Rakuten Fashion Week TOKYO (Rakuten FWT) 2026 A/W organized by the Japan Fashion Week Organization (JFWO) concluded today.

– Brands presented the previous day, Friday, March 20tht –

“RYUNOSUKEOKAZAKI” (from 8:30 PM)
TEN10

RYUNOSUKEOKAZAKI held its third runway show in four years titled, “〈005〉 Talk About the Habit.” The brand has always been defined by a central theme, “prayer.” However, since its sensational debut, this has changed shape through the presentation of several different collections. The fundamental principle of creating sculptural garments from wire and stretchy fabric remains unchanged, but the garments that once floated around the human body like spirits, now adopt “emotions” as a theme and became grounded on the body.

The act of prayer is never confined to a single emotion. It is adjacent to all of them: joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure, a range of feelings that we are tossed through in a chaotic world. In one moment we may receive sadness and suffering through a screen, then switch to having to smile at the person beside us—these are the kinds of contradictions we engage in. “I realized that I’m not creating while praying, but rather remaining in a state of prayer,” stated designer Okazaki.

This time, the brand introduced its first-ever patterned items. Vibrant floral and python patterns and other motifs from the natural world were printed on velvet and tights. Rather than being purely decorative, the collection draws attention to how humans once imitated nature through clothing and used its power to evoke emotions.

Compared to past collections, this one featured garments closer to ready-to-wear, such as polo shirts with wire-supported shoulders and mini-dresses with fin-like protrusions running vertically down the body. When asked about this, designer Okazaki answered with some hesitation, “I intended to make ready-to-wear, but as I was making it, I realized this was also a form of expression. I don’t think I’ve achieved it yet.” The experimental approach employed in the collection revealed a human quality born from such uncertainty.

The metal accessories, which resonate throughout the looks in RYUNOSUKEOKAZAKI‘s collection, were created by artist Ittetsu Tsuji, who has a close relationship with the designer. Okazaki, hailing from Hiroshima, seeks for the brand’s underlying “prayer” theme to also act as a wish for peace in this world.

– Brands presented today, Saturday, March 21st –

“ALAINPAUL” (from 12:00 PM)
Shibuya Hikarie, Hikarie Hall, Hall A

ALAINPAUL, who gained experience at Vetements and Louis Vuitton during Virgil Abloh’s era before launching their own brand in 2023, presented a reinterpretation of their latest collection, which was recently unveiled at Paris Fashion Week and shown this past March in Tokyo. The theme, “REPERTOIRE,” is a word meaning a performance, and featured an aesthetic sensibility that highlights themes of mind and body connection, derived from their experiences in contemporary ballet. The beautiful garments of the collection were worn by models of various gender idenitites. Just like in Paris, the runway was illuminated in the shape of an infinity symbol, and the models walked in a curvilinear fashion.

The show’s music was composed by Jun Miyake who has provided stage music for performances worldwide, and is beloved by renowned dancers including Pina Bausch. Details inspired by 18th-century to contemporary art pieces displayed at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris could be seen throughout the show. The voluminous silhouette of a pannier appeared throughout the dresses and was evoked through tiers of ruffles peeking out from under jackets. A three-dimensional mini-dress with a corset-like back was printed with wilting flowers, representing the passage of time and the connection between past and present. A silk organza cape drew inspiration from garment cases that protect clothing displays. Unlike the Paris presentation, the show concluded with a breathtaking finale featuring all the models lined up in a straight line.

“MIKIO SAKABE” (from 2:30 PM)
Kyōsō Nodobiya

MIKIOSAKABE held an installation set in a haunted house. The venue, the old house “Kyōsō Nodobiya,” was the same place where the brand previously held a haunted house event. The two-story old house had 11 rooms, in which models in eerie poses stood or muttered to themselves. There was a figure resembling a girl lying unconscious in the kitchen, and a young girl patting her mother’s shoulder as she sat kneeling in front of an altar.

Contrary to the eerie atmosphere, the girls were dressed in childlike frilly shirts, sailor-style pullovers, and heart-patterned coats. Materials used were slightly heavy, evoking a Showa and Taisho era. Visitors were free to wander around the rooms, and when the time came, they were instructed to enter a particular room. Inside, surveillance footage was played, revealing a murderer who had presumably killed the girls in the house. As the figure approached the camera raising an axe, the footage cut off, and the door behind him burst open, revealing designer Mikio Sakabe. “The common thread between Japanese horror and fashion is the fantastic element of blending the everyday with another world,” said designer Sakabe. The theme chosen was popular among overseas attendees, and guests left the experience with smiles on their faces.

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

EITARO, in its second season since its establishment, made its debut at Fashion Week. With its relatable creations and unpretentious message, it brought a breath of fresh air to the final day. This young brand, founded just three years ago after graduating from vocational school, is thriving in an era where few young designers are holding fashion shows. They’ve been actively working since their first season, even holding shows off-schedule. This season, their theme was “seihanagi (背花着),” which in Japanese means “blooming from the back,” and for this collection expressed aesthetics conveyed through the back of a garment. The theme selection was closely tied to the previous season’s collection theme of “chrysalis,” with the origin of the term “seihanagi” said to represent the moment a cicada emerges from its chrysalis and opens its wings for the first time, resembling a flower blooming on its back.

The collection prominently featured the back of the models’ in the runway, further emphasized as the models walked past the camera booth and intentionally turned their back to the lenses. Their backs were adorned with curves and straight lines using the technique of “boutis,” a traditional quilting embroidery technique from southern France. “Life is like a line. Sometimes thin, sometimes thick, sometimes curved, sometimes branching. A person’s life is reflected on their back,” stated designer Uemura. While the brand focused on school uniforms in its first season’s collection, it continues to draw attention to Japanese culture and the Japanese spirit in a new form. The Buddha’s flower design seen on the sleeves and collars is a symbolic motif of the brand, while the embroidered tiger, a symbol of traditional Japanese tattooing, and the pudding à la mode was born from the fantasy of “what if a Japanese ‘gal’ designed a traditional Japanese tattoo?”

Contrary to expectations that she might be nervous at her first show, she joked during a press interview, “I was working until 9 AM, so my face is a mess. Someone from Shiseido fixed it for me.” Regarding the brand’s future, she spoke in a strong voice that showed no signs of fatigue or nervousness from the show, saying, “I have a strong desire to go to Paris. I don’t want it to end as just a pipe dream, so I want to grow the business while incorporating the designs into everyday wear.”

Overseas buyers and media representatives visited Japan

This season, buyers and media representatives from overseas once again visited Japan. They attended shows and exhibitions for several brands each day, participating in Fashion Week and interacting with various designers.

Also, the following individuals visited Japan for Rakuten FWT 26A/W. Jeon Jimin / Photographer
Sunny Luk / Associate Merchandising Director at I.T Apparels Limited
Andreas Murkudis / Store Owner, Buyer of Andreas Murkudis
Dongin Noah Seo / Beaker / Men’s buyer | Beaker Team
Jessica Lam / LANE CRAWFORD | Buying Manager
Manuel Marelli / 10Corso Como Milano Head of buying
Changyong Lee / 10Corso Como Soul Men’s wear chief buyer

Various drinks distributed at the venue

At the runway events held at the official venue, Shibuya Hikarie Hikarie Hall, a variety of drinks were distributed to guests including Sapporo Beer’s SORACHI1984, Red Bull energy drinks, the lightly carbonated beverage “kiyasume,” Rakuten original natural mineral water, and green tea provided by official media partner Meta Co., Ltd.. The drinks were distributed in the foyer after the show, and attendees enjoyed chatting with their beverages in hand.

A special interview was conducted with ALAINPAUL(Alain Paul and Luis Philippe , Nathalie Dufour, and TELMA (Terumasa Nakajima)

A special discussion took place immediately after Alain Paul’s show, featuring ANDAM founder and managing director Nathalie Dufoura, as well as TELMA designer Terumasa Nakajima. Each guest featured a prominent track record; Alain Paul is a recipient of the ANDAM Special Award in 2025 and held shows in the official Paris Fashion Week schedule, Nakajima is notable as a winner of the JFW NEXT BRAND AWARD 2025, and Nathalie Dufour has been a bridge for introducing young talent to the world. Each designer shared their perspectives on their image of Japanese creation and what is necessary for global expansion.
The interview will be published later on the Rakuten FWT official website.

Official media outlet WWDJAPAN held a public invitation event

In collaboration with WWD JAPAN, the official media outlet of Rakuten Fashion Week TOKYO, a lottery-based event was once again held this season to invite members of the public who wanted to experience a fashion show firsthand.

With the cooperation of participating brands, we were able to invite many members of the public. The venue became even more vibrant filled with lovers of fashion.

The official media outlet FASHIONSNAP conducted a photo shoot project featuring visitors

During Fashion Week, street style photos of fashionable attendees were captured at the show venues and posted on the official FASHIONSNAP Instagram or the “Street Style” section of our website. These posts are shared with the official Rakuten FWT Instagram account (@rakutenfwt).

Some photos of individuals will be posted with permission on Rakuten FWT and Rakuten Fashion (portal site, Instagram stories, by R Instagram stories).