Pantyhose are becoming an endangered species in Japan, with the bottom falling out of the market, according to Weekly Playboy (2/19).
The Federation of Japan Socks Associations says that in 1996 there were about 680 million pairs of pantyhose produced in Japan, but by 2005, only about 200 million pairs came out -- a staggering 70 percent drop in a decade.
In the peak year of 1989, the market was worth a phenomenal 1.08 billion yen, but is now little more than one-fifth of that size.
Nonetheless, pantyhose lovers can take heart that there is still some good news. Japan's most popular models -- Yuri Ebihara and Moe Oshikiri -- have recently come to the aid of the beleaguered undergarment. The pair, who are said to bring success to any product they plug, released a line of pantyhose called "f*ing Motesto" that sold out within minutes of being released on Dec. 1 last year. A new line is expected out soon and pantyhose sellers are filled with expectations.
Source: Mainichi Daily News
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