UNIQLO｜LifeWear Story 100 directed by Yataro Matsuura

I usually get up around 6AM. Every day, a truck screeches to a halt at the same time and at the same place. Those trucks that go up and down Broadway are my wake-up call.

As I gaze towards the window, still lying down, I can see quite high in the sky. Blue, white, gray… these colors are my weather forecast.

Today, it’s a clear blue sky. A day to go out and about in my favorite ankle length pants.

And what should I try out today?

Life, work, they are all surprisingly repetitive. Clean, laundry, meals, work, taking the subway, studying, we do these things day in and day out. But it’s boring to just end each day following this same old routine.

The 10% challenge.

I decided to set a rule for myself. Let’s say there are 10 hours in a day. Taking out time to eat and sleep, I’m sure there is maybe 10% of that to spare. Use this time to do something new, just for an hour each day, which could easily pass by if we stare out the window. It’s about doing something with that bit of time that could escape each day.

The thought of this daily one-hour challenge got me excited. In a way, it’s my own free time without any intrusion by anybody or anything.

For that hour, it can be different things every day, whatever I want to do, know, see, anything. Or I can repeat the same things. No worries about failure, just act on what comes to your mind. After all, it’s a challenge you set out for yourself.

One day, I decided my challenge of the day would be to eat a cuisine I had never tried. Making the dish myself. Since starting this single life in New York, my meals were either at a restaurant or a ready-made dish to eat at home.

First, I went to my local supermarket. I asked the lady in the deli section whom I often chat with.

“I’m thinking of cooking at home today. What should I do? Can you recommend a simple dish I can try?”

“I see… then why not a salad? If you have herbs and vegetables, anyone can make a fine salad. Even make the dressing yourself,” she said.

“Right, but I don’t know what to get. Can you write it down for me?” She graciously took the pad from my hand and started making my shopping list.

This is our proud star among clean-cut trousers. Unlike the full-length tapered pants, the exquisite silhouette and ankle width, only possible with an ankle-length, goes perfectly with sneakers, leather shoes, sandals, you name it.

This season, we have the center pleats for a more dimensional finish.

So the list went, lettuce, arugula, watercress, dill, Italian basil, radish, tomato, lemon, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil.

“It’s simple. Wash all the leafy vegetables very well, remove the moisture, leaf by leaf, and then tear them into bite-size. You only use the leaf part of the herbs. Don’t cut the radish — just crush it with the side of your kitchen blade. Then you put everything in the bowl as much as you want. Then you put the veggies in the bigger bowl, dress it with olive and balsamic vinegar mixed at a two-to-one ratio, squeeze a lemon, a bit of salt and black pepper, then toss this well with your hands. It’s important to use your hands. Then put it back into the salad bowl and you’re done. Simple, right? You can do boiled eggs or bacon as toppings. The salad you see on display there are all made like that.”

She took a bit of the salad in the deli showcase then put them on my hand. “Have a taste and work from that to your liking,” she continued.

“Thank you. I’ll get to it!”
I picked up everything on the list and headed straight home.

My challenge today is cooking. It was just an hour, but I must say I really enjoyed this simple but tasty salad.

This was the first time I cooked since I came to New York. It was so much fun and tasted so good because you make it yourself.

Next day, I stopped by the supermarket to tell the deli lady how fun and tasty the salad was and she asked, “What did you enjoy the most?”
“When I added the dressing and tossed the salad with my own hands.”
“Exactly! The important thing in cooking is to use your hands, put your heart into it. And one more thing, salt is the key in cooking. Tasty salt can make any ingredient taste great. You can’t go wrong in spending a little on salt.”

From that point on, I became hooked on making salads, trying out different vegetables and herbs, venturing out on the dressing, and of course, choosing a proper salt.

The formula to cooking is kindness, love, and creativity, yes.

The more I made, the tastier my salad got, which led me to think how I wanted to share this with others. I can only do salads now, but with bread and wine, that should be enough to entertain someone.

I decided to invite the people who have helped me since coming to New York, like Seth, Jack, Ken, and Toko-san, to my humble apartment for a salad party.

The mere one-hour challenge turned into such a great joy where I can enjoy a great time and flavors with the people I love.

Happiness always sits at the end of the challenge.
I was sure of it.

It has an easy waistline, but instead of a draw string it has an elastic waist for clean and stress-free fit.

The belt loop gives you the option to tuck in your shirt or belt in for a more dressed-up style. Put on a polo or a t-shirt for a casual style. This is a supreme pair of pants, with stretchy material and an antibacterial and anti-odor function on pocket lining.

Put on these pants and
people often ask me,
have you grown in height?
Not likely but…

MENRELAXED
ANKLE-LENGTH
PANTS
(WOOL-LIKE)$29.90

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.”