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https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Consumer/Wildly-popular-Wacoal-lace-boxers-bring-sexy-back-for-Japanese-men?utm_campaign=GL_asia_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_source=NA_newsletter&utm_content=article_link&del_type=1&pub_date=20220613123000&seq_num=29&si=44594 Wildly popular Wacoal lace boxers bring 'sexy' back for Japanese men Undergarment maker leverages know-how to cross gender line The company's lace boxers come in five colors at stores. (Photo courtesy of Wacoal) YOJI OHIRA, Nikkei staff writerJune 12, 2022 04:49 JST KYOTO -- As "gender neutral" and "genderless" has gained momentum in progressive circles around the world, from language to sports and bathrooms, a Japanese lingerie maker has seized on the buzz to market a unique undergarment that keeps flying off the shelves. Wacoal's lace boxers for men have been selling out faster than the company can make them ever since hitting stores in Japan at the end of last year. "The word genderless began to appear, and the view emerged that the idea of lace being a woman's thing was old-fashioned," said Wacoal product manager Akira Mizoguchi. The company is primarily known for women's undergarments, and its boxers priced at 3,960 yen ($30) a pair feature transparent floral lace covering the entire surface except the front. Many shoppers buy the garment in bulk, saying that they are attracted to its sexiness. Five colors are available in stores, red, black, blue, brown and light blue. Other colors can be had online. The concept of using lace -- traditionally the fabric of women's clothes -- for boxers was spawned from discussions at the men's innerwear product department. Wacoal makes lace garments every day, "so there were no objections," Mizoguchi said. While women's underwear comes in a wide variety of types and shapes, men's underwear has only a few options, such as different colored waistbands. "Men's underwear seems to be a commodity," Mizoguchi said. "I wanted to create underwear that people could choose to express their own fashion sense." Product development was a painstaking process as there was nothing like it on the market. In the spirit of test marketing, the company accepted advance reservations on the crowdfunding site Makuake in October with a goal of selling 300,000 yen's worth. About 700 people made 3.2 million yen in purchases. When sales began at Isetan Shinjuku and three other stores, as well as online, the three-month supply sold out in 10 days. Production was increased in April, but again was quick to sell out. In February, Mizoguchi stood in front of a pop-up store in Kyoto. A man, who appeared to be in his 40s or 50s, bought several pairs in different colors, saying, "I want to try them on for a sexy look." "People of all ages, who like new things, bought it," Mizoguchi said. Behind the sales is careful craftsmanship. If it's not comfortable, it will not sell is Wacoal's motto. The laces give the impression of being coarse, but they are stretchable. In the development stage, four men who worked for the product department tried them on and critiqued the stitching and other details. The company also took into consideration that men would put more wear and tear on their underwear than women. "We developed a lace that is stronger than the one for women," Mizoguchi said. The prototype took more than six months to complete. It was packed with the unique know-how of Wacoal, which has built a reputation for producing lace that is both beautiful and functional. For now, the garment is only available domestically. "First, we want to see the product take root in Japan," Mizoguchi said. Two new colors will be available in early next month, and increased production is expected to begin this fall, eliminating shortages. "The beauty of pure lace has nothing to do with women or men," Mizoguchi said. The challenge will be to not allow this to fade away.

Are u guys aware that there's a high profile martial art matches between Kung Fu and Muay Thai last week? Below is some articles and a video i googled More of the matches video can be found at Youku (Maybe some kind souls wanna search and link here) November 24, Beijing Time, the Chinese Kung Fu [功夫, gong fu] vs. Professional Thai Kick-boxing Competition Organizing Committee issued a public announcement: The 2009 Chinese Kung Fu vs. Professional Thai Kick-boxing Competition will be held in 2009 December at Foshan in Guangdong. The competition will use Chinese wushu rules as a foundation, integrated with a portion of Thai Kick-boxing rules, allowing the two opposing combatants to use elbows and knee techniques to attack their opponent, with every match having five rounds and each round being three minutes. Recently, Thai boxing champions have become crazy, wanting to challenge the Shaolin Temple, even spreading around that they want to beat the Abbot Shi Yongxin onto his knees. The five champions of Thai Kick-boxing are: "神目杀" [shen mu sha], "鬼见膝" [ gui jian xi], "魔术锥" [mo shu zhui], "拳灭风" [quan mie feng], "屠龙肘" [tu long zhou]. This time, all five champions will appear, with their original motivation being to "destroy Shaolin". When a journalist asked whether "destroy Shaolin" was putting things arrogantly, the boxing champion 考克莱 [kao ke lai] waved his right fist disdainfully saying: "Tell Shi Yongxin to come to the ring and then see!" There was even a Thai kick-boxing champion yelling: "Even my woman can defeat Chinese kung fu!" Why did he say this? Apparently, there was an amazingly beautiful Vietnamese girl who had previously fought against Chinese kung fu, and that this Miss Ruan just so happens to be the girlfriend of one of the Thai kick-boxing champions organized to come challenge [the Shaolin Temple], thus explaining this kind of talk http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Muay-Thai-Fi...ha-t319105.html http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-12...ent_9083198.htm http://forum.globaltimes.cn/forum/showthread.php?t=9736 http://www.kungfu-fans.com/chinese-kung-fu...ing-live-video/

This soldier very steady.... [laugh] I salute for his bravey!!! This reminds of my NS days where sometimes we sleep in full uniform with boots on, knowing tat we might have "stand 2" or inspections Pink underwear "I LOVE NY" Talk show Defence Chief's statement Defense chief praises soldier in pink boxers Defense Secretary Robert Gates says American soldiers have more than their military might and training on their side in the war in Afghanistan. Some have pink underwear. Gates told an audience in New York about Specialist Zachary Boyd, of Fort Worth, Texas, routed from sleep by enemy fire on his post in eastern Afghanistan. "He immediately grabbed his rifle and rushed into a defensive position clad in his helmet, body armor, and pink boxer shorts that said 'I Love New York,'" Gates said Thursday night. "Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on your perspective, an AP photographer was there for a candid shot," Gates continued. The photograph by David Guttenfelder ran on the front page of the New York Times. Gates said Boyd later told his parents he might get fired. Gates assured his audience at the Intrepid museum, and Boyd, that his job is safe. "Any soldier who goes into battle against the Taliban in pink boxers and flip-flops has a special kind of courage," Gates said, adding that Boyd may have hit on a new kind of psychological warfare. "I can only wonder about the impact on the Taliban. Just imagine seeing that