Popeye #950
236 x 296 mm, 168 pages
Tokyo, Japan (Japanese-language)
Published monthly
First published 1976
Editor-in-chief: Yuji Machida
Art director: Taro Kambe
‘Magazine for City Boys’
The Japanese favourite returns for June 2026 with a special ‘Made in the USA Catalog’. The issue draws inspiration and visual reference from its 1975 namesake, a publication, which alongside the inaugural edition of Popeye in 1976, helped to ignite Japan’s fascination with American-made clothing. Popeye’s debut issue highlighted California’s functional, unpretentious style, with ‘amekaji’—or American casual—quickly becoming a defining influence on Japanese fashion culture.
The issue explores how elements of ‘amekaji’ have become fundamental to everyday Japanese style, kicking off with a guide to iconic American brands, as chosen by 34 contributors, including favourites such as Patagonia and Tommy Hilfiger. Elsewhere, Popeye examines the current state of ‘Made in the U.S.A’ through visits to 10 factories and workshops across New York and New England, profiles the designers outside Japan taking inspiration from American casual, and rounds things out with the usual selection of seasonal fashion and lifestyle tips.
According to the editors:
‘Popeye magazine is the “Magazine for City Boys”. The founders printed this on the cover of the magazine when it debuted in 1976. What’s a “city boy”? The term doesn’t appear in the dictionary and no expert panel could define it. So we felt we should explore every aspect of what this “city boy” might be. After decades of debate, it still makes for a topic of lively discussion. It can be a style or a way of thinking. To get an idea of what makes a city boy, read Popeye magazine.’