On July 28, 2026, a post asking 'Why is Japanese-style fashion not popular in China?' appeared on China's social media platform Xiaohongshu (RED), drawing a response from Chinese netizens.

The poster asked, 'I've always thought that basic coordination like Japanese-style fashion should be more popular because it's easy for anyone to adopt. However, it's not very popular in China. Why is that?'

The poster then wrote, 'When I was talking to a Japanese girl on the language exchange app HelloTalk, she told me, "Japanese fashion is very particular about silhouette and fabric texture, and you also need to combine it with sophisticated hairstyles and accessories. Only by trying various combinations can you find the style that suits you best." Perhaps this is why Japanese-style fashion isn't very popular in China. The hurdle is higher than I thought.'

In response to this, Chinese netizens commented sympathetically, saying, 'Japanese-style fashion feels like there are fixed rules. You have to unify your bag, shoes, makeup, and hairstyle all to match your clothes. It's quite a lot of work because you have to put effort into everything from head to toe.'

Furthermore, opinions such as 'Japanese-style fashion is premised on tidying yourself up properly first,' 'Even if it looks natural, a lot of effort actually goes into it. I think that "relaxed feel" is also the result of proper grooming,' and 'Shiny hair and clean skin are more important than clothes. I think cleanliness and meticulousness from head to toe are crucial' were also expressed.

In addition, voices expressing the difficulty of replicating the style were heard, such as, 'I really like Japanese-style skirts because they have a gentle atmosphere. But I don't have time to set my hair before work every day, so in the end, it doesn't really look Japanese-style,' and 'Those kinds of clothes don't work without makeup, do they? So on days I'm not motivated, I end up looking very sloppy, and only on days I have energy do I look Japanese-style (lol).'

On the other hand, opinions were also seen that some styles are not easily accepted in China, such as, 'What I understand least is the coordination of layering a camisole over a white T-shirt,' and 'Those kinds of clothes only suit people in Japan; if you wear them in China, you'll think, "Where did you come from, the countryside?"'

In addition, there were comments indicating that the impression changes depending on the wearer's atmosphere and body type, such as, 'Fashion often ends up being completed with facial features and style. Even the same clothes create a completely different impression when worn by a different type of person,' and 'I think it's a style that chooses the person. The urban coordinations seen in Japanese dramas are very stylish, but they tend to make one look mature, and simple or cute styles can look rustic if done poorly.' (Translated and edited by Iwata)