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Meet Yoshi, the 14-year-old Japanese Instagram fashion star

By Wei ZhangJapan
1 min read
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In this article (5)

At only 14 years old, Yoshi is an Instagram phenomenon. After getting noticed by Off-White’s Virgil Abloh, he has quickly become a style icon on the streets of Tokyo.

Scrolling through his Instagram, there’s no doubt that Yoshi boasts an innate sense of style that stands between punk and luxury streetwear. When he is not taking lift selfies, he Is hanging out with his friends – Nicola Formichetti, Kim Jones, and LA-based artist gab3 among them.

Now, with over 40k followers on IG, Yoshi is also a model in his own right – last year he appeared in a Helmut Lang campaign and he recently started walking on runways too.

“The very first item I bought was at the vintage shop in (Tokyo’s district) Jujo called GBM,” Yoshi tells us in a new Dazed film. “It was a pink Marilyn Manson t-shirt. I didn’t know what it was but the owner recommended it to me and I bought it.”

Since then, he has grown his wardrobe significantly, regularly wearing edgy looks made up of coloured biker jackets, Vetements-inspired coats and customised denim, that he finds browsing the city’s biggest vintage stores.

Elsewhere in the video, Yoshi shops in his fave vintage stores, draws, and plays video games just a normal kid. But, unlike a normal kid, he also shoots scenes for a music video from Japanese rapper Anarchy.

“I’m working as a model and as a designer too, so I earn money by myself,” he continues. “Right now, I don’t have an agent or manager, so I always do everything by myself – I even negotiate my fee too.” Just your regular 14-year-old model slash icon.

Questions & Answers

Q.

What is Yoshi best known for?

A.

Yoshi is an Instagram phenomenon and a style icon on the streets of Tokyo. He has over 40k followers, models in campaigns like Helmut Lang, and walks on runways. He is known for his unique style, blending punk and luxury streetwear.

Q.

Who noticed Yoshi and helped him become a style icon?

A.

Yoshi was first noticed by Virgil Abloh of Off-White. This recognition quickly helped him become a prominent style icon, especially on the streets of Tokyo, where his fashion sense gained popularity.

Q.

What kind of clothes does Yoshi wear?

A.

He regularly wears edgy looks that combine coloured biker jackets, Vetements-inspired coats, and customised denim. His style is described as a blend between punk and luxury streetwear, often sourced from vintage stores.

Q.

How does Yoshi manage his career activities?

A.

Yoshi manages his career activities, including modelling and design work, independently. He does not have an agent or manager, so he handles everything himself, including negotiating his own fees.

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