TOKYO - Japan has long been at the forefront of new technology, and the country's latest contraption is right in line with that heritage of innovation. Wishroom, an online shop in the country's Rakuten online shopping mall, is now offering bras for men.
In the two weeks the bust-boosters have been on the market, more than 300 of the male brassieres have sold for 2,800 yen, or about $30, apiece. Wishroom's sales power is further bolstered by its sales of matching male panties-and even women's lingerie.
Despite its brisk sales, not all Japanese are on board with the male bra. Heated barbs are flying on Japan's social networking sites.
Even so, it may be that the debate is stirring further curiosity in the bra. "I think more and more men are becoming interested in bras," says Akiko Okunomiya, Wishroom's executive director. "Since we launched the men's bra, we've been getting feedback from customers saying 'wow, we'd been waiting for this for such a long time.'"
Company representative Masayuki Tsuchiya modeled the bra, offered in black, white, and pink, to a Reuters reporter. "I like this tight feeling. It feels good," he says.
Source: Los Angeles Times
