1.Prologue

Our theme this week was #StarWarsDay. Star Wars Day is celebrated in English-speaking countries throughout the world, but the popularity of Star Wars in America is on another level entirely. For American fans, it’s not a stretch to say that Star Wars Day is a national holiday.

Why is Star Wars so popular among Americans? My theory is that with only 250 years of history, American pop culture lacks a narrative of a grand scale and scope. After all, as “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away" suggests, Star Wars is futuristic sci-fi fantasy...that takes place in the distant past.

Up until now we’ve talked mostly about serious social topics on the show, but this time we looked at fun, playful hashtags and puns like #Maythe4thBeWithYou. Princess Ayako (Kato Ayako), Hide Solo (Hide-san), Darth Naito (Naito-sensei), and Master Tsukagoshi (Tsukagoshi Kenji) were all smiles from beginning to end. I was the padawan, still getting accustomed to the ways of television.

And it turns out that Tsukagoshi-san, who was making his second appearance on the show, is a Star Wars fan. It was fun to geek out with him before rehearsals and during the taping.

2.A Pre-taping Snafu

This week I also had a bit of a snafu before the taping. As I talked about previously in FASHION & SHOPPING #005, we shoot this show in front of a bluescreen, which means that we cannot wear any blue or any shades of blue.

So we always have wardrobe checks the day of, and this week I was told that the black striped shirt I’d initially intended to wear was not going to work.

The reason? Something called moiré effect, which is an interference pattern that occurs when you superimpose two similar-looking but inexact patterns made up of lines or dots. In television, cameras have image sensors that have their pixels arranged in a very fine pattern. As a result, filming a subject that is wearing striped clothing or clothing featuring other fine patterns results in a moiré effect. Readers will mostly likely have witnessed the moiré effect if they’ve ever tried to film a television or smartphone LCD screen using a digital camera.

Thankfully, the office I work at is very close to NHK, so I had my manager bring me my spare shirt, and I was able to step onto the set for our taping with peace of mind.

To our staff and crew: I apologize for the trouble, and, thank you for the lesson.

3.Pomade by Brosh

My hair texture is slightly thicker than your average Japanese, and at shorter lengths it tends to do its own thing, so I’d been looking for a hair styling product to tame it.

This pomade was made in collaboration between two Japanese barbershops, Mr. Brothers Cut Club and Apache. The package design evokes old-fashioned American tin cans, but the pomade inside is genuine made-in-Japan.

You often think of pomade as having a distinct smell and stickiness, but this product is odor-free, and leaves hair looking shiny without the stickiness. What’s more, it’s water-based rather than oil-based, so it can be washed away with ease. (There’s also a scented version.)

4.White button-down shirt by Brooks Brothers

As my original choice of shirt for this week triggered a moiré effect, I quickly decided to go with this Brooks Brothers white oxford button-down shirt.

Brooks Brothers shirts come in one of four fits. This one is in a regent fit, which creates a slim, modern silhouette.

When it comes to shirts, Brooks Brothers offers a wide variety of colors and patterns, but the classic white oxford button-down is a must for any wardrobe.

The shirt is also non-iron, so all you have to do is hang it up to dry promptly after washing. It also stays crisp and wrinkle-free throughout the day, so it wouldn’t hurt to have several of these in your closet.

The Golden Fleece logo on the chest comes in a variety of colors depending on the color of the shirt. This white shirt has a navy logo, so it would look great with a pair of navy socks.

Incidentally, the way to spot a Brooks Brothers shirt is to look at the cuff—specifically at the six-pleat shirring where the cuff meets the sleeves.

5.Black suit by GlobalStyle

For more about this item, see LANGUAGE & EDUCATION #003.

6.Black belt by Isetan Men’s

For more about this item, see CINEMA & THEATRE #005.

7.Avignons by Paraboot

For more about this item, see CINEMA & THEATRE #005.

8.Red socks by Tabio

After last week’s pink socks, I decided to add a splash of color to this week’s black ensemble with these red socks.

These are Tabio Men’s Power Fit 2×2 Ribbed Socks in red, for 1,080 yen.
The fabric is just the right thickness and feels great against my skin, and also looks quite refined.

The name “Power Fit" sounds tight-fitting and sporty, but these quality socks are very comfortable, and remain so even after a full day wearing them.

This series is also available in a variety of colors. Highly recommended.

9.Black-rimmed glasses by Zoff

For more about this item, see FASHION & SHOPPING #006.