As a petite woman familiar with the clothing struggles in the United States, finding clothes that fit perfectly off the rack can often feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. While some US retailers offer petite sizes, the styles and cuts are not always ideal. This is a common experience, especially when considering how clothing sizes can vary significantly across different regions and countries. Understanding these differences is crucial, particularly when shopping internationally or from global brands. For example, many shoppers wonder about size variations when comparing clothing sizes in the US to those in countries like India, or across Asia in general. While direct comparisons to “India Size Compared To Us” might be on your mind, let’s explore a detailed comparison between US and Japan UNIQLO sizing, which serves as a great example of these international sizing nuances.
My recent trip to Japan presented a perfect opportunity to explore this. I was particularly excited to try clothes from popular Japanese brands like UNIQLO and Muji. Having heard that these brands often feature different cuts tailored for the Asian markets, even in their US stores, I hoped for a better fit in Japan. In the US, even the smallest sizes at UNIQLO often felt off – too long in the torso or legs. This was disappointing, especially since UNIQLO is a Japanese brand, leading me to expect better sizing for petite Asian frames.
Before my trip, I tried to research online for a comprehensive comparison of UNIQLO sizing between the US and Japan, including information on size availability in both markets. Finding limited resources, I decided to document my own experience. This post aims to provide a clear comparison based on my firsthand observations, particularly helpful if you’re planning a trip to Japan or Asia and intend to shop at UNIQLO.
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In a nutshell:
- UNIQLO Japan sizes generally run one size smaller than their US counterparts.
- Garments in Japan are typically designed with a shorter cut compared to those sold in American UNIQLO stores.
Let’s delve into the specifics by examining the sizing charts and conducting a direct size comparison.
UNIQLO’s US Sizing Chart
For our comparison, we will focus on the smallest sizes, as these are most relevant for petite individuals. According to the US sizing chart:
Height
- US XXS: 5’1” – 5’3”
- US XS: 5’1” – 5’3”
Bust
- US XXS: 29-31 inches
- US XS: 31-33 inches
Waist
- US XXS: 22-23 inches
- US XS: 24-25 inches
It’s worth noting that the XXS size is rarely available in US UNIQLO stores, even in large cities like New York City. While occasionally offered online for select items as part of their extended sizes range, in-store availability is limited.
UNIQLO’s Japan Sizing Chart
Here’s where the size difference becomes apparent. The Japanese sizing chart does not include an XXS size; XS is the smallest available. Let’s compare the XXS and XS US sizes with the XS and S Japan sizes. For easier comparison, centimeter measurements have been rounded to the nearest inch.
Height
- US XXS: 5’1” – 5’3”
- US XS: 5’1” – 5’3”
- JP XS: 4’9” – 5’1”
- JP S: 5’0” – 5’3”
As you can see, the Japanese XS is designed for a shorter height range than the US XS. In fact, there is no direct US equivalent in height to the Japan XS. The US sizing starts at 5’1” for its smallest sizes (XXS and XS), while Japan XS caters to women as short as 4’9”. Interestingly, the US XS and Japan S cover a similar height range, with Japan S accommodating women just slightly shorter, starting at 5’0”.
Bust
- US XXS: 29-31 inches
- US XS: 31-33 inches
- JP XS: 29-31.5 inches
- JP S: 30-33 inches
In terms of bust size, the US XXS and Japan XS are quite similar, both fitting a bust of around 29-31 inches. The US XS and Japan S are also comparable, accommodating bust sizes up to 33 inches, with the Japan S starting slightly smaller at 30 inches.
Waist
- US XXS: 22-23 inches
- US XS: 24-25 inches
- JP XS: 22-25 inches
- JP S: 24-26 inches
Based on waist measurements, the US XXS is slightly smaller than the Japan XS, covering up to 23 inches compared to Japan XS’s 25 inches. The US XS fits a waist up to 25 inches, while the Japan S extends slightly larger to 26 inches.
One observation from shopping in Japanese UNIQLO stores is the limited availability of the smallest sizes. Similar to US stores where XXS is scarce, I rarely encountered XS sizes in Japan. Typically, the smallest sizes readily available were S, M, and L.
US vs. Japan UNIQLO Sizing: Chart Interpretation vs. Real-World Fit
According to the sizing charts, a Japan S is theoretically designed for someone with similar height, bust, and waist measurements as a US XS. This was initially puzzling because my personal experience in US UNIQLO stores with size XS had always been unsatisfactory – clothes often felt too big. However, in Japan, size S garments seemed to fit much better.
This discrepancy led me to question whether I was mistaken in my perception. Was I perhaps biased, imagining that clothes fit better in Japan simply because of the location? To investigate further, I decided to conduct a direct comparison.
Side-by-Side Size Comparison: UNIQLO Shirt – Japan S vs. United States XS
To resolve my sizing confusion, I conducted an experiment, comparing a size Small shirt purchased at UNIQLO in Japan with the same shirt in size XS from UNIQLO in the US.
An interesting side note is the price difference. The Japanese UNIQLO shirt was priced under $20 USD equivalent, while the US version retails for nearly $30 USD.
I laid the US XS shirt flat on a table and placed the Japan S shirt directly on top, aligning the collars, shoulders, sleeves, and body.
The visual comparison revealed that the Japan S sleeves and shirt hem were noticeably shorter, by at least an inch, than the US XS version. The body width, however, appeared to be nearly identical.
This experiment confirmed that despite the sizing charts suggesting similar overall measurements for US XS and Japan S, the Japanese cut features shorter sleeves and a shorter shirt length. This difference in cut explains why the Asian version provides a much better fit for someone with a petite frame like mine.
UNIQLO Pants and Jean Sizing
Regarding pants, my experience suggests that even though US XS and Japan S are theoretically designed for similar height ranges, Japan S pants tend to be cut shorter and slimmer in the hips and seat. While the measurements might appear comparable on paper, the actual fit indicates a slimmer cut for Japanese sizes. This likely stems from the Japan S size being designed for individuals who are slightly shorter and have smaller hip measurements compared to the US XS demographic.
In jeans, I found that I needed a size 22 (56 cm waist) in Japan UNIQLO. In US UNIQLO stores, sizes smaller than 25 are rarely available. In contrast, size 22 jeans are commonly stocked as the smallest size in Japan. Interestingly, my typical US jean size is 24 (J Brand). When I tried on size 24 jeans in Japan, they were significantly too large. This raises the question of whether Japanese pants sizing might employ vanity sizing, unlike US sizing – a question that remains unanswered!
Bonus: Tips for Shopping at UNIQLO in Japan
For the widest selection of UNIQLO products, the UNIQLO Tokyo Ginza flagship store is a must-visit. This global flagship boasts 12 floors, each dedicated to different product lines, including best-selling items, special collaborations, extensive women’s and men’s collections, and children’s wear. I found this store to have the most comprehensive inventory of sizes and colors, often stocking items that were sold out in other locations.
If you are a tourist, take advantage of tax-free shopping at UNIQLO on purchases over 5000 Yen. Depending on the store, tax-free processing might be available at dedicated counters (like in the Shibuya Spanish Steps store) or at any register (as in the Ginza store). Always inquire about tax-free options at the cashier.
Happy shopping! If you found this article helpful, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Also, explore my other Japan travel articles such as How to Order at Ichiran Ramen in Japan.
