A monthly street fashion column by Yutaro Saito

yutaro saito photographer — © Yutaro Saito

On December 19, 2021, I was scouting locations in Asagaya, Tokyo, for a fashion magazine photoshoot. As I recall, the weather was unseasonably warm for December.

After visiting several spots suggested by my editor and mentally picturing possible compositions, it was about noon, and my ideas were gradually solidifying. The sharp, angular winter sunlight sliced through the area around Asagaya Station like laser beams, creating more shadows than sunlight.

Thinking I'd smoke one cigarette before heading back, I walked toward the smoking area at the south exit. There, standing somewhat aimlessly, was an elderly man wearing a navy jacket with strikingly vivid pink details—an unusual fashion choice for the typically subdued colors of winter outfit. Recently, I've been busy and haven't taken many photographs, but suddenly I felt inspired.

Summoning my courage, I approached him.

YUTARO (YT): "Excuse me, I'm a photographer currently taking pictures focusing on elderly fashion, and I thought your jacket was incredibly stylish..."

Ojiichan (OJ): "Oh, you're a photographer? I just walked here from Inokashira Park. It was a walking association event—"

The elderly man was a member of the Tokyo branch of a nationwide walking association. Apparently, he had been leading a walking event along with other veteran members, guiding new participants. As it turned out, the south exit of Asagaya Station was their finishing point.

YT: "Wow, I see! That's like four stations away, quite a walk! Is this jacket from the walking association? It’s very cool!"

OJ: "Yeah. But this pink is so embarrassing on trains and such. It might suit young people, but not old guys like me."

YT: "Not at all! It really suits you."

It turned out that this vividly pink jacket was custom-made by the walking association, specifically designed for visibility and safety during walking events. Both sides of the chest displayed logos of Mizuno and the Tokyo Walking Association—truly a special-edition double-branded item that would make Dover Street Market jealous.

YT: "Is your hat also from the walking association?"

OJ: "Yes. It's for staff members. Older guys like me handle event management, so it's necessary."

YT: "Oh, interesting. Are you wearing a hairband under the hat?"

OJ: "This? It's a knit cap underneath. Because it's cold."

Wow—knit cap plus baseball cap?! Hey, that's seriously cool—I'd never have imagined such a combo.

Taking a closer look, even the cap's details were exquisite: the bold lettering of "TOKYO" was thicker than the "STAFF" wording, and the sophisticated gold and black colors matched the vibrant pink jacket surprisingly well. The slightly lifted way he wore the cap due to the knit cap underneath also looked cool.

YT: "I also walk a lot because of my photography work. How much have you walked so far?"

OJ: "We get stamps when we participate in the association’s events—adding it all up, it's about 40,000 kilometers."

YT: "40,000 kilometers?! That's like..."

OJ: "About one lap around the Earth!"

One lap around the Earth! Even if someone walked 10 km daily, it would take around ten years. According to him, the walking association has over 200,000 members nationwide, but only a handful have achieved the 40,000 km milestone. This elderly man was undoubtedly one of the nation’s elite walkers. Yet, surprisingly, his outfit below the waist looked like he was just headed to the local supermarket.

Other elderly association members were fully geared in sporty outfits from brands like Mizuno and Adidas, featuring breathable fabrics typical of running gear, and wearing various types of shoes, from classic Asics to fashionable Yeezy-like silhouettes. Older walkers often opt for more advanced gear due to concerns about stress on their joints, even more so than younger participants.

But, this ojiichan stood out distinctly—his slacks seemed poorly ventilated, his sneakers were conservatively colored, seemingly purchased from a supermarket. He hardly looked like someone who had traversed the globe on foot. Perhaps when one has walked enough to circle the Earth, gear and outfit no longer matter? Like fashion designers appearing modestly dressed at the end of their runway shows, maybe there’s a realm understood only by those who've fully mastered their craft?

As I considered this ojiichan’s legs, I pondered his minimalist philosophy—the philosophy of someone who had completed a lap around Earth and achieved mastery of their walking path. Near the winter solstice of December, sharp sunlight and my imagination captured him in a truly divine photograph.