rogueclimber
Practically Family
- Messages
- 535
- Location
- Marina del Rey
Chose my Deluxe Fed IV for today's chilly (49°) jaunt to the Venice Pier
Usually I find they say nothing, but I do get regular looks and the occasional compliment.How do the Japanese react to a gaijin wearing a nice hat?
Hi GLewis. To be honest, as a foreigner here, I get so many looks even without the hat. There is a fair bit of a hat culture here, so wearing one is not completely out of the ordinary. Of course, far from everyone wears hats, but there are a decent amount of hat wearers around my town, especially people a little up in age. You see them. I notice that it's mostly trilbys on men and they are not particularly quality ones that are mostly made from cotton. I've been wearing hats for a long time, mostly a range of seasonal trilbys, so wider brims are new for me as is fur felt. I used to think that wool offered the best hats, but I've had a change of heart since I put on an Akubra. I admit that I do catch people checking out my Stylemaster, so the reactions seem to be some looks. Not sure how much is due to my skin color or the hat—a bit of both, I'm sure. My Japanese friends will compliment my hats sometimes. As for the Stylemaster, my foreign friends tend throw out the Indy comments.How do the Japanese react to a gaijin wearing a nice hat?
So you accidently scared them?Usually I find they say nothing, but I do get regular looks and the occasional compliment.
When I started wearing hats to the school where I work, there was a bit of laughter from the kids and also mirth and “what’s up with that?” type comments from a couple of teachers. Some of the kids wanted to touch my hats or put them on. I told them to take care and showed them how to hold it. Once in a while, a kid would ignore that and just grab the hat, scrunching whatever part they were holding. Those kids got a real earful!
The funniest reaction was when I was in a black pork pie, wearing dark glasses and a suit. A bunch of high school girls walking the opposite direction on the pavement clammed together and took a very wide berth of me. I’m just a little guy, or about average size here in Japan, so that’s never happened to me before. I got a kick out of it.
Yes!So you accidently scared them?
The only issue Ive ever had with my 9 Akubras is deciding which one to wear! lol . One of my 3 stylemasters goes outside just about every week.. Nice refined hatsHad a Stylemaster in Loden shipped to me to go with my Traveller. Now I have an Akubra for the city and another for the country. I didn't think I'd like the dark brown as much as I do. The Stylemaster is proving to be super versatile. Here's me putting it through some paces. . .
Going to work View attachment 653699
Stepping out
View attachment 653700
on a walk
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After a few glasses of wine
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That would be funny! I hope you greeted them in Japanese!Usually I find they say nothing, but I do get regular looks and the occasional compliment.
When I started wearing hats to the school where I work, there was a bit of laughter from the kids and also mirth and “what’s up with that?” type comments from a couple of teachers. Some of the kids wanted to touch my hats or put them on. I told them to take care and showed them how to hold it. Once in a while, a kid would ignore that and just grab the hat, scrunching whatever part they were holding. Those kids got a real earful!
The funniest reaction was when I was in a black pork pie, wearing dark glasses and a suit. A bunch of high school girls walking the opposite direction on the pavement clammed together and took a very wide berth of me. I’m just a little guy, or about average size here in Japan, so that’s never happened to me before. I got a kick out of it.
I bet you do get a lot of attention; especially in rural areas! Akubras are nice hats. I’ve been to stores where the salesmen told me that they have nice hats. They turn out to be wool felt, unlined and not nearly as nice as my Akubras!Hi GLewis. To be honest, as a foreigner here, I get so many looks even without the hat. There is a fair bit of a hat culture here, so wearing one is not completely out of the ordinary. Of course, far from everyone wears hats, but there are a decent amount of hat wearers around my town, especially people a little up in age. You see them. I notice that it's mostly trilbys on men and they are not particularly quality ones that are mostly made from cotton. I've been wearing hats for a long time, mostly a range of seasonal trilbys, so wider brims are new for me as is fur felt. I used to think that wool offered the best hats, but I've had a change of heart since I put on an Akubra. I admit that I do catch people checking out my Stylemaster, so the reactions seem to be some looks. Not sure how much is due to my skin color or the hat—a bit of both, I'm sure. My Japanese friends will compliment my hats sometimes. As for the Stylemaster, my foreign friends tend throw out the Indy comments.
Im looking for a new project. Has anyone ever put a pencil curl on a larger brim Akubra? Im thinking a big pencil curl Akubra would be cool. Something like a raw edge Riverena should be doable, but Im unsure whether a bound edge would be problematic...
Something like this is what Im thinking...
View attachment 655569
The tool I have coming has both 3/8 and 1/2" curls. Depending on the original brim size, Im thinking The curl can take the place if trimming the hat narrower ( Im not real big on oversized brims). A nice roll should effectively reduce the brim acerage lolI had a tighter pencil curl put on my Sombrero, perhaps that's an option? I did have the brim cut down slightly as well, and of course the crown is higher than the example in your picture.
I've seen pencil curls on bound edge western hats, shouldn't be a problem.
I figure since I havent been on a horse in years, and tend to stay in the shade, Im more concerned on having a brim that doesnt bump into the seatback every time I move. Back when I was outside all the time I had wide brims. I had one nice American Maxi Felt that I wore for 20 yrs or so. If I remember, it had a 4-1/2" brim. I retired it when I got my Akubra Lawson. It scratches any big hat itch that I might have. Im definately " all hat... no cattle" these days lol.I think it depends on whether you go for form or for function.
A wide brim serves a real purpose, but if you are only concerned with appearance, I guess there’s a chance you won’t like them.
One man’s “improvement” is another man’s abomination.