Terry Ito Column Vol.22 New Employees: Too Many Black Suits

With the arrival of spring, the flowers are changing color and the city is becoming more vibrant. Drawn by the cheerful atmosphere, I was walking through the Marunouchi business district when I spotted a group of about 10 men and women in jet black suits, who appeared to be new employees who had just joined the company in April. They weren't wearing company uniforms, but all wore the same kind of suits. Most of the women were wearing pantsuits rather than skirts. None of them were wearing ties. Everyone looked fresh, but their black formal-like suits didn't look very fresh. There was something strange about them.

When I researched whether there are countries around the world where new employees wear black suits to work, it seems that Japan is the only country where they are worn en masse. It's puzzling how this came about. When did black suits become synonymous with new employees? Apparently, the term "recruit suit" became popular and widespread around 2000. At the time, a clothing manual offered the following advice: "The basic color for new employees is black, navy blue, and gray. Choose from these three colors. Black evokes a sense of solidity and sincerity, giving the viewer a calm impression. Navy blue gives a fresh impression, while gray is slightly more casual and sophisticated." That's right. I don't know who started it, but this selfish, subjective opinion has spread among students. From a student's perspective, if they want to join their dream company and make a good impression in an interview, they would choose a black suit, which they believe contributes to a solid and honest organization. The company's human resources department is also to blame. They have no fashion sense and don't even have the courage to reject a black suit. It would be a shame if we encouraged employees to wear formal suits freely, as this would allow us to learn about their thoughts and sensibilities regarding clothing, their personalities, and even the background of their daily lives. Of course, this is already being done in the fashion industry.

In fact, one of my graduate school classmates who graduated last year always stood out because she always wore a leopard print coat. She took the exam to become a senior national civil servant and passed with flying colors. When I asked her how she managed to pass despite always dressing so flamboyantly, she said, "The interviewer told me that Japan needs people with unique sensibilities like you in the future." She was surprised to pass and is now working hard at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is doing great. Yes, change is important. Wearing black all the time makes you lose the courage to try out brightly colored clothes, and your sense of style fades. Your home decor becomes very safe, and your closet becomes bland. What a waste.

New employees, if you want to become a company president in the future, I recommend that your second suit be a light gray one. What? You don't want to be a company president? I'm going home at 6 o'clock? Excuse me.

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