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With September’s Grand Sumo tournament just around the corner, you’ll soon be able to pick up socks and an Imabari Towel handkerchief featuring a legend of the sport at your local konbini.
The latest collab offering from FamilyMart’s in-house label Convenience Wear celebrates yokozuna Chiyonofuji, one of the last great sumo wrestlers of the Showa era (1926-1989), who passed away in 2016. The collection consists of the konbini chain’s popular Imabari handkerchiefs and striped socks, which have both been given original sumo theming.
The Line Socks (¥600) feature a shimenawa hemp rope pattern that’s inspired by the ceremonial tsuna ropes worn by yokozuna grand champions. The towel handkerchiefs (¥800), meanwhile, are adorned with an image of Chiyonofuji in a jacquard design that’s made possible through the craftsmanship of Imabari towel artisans.
Leading up to FamilyMart’s 45th anniversary this September, the convenience store giant has been making a succession of big moves. These include opening its first flagship store – directed by fashion designer and entrepreneur Nigo – releasing an extensive line of FamilyMart merch, and expanding the Convenience Wear collection.
The last of those is developed in collaboration with fashion designer Hiromichi Ochiai, who hopes the new Chiyonofuji collection will ‘serve as an opportunity to raise awareness of Japanese culture both at home and abroad’.
The items will go on sale sequentially from August 28 at approximately 16,500 FamilyMart stores across Japan, and they’re already available via FamilyMart’s e-commerce site Famima Online. Keep an eye out and be quick; we bet these won’t stay on the shelves for long.
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