Loincloths

Mainichi Interactive: Loincloths are being marketed by the Mitsukoshi department store in Tokyo’s Ginza district as a feature product for the summer months ahead, it has emerged.
A boom in the sale of loincloths has been seen since last spring, and in just half a year the department store has sold about 5,000 loincloths — roughly 25 times the normal number it sells.
“They’re unconstrained and have got good ventilation, and they’re suited for Japan’s humid summers,” a department store official said.
The store predicts that that a full-scale loincloth boom is eminent. It has prepared an abundant range of products for customers, from sleek designs featuring dots, goldfish, and fireworks, to loincloths that come with matching T-shirts.
With the hot summer months ahead, the loincloths may add a new twist to the “Cool-biz” trend of dressing down to cool off.
Loincloths emerging as cool product for summer in Japan [Mainichi Interactive]