a gift.

2. TENTIAL

Kojima: The garment that Tashiro-san is wearing is "BAKUNE" by Tential. Tential's mission is to "create a society that is positive about health and to unleash the potential of humankind."

Tashiro: I feel like there isn't a day that goes by that I don't hear "BAKUNE." When I first heard the name, I knew it was a winner.

Kojima: Developed with a focus on creating the right sleeping environment to improve your condition, "BAKUNE" features a relaxed silhouette and pockets. The back is wide enough to allow for easy turning over in your sleep. The far-infrared rays promote blood circulation, which is expected to alleviate symptoms such as fatigue and muscle stiffness.

Tashiro: The silhouette is a little more relaxed than Tsuchiya's, and it even has pockets. It's casual enough to wear even to the convenience store. I also like that the logo isn't white but a slightly grayish color. There's a drawstring at the waist, making it very comfortable to wear. The length is also good, and it looks like it would go well with sandals.

3. Wacoal/Sleep Science

Kojima: I'd like to introduce Wacoal/Sleep Science to Tashiro-san. It's a brand that mainly makes pajamas and nightwear based on research into the characteristics of the human body conducted at the Wacoal Human Science Research and Development Center. They are particularly committed to creating products that promote comfortable sleep, paying attention to movement, temperature, and skin feel.

Okada: The silhouette is completely different. It's quite loose, and I think it's intentional, but there's no drawstring, so it seems like it's designed to be less likely to rub against you when you sleep on your stomach. It feels like a lot of thought has gone into the details.

Kojima: The sleeves and underarms are made from a single piece of fabric, making it easy to raise your arms and turn over in your sleep. The shoulder pattern is also cleverly designed, using more fabric to enhance ease of movement.

Okada: The fabric feels really smooth. It makes a huge difference when you wear it. Personally, I prefer a looser fit, so I really like it.

Three different types of "recovery wear"

Tashiro: All three garments feel completely different in terms of comfort.

Kojima: To reiterate, what we're introducing today is the "Home Use Far-Infrared Blood Circulation Promoting Clothing." This is a general medical device.

Tashiro: It doesn't look like a medical device at all...it gives you a different level of reassurance, doesn't it?

Okada: The moment I hear it's a medical device, I feel a sense of trust.

Tashiro: Each brand is different, and the feel of the clothes is completely different, so it's really great to be able to try them on in the store. I think everyone will have a favorite material and feel, so it might be a good idea to try them on at least once.

Also check out accessories and innerwear.

Kojima: The Venex blanket I'm wearing doesn't fit the definition of a general medical device, so it's not a product that falls under the category of "household far-infrared blood circulation promoting clothing," but it's made of the same material as the item Tsuchiya-san was wearing earlier.

Tashiro: This is great, isn't it? I gave one to my mother for Mother's Day. You can wear it over your shoulders, or use it like a lap blanket, it's really convenient.

Kojima: We also have some accessories, and this is the "BAKUNE Eye Mask" from Tential.

Okada: It's really dark. With eye masks, you can see through the gaps, right? But with this, you can hardly see anything. It's also comfortable to wear. It's made of a cushioned material, so it's soft and doesn't feel constricting. Ah, it feels good.

Tashiro: This is amazing. The fluffiness is incredible.

Tsuchiya: It's really nice. It's so soft and fluffy, it feels great.

Kojima: What you have in your hand is Tential's "Cooling Light Waffle Recovery Underwear Short Sleeve Men's." This is a short-sleeved shirt and is registered as a general medical device. The concept of this product is that by wearing it as an inner layer, you can expect improvements in fatigue recovery and muscle stiffness even in your daily life.

Tsuchiya: This feels like it has a cooling effect. It would be good for times when you don't want to bother changing clothes, like on an airplane. You can just wear it under a T-shirt, right?

Tsuchiya: There are all sorts of things, like sandals.

Tashiro: They have pillows and bedding items too, right?

Make your off-time, which is essential for enjoying your work, more valuable with "recovery wear"!

Tsuchiya: I'm wearing a top and bottom from Venex and a blanket I borrowed from Kojima-san.

Tashiro: I'd choose "BAKUNE" by Tentshal. It feels so good.

Okada: I wear Wacoal/Sleep Science recovery wear.

Tashiro: Let's make the most of our time on the job by wearing recovery wear like this once in a while!