On August 6th, Ueno Shokai opened the first Japanese showroom store for GANT RUGGER, a brand the company will be launching in Japan this fall, in Daikanyama, Tokyo. The store is located on the second and third floors of the RAWLIFE Daikanyama store at 27-4 Sarugakucho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. The store opened ahead of the opening of GANT RUGGER's first Japanese store on Harajuku Street (also known as Tonchan Street) on September 5th. This time, the store adopted the "showrooming system," which is popular in the United States because it allows customers to shop without having to take their purchases home. The store does not generally hold inventory, and instead displays samples of each size and color of the items on display. Customers can try on the items to check the texture and feel of the materials, then choose the desired size, color, and even length adjustments. They can then order online using tablets or smartphones available in the store. The store's seasonal theme is emphasized with a "Green Fingers" theme, inspired by the "Green Fingers" project organized by Satoshi Kawamoto, a Japanese gardener active in New York. The second floor features men's and women's items, while the third floor features the full men's 2014-2015 Autumn/Winter collection. Prices range from ¥12,000 to ¥15,000 for shirts and ¥60,000 to ¥80,000 for jackets. Gant began as a shirt factory founded by Bernard Gant in Connecticut in 1927. Gant produced shirts for Paul Smith, J.PRESS, Brooks Brothers, and other brands on an OEM basis, and is known for inventing the world's first button-down shirt. In 1941, Gant launched his own brand, Gant, which became a favorite among Ivy Leaguers in the 1960s. In Japan, the brand was first sold by brands like "VAN" in the 1970s and established itself as a conservative American shirt brand. It has since been sold in select shops and other establishments.

Then, in 2010, the brand welcomed Michael Bastian, former men's director at New York department store Bergdorf Goodman, to launch "Gant by Michael Bastian." Since then, the brand has added the casual line Gant Lager, which will now be launched in Japan, and is gaining attention across the United States as a casual lifestyle brand for men and women.

In Japan, the brand plans to open around five stores over the next three years, primarily in fashion-conscious areas such as Roppongi and Marunouchi, including the Harajuku store opening in September.