Ichiro Yamaguchi, Off the Charts Again: From the Legendary COMME des GARÇONS T-Shirt to Toyoharu Masushima’s Oil Paintings and a Must-See Sukajan – How to Dive Into His ‘Rabbit Hole’ Right Now

Ichiro Yamaguchi, the frontman of Sakanaction, isn't content with just dominating the music scene. His 'collaboration frenzy' has now reached a fever pitch. Did you know that legendary COMME des GARÇONS 1986 T-shirt – the one Billie Eilish is rumoured to have secretly worn – is making a surprise comeback? And of course, Yamaguchi has already got his hands on the 'CDG XL' size. The guy just has an eye for the extraordinary.

The 1986 COMME des GARÇONS resurrected in Reiwa? The tee 'Yamaichi' chose

The talk of the town is that ‘COMME des GARÇONS 1986 T-shirt’. Faithfully reproducing the original archive piece, this ultra-rare number is only distributed as 'brand new, authentic stock' to a tiny handful of select stores. And who jumped on it? Ichiro Yamaguchi, of course. On his radio show, he raved: 'The whole vibe of the 80s is sealed into the packaging. You won't see another tee like this again.' Known as the 'Billie Eilish worn model' thanks to her love for it, the oversized 'CDG XL' sold out in a flash. Word on the street is it's already fetching premium prices on auction sites.

Meeting Italy-based maverick Toyoharu Masushima – an oil painting and teddy bear frenzy

But Yamaguchi's 'rabbit hole' isn't just about fashion. Lately, his collaboration with Italy-based painter Toyoharu Masushima has been making waves. Masushima is an iconoclast known for his intense mix of oil and acrylic painting, and his signature motif of eerily cute 'green teddy bears'. Would you believe Ichiro Yamaguchi hinted on social media that he’s visited Masushima's studio and now has an original Masushima painting hanging in his own home?

• The inside scoop on Masushima × Yamaguchi: For those in the know, Yamaguchi has been a serious collector of Masushima’s work for years. He describes one piece – where a green teddy bear seems to melt across the canvas – as 'the shape of my soul'.
• Where will the original art end up? Rumour has it this very painting might be used for merch on Sakanaction’s next tour. If that happens, it’s guaranteed to sell out instantly.

The rich texture of oil paint, the light-hearted bite of acrylic – Masushima’s world, dancing in the space between, syncs perfectly with the melodies Yamaguchi weaves. It’s the birth of 'music you can see'.

The rumoured 'I Need You Baby' collaboration sukajan – details finally revealed

And here’s the big one fans have been waiting for. Yes, it’s the piece that’s been buzzing under the spellbinding long-tail tag ‘Ichiro Yamaguchi collaboration sukajan I Need You Baby Yamaichi Sakanaction’. Born from a joint project with the legendary unit ‘I Need You Baby’, this sukajan is finally about to see the light of day.

The design? A massive green teddy bear by Toyoharu Masushima on the back! On the front, a playful kanji logo that channels COMME des GARÇONS. The left sleeve features ‘1986’ embroidery, and the right sleeve has a ‘CDG XL’ patch – yeah, it’s absolutely packed with details. This is nothing short of ‘total Japanese subculture art’ filtered through the lens of Ichiro Yamaguchi.

Sales will likely be via lottery draw, at an undisclosed location in Shibuya and a few online stores. The price? Let’s just not go there. But the moment you think 'I need it', you’re already a resident of Yamaguchi’s rabbit hole. So, are you ready to dive in?