Ametora: How Japan Saved American Style

This book gives a comprehensive overview on men's fashion in Japan and how it evolved starting with the Treaty of Kanagawa in 1854 when Japan opened their borders to trade with the United States. The "save" in the title doesn't necessarily bear the meaning of "rescue", instead it has the meaning of archiving and preserving. Japan succesfully preserved American fashion of the 1960's (and more) which allowed Americans to come back to it. The book explores a multitude of styles, and does a good job of summarizing the journey Japanese fashion went through. It started with simply copying already outdated American trends, to keeping up with them, to revolutioning said trends, to inventing trends of their own. It also does a good job of explaining Japanese culture to people unfamiliar with it, and it analyzes why exactly subcultures, fashion as a lifestyle isn't/wasn't such a viable/common thing in Japan, as much as it is in the West. Definitely worth a read!