UNIQLO｜LifeWear Story 100 directed by Yataro Matsuura

One morning, I was doing my usual walk through at Central Park.

I just love Central Park in winter. The pale wintry skies, the lush trees, the crisp air: it all makes you feel like you’ve wondered into this world of fantasy.

One person here, another one there. They are all taking their time to enjoy each step on the paths. I wonder what they are feeling, thinking, or embracing? What could their days be like? So I strolled along as the leaves danced through the air, with my hands tucked inside the down jacket I borrowed from Jack.

Then my mind traveled back to my childhood as I remembered the tenderly warm hands of my mom as she wrapped them around my cold hands from playing outside on a cold winter day.

After school, no matter how cold it was, I would go to the park with friends to go on the slides, the swings, the bars, climbing trees… so the backs of my hands were always chapped and hurt when I washed them in cold water.

As the sun set and it was nearly dinner time, I would wave good-bye to my friends and head home. My mom would always take my hand and say, “Oh dear, look how cold your hands are” and tell me to wash and wipe these chapped hands while warming them with hers.

She would smile and look at my equally dry fingertips and say, “Oh my, look at all these hangnails. An ungrateful child you are!” (following the old saying in Japan).

“You wash them well with warm water and wipe well, you hear?” Afterwards, she would sit there and rub the hand cream on my hands.

I loved this routine of ours, how she warmed my hands and put hand cream on them, so I made it my point to not care about my hands and played so I can get this special treatment every day.

“You really must look after your hands, be grateful for them…” and she would continue to warm and rub, and warm and rub…

I sat down on the bench under the camphor laurel tree next to the Sheep Meadow and gazed up at the sky. “This sky must be connected to the sky in Japan,” and I thought about my mother.

Tomorrow, I start my work helping Jack. One thing led to another and he asked me to help him with his work three days a week.

I should write to my mom to say that I’ve started working! Once again, I looked up at the sky and down at my hands I took out from the jacket pocket.

That’s when I thought I heard her saying,
“You really must look after your hands, be grateful for them…”

HEATTECH innerwear is UNIQLO’s proud functional piece. We listen to our customers and make improvements every year. The original fabric is made with four types of thread to achieve high stretchability and reduced tightness.

Using softer thread to reduce the friction against the skin, we aim to achieve the ultimate comfort, a comfort that’s lightweight and so soft to the touch that you forget you had it on.

I got to the Strand Book Store on 12th where I was to meet up with Jack. When I walked in, I saw him carrying a book by his side and engaged in what looked to be an argument with the staff and a dashing old gentleman.

Jack took a notice and said, “Hey, good evening, Yataro,” and grandly gestured saying, “Let me introduce you to a friend of mine from Japan.” I gave my greetings to the staff and the old gentleman and he said, “Welcome to New York.”

I finally understood what the argument was about. Apparently, Jack discovered this valuable book at a rock-bottom price and, as he went to go pay for it, the staff was shocked to see the price and checked it only to find that it was worth a fortune.

But Jack wouldn’t back down and said that it is the store that put the price tag so the store should sell the book at the shown price.

While this was going on, the old gentleman, who was Jack’s client, passed by and chimed in with the suggestion that he would buy the book at the correct price.

But Jack wouldn’t budge saying he was the one to comes across this rare find, and client or not, he is not willing to let go and that he would only pay the price shown on the price tag.

This was a handmade collection of work by the famous Andy Warhol called A GOLD BOOK and published in 1957. A mere 22 pages, the work was a collection of offset lithograph with flowers, cats, and girls drawn with fine lines on gold paper board. A truly beautiful piece with shiny gold covers. As it was handmade, there obviously weren’t many in print.

I whispered to Jack, “How much did you find it for?” and he said, “$80…” The staff said he will take it back and double check with the owner as to see how much it should be. The old collector gentleman said he was willing to pay $10,000.

The staff finally got through to the owner, who’s still outside. After much negotiation, Jack grudgingly handed over the book with a warning, “Please don’t put the wrong prices in the future.” Jack also said to the old gentleman that he has gained the right to buy the book so he will call when he has gained possession of it. The man kept repeating that he will pay $10,000 for it.

After we left the shop, we headed over to our usual donut shop and ordered coffees. Jack was clearly depressed and didn’t say a word.

“Jack, that book earlier, I think I saw it at the second-hand book shop near the flat. I don’t know what the price was but it was on top of this big pile. I remember because it was gold.”

With a surprised look, Jack looked at me and said,
“Seriously? Was it really that book?! Then let’s go now. There’s no way that book will be on the shelf!”

So we hurried out, jumped into a taxi and headed for the book shop.

The world’s first attempt at blending Moroccan argan oil, a rare and raved-about beauty oil. This achieves a moist, smooth touch. No worries about that nasty static when putting it on and taking it off.

HEATTECH has heat-producing, heat-retaining, and moisture absorbing qualities, but now, it also has a dry function that minimizes stuffiness when you sweat in a well-heated trains and rooms. This is the LifeWear that cuddles up to your bare skin in winter.

It brings back memories,
of the gentle soft warmth
of my mother’s hands.

MENHEATTECHCREW NECK
T-SHIRT(LONG-SLEEVE)$14.90

Choose this clothes

What is “LifeWear story 100?”

At UNIQLO,
there exist these lines of clothes
which has remained for many years,
trend-neutral
yet never dated.
Out of the line-ups,
they are the unsung presence,
sitting quietly behind in TV ads.

Yet, they are the culmination
of the years of passion and devotion,
where UNIQLO sought to pursue
more comfort,
more durability, and
more quality.

They give shape and gravitas
to what and who UNIQLO is,
and what UNIQLO continues
to nurture with great care.

To go beyond yesterday,
to reach higher tomorrow.

When you take it in your hands,
when you try it on,
it softly speaks to you,
almost like a friend.

What is a rich quality
lifestyle?
How is such a quality day spent?
What does happiness mean to you…

And you will find yourself
surprised to discover that such
piece of clothing has existed.

What is the UNIQLO principle?
Why do we call clothing LifeWear?
What kind of clothes constitute
LifeWear?

Here, we go deep into
the root of LifeWear,
to know
and to tell.
And I hope to write
stories that revolve
around LifeWear and myself.

LifeWear story 100 will be
a story about a journey with me and LifeWear.

Yataro Matsuura

Essayist, editor. Born 1965 in Tokyo.
For nine years from 2005, under the leadership of the founder, Shizuko Ohashi, he was the chief editor for the magazine, “Kurashi no Techo.” Since, he launched an online media site, “Kurashi no Kihon.” Currently, sits as a director for Oishii Kenko Ltd. Recognized for his eye for style and experience in presenting ideas for quality lifestyle. Regularly writes in his columns in newspapers and magazines. Has penned numerous best-sellers including “Kyo mo Teinei ni” and “Shigoto no Kihon Kurashi no Kihon 100.” Hosts a radio program on NHK Radio 1, “Karen Style.”