Terry Ito Column Vol.12 Let's go to the park in tartan

An NHK radio gardening program was telling an interesting story. The guest, a female gardener, talked about her time studying English gardens in the UK 30 years ago. At the time, DC brand black clothing was all the rage in Japan, and she proudly wore all black to the garden every day. One day, an elderly woman she had become acquainted with approached her. "Why don't you try wearing bright colors like the flowers blooming in the garden? I'm sure the flowers will think of you as friends and start talking to you." She then looked around again and noticed that the British were wearing pink, light blue, orange, and pale lavender. Since then, she has changed into bright colors and has become closer to the flowers, she said, happily sharing her experiences.

It's true that you don't see many "black flowers" in nature. My favorite flowers, plum, cherry, cosmos, hydrangea, tulip, sunflower, and hibiscus that blooms on southern islands, are all vibrantly colored throughout the four seasons. I can't think of any black flowers. So maybe flowers don't go well with black clothing. It's a typical story from the flower-loving British, but it makes sense.

All-black fashion is still all the rage. Whether you're walking around the city, visiting a regional town, or strolling through a park, you'll be surprised at how many people are wearing all black. It's true that wearing all black is less likely to go wrong and it's easy to mix and match. You don't have to worry too much about how you style it, and others will think you look stylish. For these reasons, it's easy to see why black has always been at the center of fashion. When you're young, it's especially tempting to dress in black. When I was in my 30s, I didn't have much money, but I still forced myself to wear black clothes from Yohji Yamamoto and Comme des Garçons.

That said, what do you think about the parents we see these days dressing their children in black? When it comes to paints and crayons for drawing on canvas, there are many colors that can be used, blended, and mixed, which creates the "interesting color changes" and "the importance of encountering color." It's so much fun to learn about color. Surely the same can be said for clothing.

My recommendation is to wear lots of fun colors. There's no need to worry about matching colors. The Christmas season is coming up, too. I definitely recommend the colorful tartan pattern! There are many types of tartan, and they're great for outerwear, pants, and skirts, and they go perfectly with all the black clothes you already own. I've already bought a pair of red tartan pants for winter. This will spark lively conversations with the flowers on my morning walks! If I'm in the mood, I might even sing love songs with them. Why not try going to the park in a Chuck scarf? A wonderful encounter awaits.

Terry Ito (director)

Born in Tsukiji, Tokyo in 1949. After attending Waseda Jitsugyo Junior and Senior High School, he graduated from Nihon University's School of Economics.
In March 2023, he completed the Master's program at the Graduate School of Media and Governance at Keio University.
He joined the television production company IVS Television, where he worked on variety shows such as "Tensai Takeshi's Genki ga Deru TV" and "Neruton Benikujidan."
He then went independent and worked on planning and directing a number of television programs, including TV Tokyo's "Asakusabashi Young Clothing Store."
His book "Comedy North Korea" became a bestseller, and he subsequently made numerous media appearances under the name Terry Ito.
In addition to his work as a director, he is also active in a variety of fields as a producer, entertainer, and commentator.
YouTube channelTerry Ito's Comedy Backdrop'
Currently writing a column in LALALA USA
https://lalalausa.com/archives/category/column/terry