UNIQLO｜LifeWear Story 100 directed by Yataro Matsuura

One morning, when I tried to wake up, I realized that I couldn’t get my muscles to elevate my body. I thought it strange, and I tried to move my arms and legs but couldn’t. I could just barely roll over.

I took a deep breath and calmly thought about what had happened to me.

Recently, I would be so tired that I would collapse on the bed but would wake up after an hour and go through this same cycle number of times during the night.

This sometimes left me feeling drowsy during the day where I couldn’t focus on the task at hand, couldn’t get to grips with my work and my life emotionally. I was struggling embrace things personally.

It’s like the chains have fallen off the bicycle gear and the wheels were just spinning. Like the cog wheels that lost their alignment, my feeling and my actions were spinning without a reason. Even if I tried to stretch my hand out, I felt lost, unable to hold onto anything.

Soon, I became hesitant about seeing people, withdrawn. More and more, I just sat in my room, unable to do much, feeling this haze, with this weight taking a toll on my body.

Then I thought, when did I last eat? I must have, but I couldn’t even remember that.

It’s like suddenly, this clock inside had stopped. Like some piece had fallen off and suddenly, the ticking of my clock was brought to a halt.

I had been putting a lot into my every day since I arrived in New York with my language handicap. I had found what I think could be called a job. I had people I can call friends and acquaintances, and I could finally support my modest life. I was desperate. I’d been running at 120%.

These are all good, but seeing myself now, my body and mind in a standstill, I thought, “What?!”

“Something is off…” I thought to myself, lying down on the bed, looking up at the ceiling. Then I thought, “I’m at a standstill now because I’ve been working too hard…”

Tears started rolling down my face. My hands wouldn’t move so I couldn’t even wipe them away. I breathed in from my nose and breathed out. This was all I could do, so I just continued.

Then I began to think, “I see… humans are surprisingly weak.”

I was able to look at things very objectively.

Then, “I get it now… it’s because I was exerting myself too much. It was shocking because nothing like this had ever happened to me, but now I know, this is all very natural…”

I was just about getting the pace of things with my life in New York. As I was just starting to relax this tension, something must have snapped, and a tiny piece must have popped out. Yes, that must have been it.

The most important feature is that it’s easy to wear. We got our hands on various brands of boxers, both domestic and abroad, as well as the past UNIQLO boxers and conducted a study, put them on, went up and down the stairs, etc. This is how we came up with the design: a roomy body width with slits on both sides that dramatically change your movement.

UNIQLO boxers go through fine adjustments each year. This is proof that we are constantly evolving and making improvements based on customer feedback.

*Button color is semi-transparent, and it may look different color from this image.

UNIQLO boxers go through fine adjustments each year. This is proof that we are constantly evolving and making improvements based on customer feedback.

An hour or two passed and I suddenly had the urge to go to the bathroom.

Can I stand up to go? I started by rolling over, laid on my stomach, slowly pushed my body up with my arms, folded my legs to sit up. Took a bit of break, stretched my arms out and lifted myself off the bed. Then, I found places to hold onto, one foot in front after another, and I finally reached the toilet.

“Wow, I did it. I’m so grateful that I was able to go to the toilet.” I was actually moved by this tiny feat, being able to do something I couldn’t. What a great feeling.

Then I poured myself a glass of water. “I didn’t know water could taste so good. How great is that?”

Slowly, I walked over to the window, sat down and looked out.

The sun was streaming in through the window. Down on Broadway, so many cars, so many people were moving about. It was a peaceful scene. Looking down onto this ordinary scene on Broadway was me, the one who overheated, and not a soul knew this.

Being vibrant and strong is a given, and I had always believed that. That won’t be the case if you’re sick, but people have it in them to exert themselves indefinitely. So this state of not being able to move my body was completely foreign to me until that point. Then I thought no matter how ordinary and peaceful the world looks, there must be so many like me who lost their balance and gazed out at the world from their own windows.

Most of what we humans do are not visible.
This is why we have to move and react with our hearts, to gain a deeper understanding.

I felt I finally understood the meaning behind the common phrase, “Can’t see the forest for the trees. Can’t see the leaves for the trees.”

“Don’t try too hard. Don’t overdo it.”
These were the words of my father.

I’m so glad I had this experience. I learned a lot from this or at least, I understood something important. People are more fragile and weak than meets the eye. And no one is a superman.

I brought myself to take a shower. Put on a brand new pair of boxers and stood in front of the mirror.

“Don’t try too hard. Don’t overdo it.”
I repeated these words.

I took another sip of the mineral water and, boy, did that taste good.

I felt invigorated. Just with my boxers,
I did a long stretch.

They’re made with the lighter version of the oxford cotton, the fabric used to make shirts. This is the 100% cotton known for its texture and lightness. For the elastic at the waist, we tested countless trial versions until we found one that doesn’t irritate the skin yet doesn’t slide down.

In addition to the standards, enjoy the colors and patterns that speak of the spring and summer. No matter if it’s something worn outside or under, we maintain the same commitment to quality. The spirit of LifeWear is alive and well in these boxers.

Boxers
created with a pursuit of
such premium quality.

MENWOVEN
LIGHT OXFORD
BOXERS$5.90

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.”