The easygoing allure of Yutaro: The androgynous model discusses his style choices

By Midori Yamamura / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

Kneeling down in blue denim overalls, he looks up to strike a pose. The T-shirt and cap, both in vivid red, are a great combination. But at first glance, it’s hard to tell what gender he is — the impression he gives is that of a cute, sporty girl.

Meet Yutaro, an 18-year-old model dubbed a “gender-neutral boy” who is known for his mysterious appeal.

Yutaro defined his distinctive taste in fashion while working at secondhand clothes stores. After finishing middle school, he started working for the Osaka outlet of Santonibunnoichi, a secondhand clothes chain known for selling pop and innovative items. Yutaro said he was fascinated with the divergence he saw in the items he handled — they were in colors and shapes very different from today’s clothes. The one-off aspect also captivated him.

“You can enjoy making unique and distinctive fashion combinations with them. It’s very appealing,” Yutaro said.

Yutaro began appearing on TV and at fashion events after he was introduced as a “charismatic shop assistant” on TV early this year.

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