Japan isn’t just in front of most of us in terms of time (Japan Standard Time is nine hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, so most of the workday is done by the time the MR PORTER Team hit the snooze button). The nation is also a good indicator of where we as a species are going – and not just technology and the cultural leaps that spin off from our relationship with it, but also clothing. Set foot in Harajuku, Shinjuku or Shimokitazawa and you’ll likely see an array of streetwear looks more cutting edge than those paraded on the runways of Paris or Milan, with a spectrum of subcultures on display – sometimes in just one department store.

This embrace of the new perhaps sits at odds with the storied history that is woven into the fabric of life – and the fabric – in Japan. The national story is thick with custom and heritage, and perhaps nowhere is that more visible than in the sense of style. It means that when you pull on a garment that was crafted here, you’re also buying into a rich culture that values fine handiwork above all else. We often say it is all in the details, but in this part of the world, it really is.

Below, we’ve assembled eight very different clothing makers, ranging from cult streetwear labels to more traditional designers, where the only change is incremental steps toward perfection. And, on first glance, you could say that the only thing unifying them is an accident of geography, that they all share a similar point of origin. But dig a little deeper, which we suggest you do, and the providence shines through.

Indigo dying rose to prominence in Japan during the Edo period, when shades of blue were used to display the wearer’s social standing. But when it comes to the process today, Blue Blue Japan is in the top tier, earning the brand a devoted following. This cotton jacket is trimmed with hardwearing corduroy, with both fabrics picking up a different pigment when dyed. Either way, it’s a class above.

Since first seeing service in the 1950s when it was introduced to meet the demands of pilots as hardware shifted to jet engines, it feels like we’ve seen every possible configuration of the MA-1 flight jacket. KAPITAL’s take is perhaps in keeping with the innovation that originally ushered in this piece. A subversion of Alpha Industries’ iconic bomber, not to mention the cut of Japan’s traditional kimono, it pulls the vivid orange of the lining and turns it into a key feature.

Visvim has long trafficked in the idea that cowboys are cool and that the much-maligned American Southwestern style is actually something to be emulated ad infinitum. These unusual inspirations have helped the brand achieve cult status and the hits just keep on coming. Now, it seems to have been inspired by the prospectors of olden times – you know, the guys who went west to find their fortunes in California and gold in the hills. This denim shirt will help you channel such intrepid explorers, down to the artful rips and dusty colourway.

These pyjamas from Mastermind World are somehow fancy and completely casual at once. They are not like other pyjamas – after all, you’ve never seen a Bermuda-style short on a set of PJs, have you? You may be tempted to wear these out of the house, to which we say, “Why the hell not?” These bad boys even come with a little pocket for stashing cash and whatever else you may need on your adventures.

Neighborhood helped pioneer the globally renowned Tokyo streetwear aesthetic. Founded by Mr Shinsuke Takizawa in the 1990s, inspired by the subcultures of the West and the way Tokyo’s youth tribes interpreted them, Neighborhood gives Americana with a homegrown twist. So it is the case of these distressed jeans, made locally from 12oz selvedge denim. With their paint-splattered edges and severe distressing (we’re talking sharp-clawed alley cat mauling here) wouldn’t look out of place in a gathering of bikers, punks or similarly sharply dressed cats from Tokyo to LA.

A world away from the modern streetwear elsewhere in our edit, Tokyo brand Auralee demonstrates a softer side to Japanese menswear. The label, founded by Mr Ryota Iwai after graduating from the prestigious Bunka Fashion college in the capital, is known for its refined sensibility and its dedication to relaxed silhouettes in high-quality fabrics. This print jacket is typical Auralee; taking all the tough connotations of camouflage and subverting them just so, with its soft pattern, muted colours and that dreamily languid silhouette.

Never did we imagine ourselves christening wide-leg leopard-print shorts the ultimate spring-summer “essential”. That is, until this offering by Tokyo-based label Needles landed in our lap. The key to their unexpected wearability is as much in the laid-back, athletic construction – complete with an ultra-forgiving elastic waistband – as it is the dialled down chocolate-brown hue, which swiftly transforms that most daunting of motifs into a tasteful neutral.

While the irreverent name alone was enough to pique our attention, it’s Wacko Maria’s quirky yet thoughtfully crafted clothing that’s kept us coming back for more. This season, amid the tongue-in-cheek T-shirts and oodles of animal print, you’ll find this slogan-emblazoned wool-blend and leather bomber jacket, which recasts the classic collegiate staple as something altogether more rebellious.