His name is Robert Paulson

November 25, 2008 1:02 PM

The Bra for Boys blossoms in Japan.
posted by cytherea (32 comments total)

It's called the "Bro."
posted by ColdChef at 1:04 PM on November 25, 2008 [8 favorites]

Will this thread's discussion become boyzone-y?
posted by ericb at 1:08 PM on November 25, 2008 [1 favorite]

Great place to stash a spare house key and whiskey flask.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 1:09 PM on November 25, 2008 [2 favorites]

"I like this tight feeling. It feels good," Wishroom representative Masayuki Tsuchiya told Reuters as he modeled the bra.

U R doing it wrong.
posted by mattbucher at 1:09 PM on November 25, 2008

It's called the "Bro."

That's according to Kramer. Frank called it “The Manssiere.”
posted by ericb at 1:10 PM on November 25, 2008 [7 favorites]

This is one of those stupid "only in Japan" stories that gets picked up by a foreign newspaper (in this case, the Guardian) and somehow transmogrifies into fact.

Although, to be sure, only tough guys wear pink "Kitty-chan" slippers to the conbini to grab some smokes.
posted by KokuRyu at 1:12 PM on November 25, 2008 [1 favorite]

It looks like they're targeting crossdressers and fetishists, rather than men who might actually want or need chest support. It's always nice to see a retail niche filled well.
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:13 PM on November 25, 2008 [2 favorites]

Judging by the third link, the Vanilla Ice hairstyle is also "in" by the retailer's standards, so there goes all style credibility.
posted by sjuhawk31 at 1:17 PM on November 25, 2008 [1 favorite]

so how do you say "Stop, hammertime!" in Japanese? Thanks in advance.
posted by boo_radley at 1:23 PM on November 25, 2008 [1 favorite]

OMG IN JAPAN? THEY HAVE HORSEMEAT FLAVORED BRAS.

FOR DUDES.
posted by everichon at 1:24 PM on November 25, 2008 [1 favorite]

But can you get used ones from a vending machine?
posted by mosk at 1:30 PM on November 25, 2008 [1 favorite]

Manties.

That is all.
posted by FatherDagon at 1:31 PM on November 25, 2008 [1 favorite]

everichon: I HEAR THEY ONLY WEAR THEM AT THE ANNUAL PENIS FESTIVAL
posted by boo_radley at 1:36 PM on November 25, 2008

this thread totally wins :D
posted by liza at 1:42 PM on November 25, 2008

Reeves and Mortimer had the target demographic nailed way back in the nineties...
posted by freya_lamb at 1:57 PM on November 25, 2008

That's according to Kramer. Frank called it “The Manssiere.”

Video: The Bro or Manssiere?

Jerry: So what? A lot of older men have that.

Kramer: No. Not these. These were real hooters!

posted by ericb at 2:03 PM on November 25, 2008

This is one of those stupid "only in Japan" stories that gets picked up by a foreign newspaper (in this case, the Guardian) and somehow transmogrifies into fact.

Having never been to Japan, I've always wondered if this is reciprocal -- are there stupid "only in America" stories in Japanese media, picking up on some really fringe behavior that cements an idea of that country across the Pacific as a place of loony behavior and general wingnuttiness?

(Also, I am hopeful that the boy-bra will become the new must-have accessory for the "Fast and Furious" racerboy crowd, along with the special JDM badging and accessories.)
posted by Forktine at 2:08 PM on November 25, 2008

About Manties, the web site says "They make a great gift for any guy." Too bad father's day is so far away. Maybe Christmas?
posted by Nelson at 2:08 PM on November 25, 2008

Forktine wrote "are there stupid 'only in America' stories in Japanese media, picking up on some really fringe behavior that cements an idea of that country across the Pacific as a place of loony behavior and general wingnuttiness?"

Um, yeah. Like two posts above this one.
posted by caution live frogs at 2:34 PM on November 25, 2008 [1 favorite]

Or twelve posts below this one.
posted by rokusan at 2:40 PM on November 25, 2008

"are there stupid "only in America" stories in Japanese media"

I can tell you that there are stupid "only in Florida" stories told around the rest of the US.
posted by oddman at 2:58 PM on November 25, 2008

I thought that the appeal of crossdressing was wearing the clothes of the other gender. If these are made for men, wouldn't that take the taboo appeal out of it?
posted by desjardins at 3:19 PM on November 25, 2008 [1 favorite]

They sold 300 of these things and it's a big "oooh, look how weird Japan is" story. Come on, 300? That's how many people are in one apartment complex in Tokyo. Most people reading the story won't even notice that number and will assume that every Japanese man they meet is wearing a manbra.
posted by zardoz at 3:31 PM on November 25, 2008

You want to know what people in Japan find amusing about America? I've asked. The most commonly cited example of "wacky America" in my investigations is the McDonald's hot coffee lawsuit.
posted by planetkyoto at 4:53 PM on November 25, 2008 [1 favorite]

Maybe teenage boys use it for practice unhooking clasps.

I can only assume the women's jockstrap is up next.

(also, I have an amusing jockstrap tale to tell. When I was eight, I signed up for little league. i was a ssigned to a team and the coach told us that if we wanted to play catcher (which I did, so I could be like Thurman Munson and wear a cool mask and everything), we'd have to acquire a certain peice of gear. After we were dismissed, I ran full-tilt toward my dad sitting on the alumminum stands with the other parents and hollered "Dad! I need a protective cup!"

I still don't think he's forgiven me.)
posted by jonmc at 4:55 PM on November 25, 2008

zardoz: Come on, 300? That's how many people are in one apartment complex in Tokyo.

All these bra-wearing men live in one apartment building? That is weird!
posted by ShameSpiral at 5:04 PM on November 25, 2008

I was rejected from advanced ninja school because the swishing sound my manboobs made while I twirled at Mach 2 through the air would give my position away to the palace guards.
I was born too early.
posted by dirty lies at 5:14 PM on November 25, 2008

The American salesman, a gangly hipster dufus, is still wanted in connection with imprisoning three businessmen in a dresser chest.
posted by Smedleyman at 5:20 PM on November 25, 2008 [1 favorite]

The Bra Boys are a semi feared gang in Australia. You probably won't guess how their name is derived.

One of their more famous members is in jail in Hawaii for punching a cop. Or maybe he's just got out?

A fella in a "Jon Stewart style" culture jamming show recently made fun of them. Which was maybe kind of stupid? And boy aren't they precious, both the lads in the gang and the commentators in the comments section.
posted by uncanny hengeman at 8:24 PM on November 25, 2008

The American salesman, a gangly hipster dufus, is still wanted in connection with imprisoning three businessmen in a dresser chest.

Hey ... it was the hot tub warping the Carl Farbman dresser that was at fault. How could have Kramer known? At least Jerry freed them!
posted by ericb at 8:33 PM on November 25, 2008

I love how the Reuters piece tries to wring some drama out of this:

But the bra, available in black, pink and white, is not an easy sell for all men.

Well, no, because it is specifically made for cross-dressers.

When I saw this post I was thinking "what on earth does it DO?", but the answer is of course "nothing, except make you feel pretty, if that's the sort of thing you like". I'm actually surprised that such a product did not already exist - I mean, given that there are about 200 different kinds of assless leather pants, you wouldn't think bras to suit males would be that hard to find.

I also like how the news stories are marvelling at 300 bras having been sold.

Great Scott - that's about one for every 250,000 men in Japan!
posted by dansdata at 9:23 PM on November 25, 2008

Having never been to Japan, I've always wondered if this is reciprocal -- are there stupid "only in America" stories in Japanese media, picking up on some really fringe behavior that cements an idea of that country across the Pacific as a place of loony behavior and general wingnuttiness?

I'd assume it would cover things like the freeloader fork and anything else you can buy at a Cracker Barrel.
posted by odinsdream at 10:49 PM on November 25, 2008