Rakuten Fashion Week TOKYO (Rakuten FWT) 2026 A/W organized by the Japan Fashion Week Organization (JFWO) entered its fifth day today.

– Brands presented the previous day, Thursday, March 19th –

“FDMTL” (from 8:30 PM)
Shibuya Hikarie, Hikarie Hall, Hall A

“In the not-too-distant future, AI will surpass human intelligence, and the world will look very different.” In an era where not a single day goes by without us encountering something powered by AI, this statement in the press release feels entirely natural.

FDMTL, a brand with a strong identity rooted in denim and indigo dyeing, chose the theme “Pre-Singularity: The Age of the Individual” to capture this eve of the AI era—when human creativity shines most brightly.

Items featuring abstract, marble-like patterns were crafted from fabric with flocked prints applied over denim. The collection showcased a parade of pieces that could only be created through human hands and craftsmanship, including a series featuring prints from the designer’s archive of rags and fabrics that rendered rags in jacquard. Tabi-style sneakers from Vans, a long-standing collaborator, completed the look. The venue was carpeted in the brand’s signature blue, with seating arranged in a circular formation. Huge white spherical lamps hung from the ceiling, creating the sensation of having wandered into an intergalactic world. Kenji Kawai, who composed the theme song for the anime “Ghost in the Shell,” a major influence on designer Gaku Tsuyoshi’s handling of the show’s music and performance.

The folk music group Nishida Kazue Shachu, whose mysterious and powerful voices filled the venue, included several original members who also perform the songs in the play. Apparently, this marks their reunion after about 10 years. The Nishida Kazue Shachu members wore kimonos created exclusively for this event, including kimonos featuring lamé lace printed with photographs of rags, made from original fabric produced at a factory in Gunma. T-shirts worn by the staff featured hands designed by Tsuyoshi himself printed on the back, a symbol of craftsmanship. From the show’s direction to the performers’ costumes, the brand’s distinct identity was strongly reflected, making for a mystical evening that reassured us that handcrafted work is far from dead.

–  Brands presented today, Friday, March 20^th  –

“COTE MER” (from 11:00 AM)
Shibuya Hikarie, Hikarie Hall, Hall B

COTE MER, a creative label whose philosophy centers on “the fusion of fashion and art,” held a runway show at Fashion Week for the first time since the 2018 S/S season. The brand specializes in one-of-a-kind items crafted from vintage materials. This season featured opulent garments upcycled from kimonos and obi sashes. Beautiful traditional Japanese fabrics adorned a variety of items, including biker jackets, tailored jackets, and relaxed-fit pants.

“Ninety percent of the customers who visit our Jingumae store are foreign tourists,” said designer Sato. “We started with accessories using Japanese textiles, and since the response was positive, we expanded into clothing. We want to share Japan’s wonderful culture with the world while maintaining respect for it.” The gleaming gold accents were boldly cut pieces of Nishijin-ori obi sashes. By adding gold studs around them, the pieces were finished as a blend of Japanese and Western styles, elegance and punk.

TOKYO FASHION AWARD 2026
“kotohayokozawa” (from 12:00 PM)
Shibuya Hikarie, Hikarie Hall, Hall A

For her first show in four years, kotohayokozawa chose “IN THIS TEMPORARY CITY” as her theme. She captured the bustle of Nishi-Shinjuku, where she has lived for the past four years, into vibrant textiles and layered styles which evoke a sense of being on vacation, along with the excitement of visitors from around the world.

The venue featured a tuk-tuk loaded with fabric and electric vehicles symbolizing the hustle and bustle of the city, while the background music mixed Japanese announcements and everyday Thai conversation.

The vibrant, pop-art colors reminiscent of Southeast Asian souvenirs were woven into the brand’s signature pleated pieces and prints. Whether you layer two tops, wrap a scarf-like skirt around your waist, or layer legwear, there are no set rules for how to style them. With growing demand from men, the brand has also featured male models this time to showcase a variety of styling options.

The show featured a mix of AW26 items, SS items currently in stores, and pieces from past archives. The venue was also filled with fans of the kotoha brand wearing pleated items. The exhibition was like an energizing drink that injected vitality into the fashion industry attendees, who were starting to show signs of fatigue on a Friday.

“MIZEN” (from 6:00 PM)
Shibuya Hikarie, Hikarie Hall, Hall B

Following the concept of “Slow Fashion, Slow Luxury,” MIZEN creates high-quality, timeless clothing centered on textiles crafted using traditional Japanese techniques. The theme of the brand’s first-ever fashion show was “Slow Fashion,” which aligns with its core concept. This served as a statement of the brand’s stance in contrast to contemporary fashion, where speed and fleeting excitement are the primary criteria for evaluation. The staging also echoed this theme. Two models wearing identical outfits took the runway, one at a brisk pace, the other so leisurely that she was quickly overtaken by the model behind her. The opening look was a double-faced wool cape. The beauty of the fabric flowing gracefully over the body was evident even in photographs. Though unseen within the garment, the designer employed a special technique using a sewing machine instead of hand-stitching.

“There’s a certain appeal to fast-paced things. You can gather a lot of information, and it’s stimulating. With slower-paced things, you may not gather as much information, but they have the advantage of allowing you to focus and truly understand a single thing,” said designer Teranishi.
The brand’s first-ever show drew a large crowd of customers and industry insiders dressed in MIZEN, and the venue was packed to capacity, including standing room. The audience responded with thunderous applause to the brand’s vision of leading Japan’s textile industry through the medium of fashion.

TOKYO FASHION AWARD 2026
“MATSUFUJI” (from 7:00 PM)
Shibuya Hikarie, Hikarie Hall, Hall A

MATSUFUJI, winner of the TOKYO FASHION AWARD 2026, held its first-ever runway show as a brand. In the pitch-black Hall A, a straight runway was set up with the audience seating positioned to the sides. This season, drawing inspiration from Finnish filmmaker Aki Kaurismäki’s “Worker Trilogy,” the collection depicted the quiet daily lives of people living on the fringes of society. The theme was “DIGNITY.”

Building upon the universal structure of workwear, the collection incorporated the precision and tension of tailoring in select details,

It draws out the quiet beauty that might otherwise slip away in the midst of daily life. Though the model’s demeanor seemed somewhat aloof, the work apron tied around her waist and the cigarette tucked into her shoelace reveal glimpses of labor and leisure, as well as a momentary lapse in concentration.

A leather jacket finished with a nubuck treatment to give it a worn, matte texture, and faded denim that has become a natural part of the body through daily wear. These items seemed to exude the dignity of people who take pride in their work—people who, though never flashy, are the backbone of society.

ReStyle × Rakuten Fashion Week TOKYO
Pop-Up Event and Talk Event

mukcyen, the brand that won both the TOKYO FASHION AWARD and the JFW NEXT BRAND AWARD, is currently hosting a pop-up store at Isetan Shinjuku’s “Re:Style.” Designer Yuka Kimura will be in attendance on Sunday, March 22nd, and the store will be accepting pre-orders for the A/W collection, which will be unveiled at a runway show on Saturday, March 21st.

On Friday, March 20th, a spin-off recording of the podcast “RE;MODE_ROOM20,” commemorating the 20th anniversary of JFWO, took place. The moderators were comedian Masao Yoshii and Kohei Hashimoto, a buyer at Isetan Shinjuku’s Re:Style. With guests Ryota Murakami of pillings, Emi Funayama of FETICO, Daisuke Tanaka of tanakadaisuke, and Yohei Ohno, they hosted a public talk show featuring designers taking flight from Tokyo to the world.

The conversation began with icebreakers like “Do you shop at your own brand?” and “Do you have any memorable clothes you bought at Isetan?” The designer then spoke about the details behind the 26SS collection and the recent show as well as their hopes for future projects. Regarding the topic of future plans, the desinger shared exciting details that fans won’ want to miss !

The talk will be streamed at a later date on RE:MODE_ROOM20. To listen to previous talks, search for “RE:MODE_ROOM” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Artistspoken.

Dates: Wednesday, March 18th – Tuesday, March 24th
Hours: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Venue: Shinjuku Isetan Main Building, 3rd Floor, Center Park / The Stage #3
Organizer: Isetan Mitsukoshi Ltd.

A “VIVIANO” pop-up event has begun at the Barneys New York Ginza flagship store

To celebrate its 10th anniversary, VIVIANO is currently hosting its first-ever pop-up event at the Barneys New York Ginza flagship store, running through Monday, April 6th.

The event takes place in the newly added UNION SQUARE pop-up space on the first floor, a new addition following the Ginza flagship store’s renovation in September 2025. Items on display include an extensive lineup of new items for the S/S 2026 season of both men’s and women’s collections.

Dates: Friday, March 20th – Monday, April 6th
Hours: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Venue: Barneys New York Ginza Main Store
Organizer: Barneys New York

Rakuten FWT Official Photo Team arrives on the scene

JFW Special Ambassador Hio Miyazawa attended yoshiokubo and ZUCCa’s shows

Actor Hio Miyazawa, who was appointed as a special ambassador for the 20th anniversary of JFW, attended the yoshiokubo and ZUCCa shows held on Wednesday, March 18th. Wearing outfits from each brand, he got a firsthand look at the current state of Tokyo fashion.

A behind-the-scenes video capturing Miyazawa’s preparations for the show is scheduled to be released at a later date on the official Rakuten FWT Instagram account (@rakutenfwt).