Moving on from Fast Retailing: Leaving Uniqlo Behind
I’ve always felt a certain dissonance regarding Uniqlo’s long history—a sense that its products possess a peculiar, distinct "aura." Yet, given their affordability, durability, and design appeal—bolstered by successful collaborations and global popularity—I’ve long been a frequent wearer of the brand without any real sense of conflict.
Lately, I’ve begun to feel that a major turning point in my choices actually occurred quite some time ago. I’m now finding myself drawn to global products—perhaps European-made items would be the ideal? Though, given the high cost of living there, that’s something to weigh carefully. Some time ago, I ended up offloading almost my entire collection of leather pants, flight jackets, and the like—all sold off cheaply on the second-hand market. It felt less like a "sword hunt" (a historical disarmament) and more like an "American-casual-style hunt." It’s as if I brushed up against some spiritual, exclusionary impulse—a modern-day *jōi* (anti-foreign) sentiment, perhaps?
I’m not particularly tied to the U.S., but maybe it’s time to just discard my Uniqlo items—including the cotton pants I bought back in the day. I’ve even been wearing vintage American-casual pieces from around 2011, and I’ve decided to get rid of everything, including the few T-shirts I picked up as recently as 2024. Looking back, I realize that my mindset at the time was clouded by various influences—visits to shrines (like the one in Takada), or perhaps even an association with Soka Gakkai (though I worry that might be a misrepresentation or a fabrication). While I don’t practice any religion, those influences were, in hindsight, problematic for me. Considering things like cryptocurrency, perhaps leaning a bit more toward the U.S. might have been the better path—or maybe Europe feels less "off" to me than the U.S. does? Is this just how things are for me personally?
AI-Generated Excerpt: Uniqlo Corporate Data
Registered Head Office: 10717-1 Sayama, Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture
Roppongi Headquarters (Tokyo): Midtown Tower, 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Ariake Headquarters (UNIQLO CITY TOKYO): 1-6-7 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo
Date of Establishment: May 1, 1963
Capital: 10,273.95 million yen
Consolidated Number of Employees: 59,977 (as of February 28, 2026)
I have been wearing Fast Retailing (Uniqlo) products since 2011. They have held up remarkably well—the construction is impressively durable—but I feel it is time to move on. It is truly astonishing how long-lasting they are; I have been wearing items from 2011 right up until now. I have decided to part with these pieces—now discontinued, vintage-style items that are no longer in production. Some of them I barely wore, but I was a Uniqlo user even back when it wasn't particularly popular (back when the designs were still a bit lackluster). My pants, socks, belts, and sweatshirts—all Uniqlo. While I did end up discarding many of them over the years...
They are good products, but perhaps there was always something about the "aura" they projected that didn't quite sit right with me—a feeling that was there from the very beginning. Now, I have decided to say goodbye.
I am also moving away from the old realities tied to Soka Gakkai, Shinto shrines, the Ikeda-related sphere, the Amida Sutra, and other religious associations.
I am also letting go of the deceptions surrounding the Oe family lineage and the "Southern Court" (Nancho) genealogy—fabrications that have likely been part of my life since childhood.
I am bidding farewell to the "curse" of Japan—the pressure to conform to a certain, imposed narrative.
Looking back, I feel as though my life has been quite chaotic, which I dislike.
Yet, in the process of navigating that, I discovered a hypothesis regarding my own core theme.
Even though my direction was entirely wrong—and, in truth, nothing good came of it—
Thank you, Uniqlo! Looking back, I feel that the parting that took place in 2011—a time when I was shifting toward a more global perspective—has finally reached its true conclusion now. Though it brings a sigh, I want to leave a positive note, expressing my determination to keep moving forward.
Seeing the names of the members, I felt that this—a song I’ve always loved but previously avoided quoting—was tied to that very parting. I’ve come to understand that this is simply how things are, and with that in mind, I’ve decided to share it here.
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