Japanese Society and Culture
Keywords
Japanese denim, Social semiotics, Japanese aesthetics, Consumer behaviour, Denimheads
Received Date
9-10-2024
Revised Date
12-1-2024
Accepted Date
12-23-2024
Publication Date
3-28-2025
Abstract
From its humble beginnings as wholly utilitarian workwear in the 19th century, to its modern rise to high-fashion, the ubiquity of denim, particularly in the form of jeans, has had a fascinating journey in its little-over-150-year history (Beazley, 2015). Of note has been the recent rise in popularity of Japanese denim. Since the end of the Second World War, Japan seems to have had an insatiable demand for Americana (Marx, 2023). Yet, if considered in the sociohistorical context of Japanese-American relations, this ought to be highly improbable. The current paper examines the sociological nature of Japanese denim from semiotic points of view, with particular regard to authenticity. An explanation of what Japanese denim is and how it differs in form and meaning to aficionados (denimheads) will be made; and how this relates to the social underpinnings of Japanese social psychology, aesthetics and mingei crafts. Marketplace positioning and metric differences of the formal characteristics of Japan denim is also examined to ground consumer interpretation. An examination of local and international Japanese denim marketplaces suggests that the application of traditional Japanese craft techniques to the established formal aspects of denim gives it a refined, but distinctly human and communal character. It is argued that these factors drive consumer demand through reduced degrees of producer-consumer separation, subtle idiosyncrasy and the absence of overly commercialized branding or marketing strategy. To conclude, some final thoughts will be given about the possible future of Japanese denim, in light of its current popularity.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Ward, Aaron Francis
(2025)
"The Curious Case of Japanese Denim,"
Japanese Society and Culture: Vol. 7, Article 1.
DOI: 10.52882/2434-1738-0701
Available at:
https://gensoken.toyo.ac.jp/japanese-society-and-culture/vol7/iss/1
Included in
Advertising and Promotion Management Commons, Aesthetics Commons, Cultural Heritage Law Commons, Fashion Business Commons, Fashion Design Commons, Fiber, Textile, and Weaving Arts Commons, Industrial and Product Design Commons, Marketing Commons, Military History Commons, Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons, Sociology of Culture Commons