How Japanese sizing works
Japan uses a few systems side by side, and most Western visitors find the fit runs about one size small:
- Letter sizes: S, M, L, LL (= XL), 3L (= 2XL), 4L (= 3XL). Japanese M is roughly a Western S–M.
- Women's number sizes (号): 5号, 7号, 9号, 11号, 13号, 15号… 9号 is the Japanese standard, close to a US 4 / UK 8 / EU 36.
- Bottoms: Japanese labels usually print the waist in centimetres, so jeans and trousers convert cleanly if you know your waist.
- Shoes: the number is your foot length in centimetres. A 26.0 shoe fits a 26 cm foot. Lasts are often narrow — size up if your feet are wide.
- Kids: clothing is labelled by the child's height in cm (100, 110, 120…), not by age.
Full size charts
Women — tops & dresses
| US | UK | EU | Japan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 4 | 32 | 5号 / XS |
| 2 | 6 | 34 | 7号 / S |
| 4 | 8 | 36 | 9号 / M |
| 6 | 10 | 38 | 11号 / L |
| 8 | 12 | 40 | 13号 / LL |
| 10 | 14 | 42 | 15号 / 3L |
| 12 | 16 | 44 | 17号 / 4L |
| 14 | 18 | 46 | 19号 / 5L |
Women — bottoms & jeans
| US | UK | EU | Waist | Japan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 6 | 34 | 58 cm | S / 58 |
| 2 | 8 | 36 | 61 cm | S / 61 |
| 4 | 10 | 38 | 64 cm | M / 64 |
| 6 | 12 | 40 | 67 cm | M / 67 |
| 8 | 14 | 42 | 70 cm | L / 70 |
| 10 | 16 | 44 | 73 cm | LL / 73 |
| 12 | 18 | 46 | 78 cm | 3L / 78 |
| 14 | 20 | 48 | 83 cm | 4L / 83 |
Men — tops & shirts
Japanese men's tops run about one size small. If you are a US M, buy L in Japan.
| US / UK | EU | Chest | Japan |
|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 44 | ~86 cm | SS / S |
| S | 46 | ~90 cm | S / M |
| M | 48 | ~96 cm | M / L |
| L | 50 | ~102 cm | L / LL |
| XL | 52 | ~108 cm | LL / 3L |
| XXL | 54 | ~114 cm | 3L / 4L |
Men — bottoms & jeans (by waist)
| US (inch) | Waist cm | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | 71 | 71 / S |
| 29 | 73 | 73 / S |
| 30 | 76 | 76 / M |
| 31 | 79 | 79 / M |
| 32 | 82 | 82 / L |
| 33 | 85 | 85 / L |
| 34 | 88 | 88 / LL |
| 36 | 91 | 91 / 3L |
| 38 | 96 | 96 / 4L |
Shoes — women (Japan = foot length in cm)
| US | UK | EU | Japan (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 2.5 | 35 | 21.5 |
| 5.5 | 3 | 35.5 | 22 |
| 6 | 3.5 | 36 | 22.5 |
| 6.5 | 4 | 37 | 23 |
| 7 | 4.5 | 37.5 | 23.5 |
| 7.5 | 5 | 38 | 24 |
| 8 | 5.5 | 38.5 | 24.5 |
| 8.5 | 6 | 39 | 25 |
| 9 | 6.5 | 40 | 25.5 |
| 9.5 | 7 | 41 | 26 |
| 10 | 7.5 | 42 | 26.5 |
Shoes — men (Japan = foot length in cm)
| US | UK | EU | Japan (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 5.5 | 38.5 | 24 |
| 6.5 | 6 | 39 | 24.5 |
| 7 | 6.5 | 40 | 25 |
| 7.5 | 7 | 40.5 | 25.5 |
| 8 | 7.5 | 41 | 26 |
| 8.5 | 8 | 42 | 26.5 |
| 9 | 8.5 | 42.5 | 27 |
| 9.5 | 9 | 43 | 27.5 |
| 10 | 9.5 | 44 | 28 |
| 10.5 | 10 | 44.5 | 28.5 |
| 11 | 10.5 | 45 | 29 |
| 11.5 | 11 | 45.5 | 29.5 |
| 12 | 11.5 | 46 | 30 |
| 13 | 12.5 | 47.5 | 31 |
Kids — clothing (Japan = child's height in cm)
| US | EU height | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| 2T | 92 | 90 cm |
| 3T | 98 | 95 cm |
| 4T | 104 | 100 cm |
| 5 | 110 | 110 cm |
| 6 | 116 | 120 cm |
| 7 | 122 | 130 cm |
| 8 | 128 | 140 cm |
| 10 | 140 | 150 cm |
| 12 | 152 | 160 cm |
| 14 | 164 | 165 cm |
Tips for shopping in Japan
- Read the cm on the tag. Japanese price tags list chest (胸囲), waist (ウエスト) and length (着丈) in centimetres. Measure a garment you own and match numbers — it beats any conversion.
- "Free size" (フリーサイズ) means one-size, cut for an average Japanese frame. It often will not fit a Western L or above.
- Shoes above 27 cm women / 29 cm men are hard to find in regular stores. Try ABC-Mart's larger ranges or specialist shops.
- Tax-free shopping needs your passport and a minimum spend (usually ¥5,000) in one store on the same day.
- Trying on is normal in Japan; you may be asked to use a face cover (フェイスカバー) when pulling tops over your head.
FAQ
Do Japanese clothes run small?
For most Western shoppers, yes. Tops and jackets tend to feel about one size tighter than the same label size at home. Buying one size up is a safe default, especially for men's tops and fitted styles. Bottoms convert more cleanly because labels show the waist in centimetres.
How do I read a Japanese shoe size?
The number is your foot length in centimetres. Measure heel to longest toe in cm and match that number. Between sizes or wide feet: size up, because Japanese lasts are often narrow.
What is 9号 (kyu-gou)?
It is the Japanese standard women's size, roughly a US 4 / UK 8 / EU 36. The number system goes 5号, 7号, 9号, 11号, 13号, going up by about one Western size each step.
Does UNIQLO in Japan use different sizing?
Yes. UNIQLO inside Japan uses Japanese sizing, a bit smaller than UNIQLO in the US or Europe. If you wear M at UNIQLO abroad, try L in a Japanese store, and check the cm measurements on the tag.
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