Initially, for my daily commute, I was satisfied with storing the iPad in my usual shoulder bag or Arc’teryx backpack. But such bags could easily hold half a dozen iPads, or more — I needed to downsize my bag as I did with my mobile computer.

So the other day I visited a popular bag shop and picked up a Porter Freestyle shoulder bag.

The bag is made from high density canvas that has been processed with a polyurethane film. This creates a weather-proof exterior that is similar in feel to leather, yet is lightweight and requires very little maintenance.

Critically, for my use, the bag is just large enough to store an iPad in a SwitchEasy Nude case, a Micro Four Thirds camera, and regular items such as a wallet and iPhone. Because I tend to overpack, I made sure to get something that would hold only the essentials, thus forcing me to travel light.

The bag features three zippered compartments, each containing several sub-compartments, that are easily accessible when the bag is being worn. I’ve learnt from owning other bags that capacity without accessibility is highly annoying; I always seem to be reaching for my gadgets, money, or other stuff almost compulsively!

In conclusion, I am quite satisfied with this Porter Freestyle shoulder bag. Although the color was not my first choice, the brown finish contrasts nicely with the metal zippers. Overall, the bag looks conservatively styled with its boxy look conveying a feeling of utility.

On the practical side, the main compartment not only stores my iPad, but also allows quick access to my camera — important for candid street shots. The other pockets are similarly well designed and help to organize my growing collection of smaller gadgets and personal items.

Porter has long been one of the most popular bag brands among Japanese men. Although their products are not so easy to acquire outside of Japan, you can search through their product catalog here and perhaps find an international reseller online.

Here’s a shot of the Porter Freestyle shoulder bag taken with my phone. The bag’s dimensions just fit the iPad, but there is ample girth to hold the Panasonic GH1 camera with extra lenses as well.

Each and every time I cut through town or ride a train, I end up seeing a lot of interesting gear. It always gets me wondering: what does a bag say about its owner?

This guy is dressed neatly, but rather subdued. His bag, on the other hand, is a sure magnet for attention. I wonder if he chose the plain color of his clothes just to create this contrast. Even the way he holds his bag is as if to show it off.

The guy on the left has a large kit bag, probably filled with lenses, filters and other expensive goodies that only a camera geek could appreciate. Comparatively, his friend with the popped collar is probably packing some shrimp flavored crackers and a Nintendo DSi XL for when his friend’s hobby starts to wear on his nerves.

This guy is wearing a cheaper looking shoulder bag. Shoulder bags of the larger ‘messenger’ style have fallen a bit out of fashion here in Osaka. But this one looks pretty comfortable, and the horizontal stabilizer across his lower torso is probably a great idea. However, it’s just not something that most people would wear as a fashion accessory. But this guy has probably got waaay too much date-simulator gaming to do on his weekends than to worry about looking hip!

This guy, from head to toe, has put a lot of thought into what he’s wearing. His mini bag perfectly matches his outfit, but I think that makes the ensemble a bit obvious and overdone. Which means it’s totally fine and not overdone. Because he’s in Osaka.

This is a cool backpack made by Porter, a well known bag and accessories company based in Tokyo. I love the big metal zipper. Also, the dark fabric looks sporty and lightweight.

You don’t see many backpacks these days in any city, but they still make the most sense for transporting heavy loads. This guy is a salary man, so I’m guessing he has at least a laptop tucked in there with probably some fresh porn manga for the train ride home.

Finally we have the no-bag guy. This man is clearly dressed for comfort, sporting loose fitting clothing that is actually quite ideal for battling summertime humidity. It looks like he just brought his cellphone with him. I’m guessing he’s talking on it right now, asking his wife where the hell his bag is at!?

Okay, one last photo.

Here we have a typical school girl’s bag that’s decorated with at least a half dozen Disney characters. Sadly, this could just as easily belong to a man twice her age. I’ve seen it.

Walk into any convenience store or pharmacy in Japan and you’ll likely find Gatsby deodorant and hairstyling products in the toiletry section. Gatsby is a maker of beauty care products, specifically for men, and is owned by Osaka based Mandom Corp.

So how does Gatsby Gold deodorant fair against its Gillette and Mennen counterparts?

Gatsby Gold has a pleasant fragrance, but one that diminishes quickly after use. Japanese people consider strong fragrances a bit offensive, so it’s not surprising that their deodorants lack that head slamming nasal shot you get every time you walk past a crowd of teenagers wearing Axe or TAG. Furthermore, most Southeast Asians lack any sort of body odor to begin with, so an olfactory smokescreen is not really what they’re going for.

When might you use Gatsby Gold?

This Gatsby deodorant is probably best used for short trips out of the house, and not for 9-to-5 workdays, riding crowded commuter trains and the like. Personally, I usually forgo the use of pure deodorants and opt for the chalky white stuff (anti-perspirants). I find that staying dry is pretty essential to smelling clean; spray on fragrances do nothing to keep your dry!

Next up, is Gatsby’s Moving Rubber hair wax.

This stuff comes in travel or bathroom sized allotments and is great for adding style and hold to your hairdo. Each type of wax comes with a unique name and container color, and each one is rated by shine and strength on an easy-to-read scale. For instance, the Wild Shake flavor that I’m using right now scores high in strength, but low on shine. This is something Astro Boy might use!

With 4-foot high hairdos being quite the norm in Japan, good hair styling and cleaning products are sold everywhere. In comparison, they’re not quite up to par with their domestic selection of deodorants. Although you can find a few western strength products in Japan, like Axe and Old Spice, those might not be your products of choice (well I’m hoping they’re not!). So when visiting – and I hope you will travel to the Island at least once in your life – you might want to pack a few extra spray cans of whatever you use to mask your explosive barbarian odor!

I’m pretty sure I’m going to get one of each of these belts! These checkered studded belts list for around $60 and come in a variety of bright and glittery colors. Low Life of London, as their label is called, serves a punk-rock inspired crowd, and has many of their products worn by musicians, artists and professional skateboarders.

With so much dark denim being worn these days, it’s nice to have the option to highlight an outfit with some eye-catching waist gear. Now if only I wasn’t trying to hide my rapidly accelerating post-holiday waistline. Damn you Haagen-Dazs!

The Japanese are infatuated with their bags. Everywhere you go, you’ll see Japanese of every class, occupation and gender with stylish bags in their hands and on their shoulders. Having some of the best and most used public transit systems at their disposal, Japanese bag culture grew out of the need to lug around the day’s items in lieu of driving a car. Whether commuting to work or out for shopping, virtually everyone is a pedestrian in Japan’s urban centers and having suitable luggage for such occasions is a must. Dingy backpacks and overburdened plastics bags are a definite faux pas on an island where Louis Vuitton handbags are as common as Nike runners are in the States.

One particular bag that caught my attention was from the 02 series by Japanese luggage specialist Hergopoch. The 02-BRF is a pleated leather (soft) briefcase that is handmade in Japan. The striped look of the body is eye-catching and unique, and the zippers offer bold highlights with good practicality; but it’s the studded, overlapping leather handle really puts this piece in a class of its own. And if you’re more of a shoulder bag kind of guy, Hergopoch also brings this pleated look to a few more gorgeous items in their lineup.

I never really got how Casio could sell the G-Shock in Japan. A lot of their watches remind me of the stuff I grew up wearing, like the iconic Timex Ironman, which basically resembled a hideous plastic stopwatch strapped to the wrist.

Every time that I’d see an ad campaign for a new G-Shock model, I’d shake my head in disbelief that Casio could sell such a thing. How, in the land of Louis Vuitton handbags and Prada sneakers could the people of Japan accept such an unsightly 1980’s inspired accessory?

Well, to begin with, streetwear in general has always shown a fascination for military inspired gear and high-spec outdoor apparel. G-Shock definitely has a name in this category, and with Japan’s insanely diverse fashion tastes, the watch has tapped a surprisingly large market that is accepting of its muscular, eccentric looks.

Further contributing to the G-Shock’s success is Casio’s relentless release schedule. Debuting special edition G-Shocks on a seemingly monthly basis and refreshing the entire line biannually, the company has basically turned the G-Shock into the Pokemon of wristwatch collectables. Since its debut in 1983, the Casio G-Shock has continued to amass a worldwide legion of fans that buy, sell and chat about anything related to the brand.

But clever marketing and rising fashion trends aren’t the only driving force behind the line’s overwhelming success. People love G-Shock watches because they offer something unique.

Famed for its use among Special Forces units around the world, the G-Shock has gained a reputation for being able to withstand all sorts of harsh climates and extreme conditions. From soldiers to schoolgirls, wearers of the watch know that their G-Shock has been tested in all sorts of extreme situations.

Water resistant to 200 meters, capably of surviving a 10-meter drop, and featuring a minimum 10-year battery life, the G-Shock is hardly a toy watch for snotty nosed brats. But having said that, you may want to think twice about wearing one on formal occasions. It can be a tad unsightly for anyone not in the know.

You can browse through literally thousands of G-Shock products right now on Amazon.

Trust your masculinity? Then it’s time to consider a man-bag! This classy Boston-style bag from Boycott resembles more of a stylish gym bag than a ‘handbag’, as some people might stubbornly call it. With the usual attention to details, like side pockets for your gadgets and a large zipper for easy access to your stuff, this bag is not only meant to compliment your savvy looks but also be highly functional. The carryall is made of cotton, comes in three colors and is purportedly quite durable.

But unless you’re situated right near a major fashion center, you may want to consider topping off your man-luggage with a couple copies of Maxim, a 6-pack of beer and a some random construction tools. For you never know what your jealous co-workers might say if they caught you pulling out a battery powered hair dryer and some Biore zit strips – keep that stuff on the freakin’ down-low!

Accessories for men need to be taken seriously; you shouldn’t have to act all awkward and uncomfortable when another man asks to check out your goods. Instead, you should confidently make your way from the showers to the locker room and proudly show off your man-bag. Masculinity secured!

This preppy style leather and ribbon belt from Junmen is suited for the season’s lighter colors, and aims to add just the right accent to your denim, cargo or short pants. The belt is made from natural and synthetic leather and comes in two colors, red (shown) and blue. The item costs around $70usd.

The only thing I don’t like about a good belt is that it’s unlikely to get seen much, at least with my own sloppy dress style. So I’m proposing a new fashion trend, for, let’s say 2010, when I think we’ll be ready to wear our belts over our shirts and about half way up the chest. It could totally help me out in certain situations. Like this fantasy date scenario:

So the only good thing I’m wearing is this Gucci belt that I stole off my roommate, but I have to put it on somehow so that it’s pretty much the only thing she notices. So I show up to dinner wearing tiny cut off shorts, sandals, no shirt and the Gucci strapped over my shoulder like its Rambo’s ammo belt, and the whole thing works out surprisingly well until the belt comes off and my mojo vanishes like a pack of Extenze at a Hummer dealership. Damn you stylish belt! This would of never been a problem had I worn another one around my forehead!

I can’t wait for 2010…

A stylish belt by the glamor outfit, Charm Cult. The worn purple leather and aged brass buckle reminds me of many a late night at the penthouse suite, MGM Grand.

You know, the one filled with loose women, unlimited cigarettes and a Tudor style Emperor-sized bed where I blast off one of my famous guitar riffs after scoring with three groupies. All of them women. Wait. I’m thinking of my other job. Hotel cler.. I mean rock star. Regardless, never doubt the power of having a decent belt buckle. It’s like adding an extra 3-inches to your wang.  

Remember those BMX gloves from the mid-80′s that were once the statement of cool? Stillgreen has produced a pair of insane gloves that’ll have you thumbing the phonebook looking for old members of your B-boy crew. Featuring real python and lamb skin, they are of superb build quality and comfort.

Apparently, the gloves fit so damn well that picking up small objects, like coins in your pocket, is not a problem. Yes, the website actually says that in Japanese. What a clever way to market these $250 necessities. Like you’re going put on some Python skin gloves and challenge an Eskimo to picking up pennies off a frozen lake. And although your girlfriend swears she isn’t Eskimo, how does she explain her patchy mustache?