Actress Chiaki Kuriyama wears a Bratop.

No-bra gear may gain ground this summer

As the hot weather kicks in, males in Japan are likely to find a definite improvement in the scenery. Weekly Playboy (June 1) reports that the number of women choosing to go braless in the warm weather has been soaring.

Note we said “braless”—not topless. Moreover, it’s not as if more ladies are risking Cooper’s droop by going entirely without support. But from last year, camisoles and tank-tops with built-in cups, such as the “Bratop” from Uniqlo, have sold by the millions, indicating that more women are likely to be prancing around town in such garments this summer.

Uniqlo’s Bratop models, whose prices begin from 1,500 yen for the camisole and tank-top varieties, incorporate cups of molded mesh material designed to wick off perspiration. Their shoulder straps are also adjustable. This summer’s new designs were modeled by actress Chiaki Kuriyama at a press conference last week.

One starlet enthusiastic for the Bratops is zoftig pinup model Yuri Morishita, who boasts a 90-cm G-cup.

“I wish all my clothes felt this good,” the 24-year-old model beams. “I’ve always had problems finding a bra that fit me well, to the point the I didn’t want to wear one. “But these new types with built-in cups give no feeling of constriction. That’s because since they consist only of pads, my bosom can move about freely.”

She thereupon demonstrates her point to Weekly Playboy’s reporter by thrusting her arms out in front of her body to emphasize her impressive cleavage.

Some males, however, might regard the Bratop as a step in the wrong direction.

“Garments like Bratop may enable women’s breasts to protrude nicely, and also have the advantage of allowing bounce as the wearer walks,” observes Tetsuya Mori, who operates FOB, a website for fans of “kyonyu,” as massive mammaries are referred to in Japanese.

“But actually when and if things get to the point of making love, it means one less item to peel off; so I guess men who have a fetish for women’s underthings aren’t going to like them so much,” Mori says, complaining that the garments with built-in cups are not that revealing.

“It’s no exaggeration to say some men will feel like they’re losing out on half of the pleasures in life!” he exclaims.

“Well, women’s chests perspire a lot and in the steamy summer heat, mine become smaller, to the point that I have to go down one size,” Morishita retorts. “The Bratop allows good ventilation and prevents subcutaneous fat cells from burning off, so I won’t need to change to a smaller size.”

Weekly Playboy’s reporter’s response is to nod enthusiastically. Or perhaps his neck movements are merely moving along in synch, karaoke-style, with Morishita’s bouncing balls.

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Latest 15 of 79 Total Comments Show All

WilliB at 11:12 AM JST - 21st May

Looking forward to Uniqulo selecting the best no-braist!
scoobydoo at 09:01 PM JST - 21st May

JT seems to be making a few references to Playboy recently, hmmmm.
pawatan at 11:53 PM JST - 21st May

JT seems to be making a few references to Playboy recently, hmmmm.

That's Weekly Playboy, not Playboy. Different mags.
SiouxGirl at 11:11 AM JST - 22nd May

Interesting. Men are wearing bras and women aren't. If you guys want to deal with that hot, itchy mess, more power to you.
ritalynn at 02:32 PM JST - 22nd May

If the ladies of Japan want to go braless, let them, i'm not going to Japan to see them anyway, what do I care.
oberst at 06:06 PM JST - 22nd May

bouncing balls ? how crude.

it's the pointies that turn men on when girls go bra-less
likeitis at 06:40 PM JST - 22nd May

presto345: This should read: "they have smaller breasts" And if you thought bigger is better, you need to readjust your perceptions. It's a myth that all men adhere to this ignorance.

Well, that might be true. But then, back home, I see huge ones, but trust me, they ain't nice. Japanese women tend to have breasts that are big enough, plenty to work with, and firm....NO, NO! They got no breasts! Ok? They got no breasts! So don't none of you guys come over here and get in my way, I mean, don't bother going out of your way....er, you would be wasting your time, sorry. Case closed.
gamera at 02:49 AM JST - 23rd May

You are still looking good, GoGo
ca1ic0cat at 03:07 AM JST - 23rd May

Don't get your hopes up guys. In NY women are allowed to go topless anywhere men are allowed to. You know, the beach, jogging, whatever. I've never seen any who do. I don't know why not.

I do agree that there is nothing wrong with the Japanese version of breasts though. I think the fascination with size is that size can be measured and quantified. That's about where it ends though.
ca1ic0cat at 03:11 AM JST - 23rd May

"If you guys want to deal with that hot, itchy mess, more power to you."

Souixgirl, don't you mean more powDer to you?

Sorry, it's late, I'm getting bouncy. I mean punchy.
XXXXX at 10:59 AM JST - 23rd May

some things don't change
pathat at 11:32 PM JST - 24th May

No-bra gear may gain ground this summer

I'd be happy to force a resolution through the Diet that all good-looking Japanese girls are required to do this every summer from here to eternity.
Apsara at 10:40 AM JST - 27th May

I don't see what the fuss is about. Uniqlo has been selling this type of top with a built-in bra for several years now (I own a few and some of them are getting old), and tops with built-in bras have been sold by other manufacturers and in other countries for many years- there is nothing new or innovative about them, it's just that the advertising is more obvious this time.
KnowBetter at 03:22 AM JST - 31st May

I'm all for a product that keep the ladies happy and prevents subcutaneous fat cells from burning off thus reducing the size of their boobies when they're most like to be out on display.

Frankly, I wouldn't miss having to peel one more layer off them to get to the prize.
dracpoo2 at 12:19 PM JST - 3rd June

Presto 345,There is a reason no Japanese women are ever used to model bras by designers like Victoria Secret. The damn things wouldnt sell.