In Japan, fashion trends seem to come and go almost before you notice them. With summer rapidly approaching, many people are already planning their summer swimwear. One of this year’s most popular bikinis is a bit of a departure from last year’s styles, and it might just make you do a double-take.
This year the “high waist boom” is hitting hard, and now it’s hitting swimwear. The hottest new trend is the high-waisted bikini (gaudy print optional).
▼ That’s right, kids, the beach will be granny panties as far as the eye can see.
The bikini is just the latest addition to the trend. Last year the hemlines were rising with the economy, but it looks like this year it’s the waistband.
▼ This cut seems strangely familiar, though.
▼ Oh, come on! I thought we were done with this in the 90s!
▼ They get even higher. Really, these shorts are just a few inches away from being a romper.
▼ Either that or someone didn’t realize that the Mom Jeans skit was a joke.
So what do you think the next trend will be? Bloomer bikinis? 1880’s style “swim costumes”? Or will we go back to a time when nudity wasn’t a big deal and just skip swimwear altogether?
Source: Hachima Kikou
Images: Twitter, Ameblo, Hachima Kikou, YouTube, Hulu
Japanese Twitter users weigh in on the high-waist bikini debate
What happens when a guy goes to a Japanese women’s swimsuit store and asks for their best bikini?
Can the “Beijing Bikini” help Tokyo bear the boiling heat during next year’s Games?
Virtual pantie flash part of Japan’s new schoolgirl-inspired swimsuit’s sailor style【Photos】
One Piece official lingerie and bikinis: further proof that the pirate anime is for grown-ups too
7-year-old boy left behind on Mt. Fuji by his own dad
Sushi Bus: Japan’s first conveyor-belt bus lets you eat sushi while sightseeing around Tokyo
Why do foreign tourists queue up to eat at Tokyo Little House?
Studio Ghibli unveils new interactive stationery dioramas that bring anime movies to life on your desk
Studio Ghibli composer Jo Hisaishi just set three Guinness Records
7-Eleven Japan brings back best-selling flat croissant that became a hit on social media
Japanese man arrested after pretending to be foreigner while trying to rob convenience store
Anime fans can now wear a Seiko watch inspired by Japan’s One Piece Shinkansen
Ninja theme park suddenly closes in Japan, shadow warriors undone by shady real estate deals
Universal Studios Japan partners with manga horror master Junji Ito’s Tomie
12-year-old British girl who went missing in Tokyo found safe after visiting anime sites around Yokohama
Study finds hundreds of people in Indonesia legally named after Naruto, Inuyasha, other anime stars
Japan’s Rabbit Island in danger of becoming Boar Island, tourists asked to follow feeding rules
Japanese gacha machine in Shibuya now sells tiny capsule terrariums
12-year-old foreign tourist missing in Japan, police asking for help finding her [Video]
Stay at a hotel with a bed for your plushie in Japan
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Japanese toilet aims to attract foreign tourists but not everybody is happy about it
99-year-old woman rescued while attempting to climb Mt. Fuji
Tokyo’s newest viral dessert is like a Japanese parfait inside a bread bun [Taste test]
New Japanese vending machine at Shinkansen station sells cups of ice on platform
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Anime artist illustrates the differences between Japanese fashion now and ten years ago
Looking for baby names? The most popular ones in Japan this year are…