Japanese training wear is clothing cut from Japanese work and martial-arts garments. Two silhouettes matter most. The tobi, from the construction crews who work at height. The hakama, from the samurai and the dojo. Both were built to move long before gyms existed. We rebuilt both as heavyweight sweatpants.
Tobi: built for working at height
Tobi pants are the uniform of tobi shokunin, Japan's construction workers on scaffolding and steel frames. They're cut baggy to below the knee, then narrow sharply at the calf so they tuck into boots or split-toe jika-tabi. The shape comes from knickerbockers, which is why Japan calls them nikka zubon.
The logic is simple. Room through the thigh for deep knee bends and high steps. A tight lower leg so nothing catches. That's what you want in a session too.
The Tobi Sweatpants keep the idea and tone down the balloon: an athletic taper with a wide leg, roomier in the thighs, in heavyweight 100% cotton brushed terry with side seam pockets and an elastic drawstring waist. Want the full backstory? Read the origin of tobi work pants.
Hakama: from battle to ceremony
Hakama are wide trousers tied at the waist that fall to the ankle. There are two kinds: umanori, with divided legs, made for riding horses, and andon, an undivided skirt. Samurai wore them through the Edo period. Today you'll see them in kendo, iaido, aikido and kyudo, and at Japan's most formal occasions.
The Hakama Sweatpants take the silhouette, not the pleats: a wide barrel leg, held in shape by curved side seams and ankle darts, with a V-shaped yoke so it drapes as you move. Same heavyweight brushed terry cotton, with an elastic waistband.
Tobi vs Hakama
| Tobi | Hakama | |
|---|---|---|
| Roots | Japanese construction workwear | Samurai and martial-arts dress |
| Silhouette | Roomy thigh, tapered ankle | Wide barrel leg, full to the ankle |
| On you | Athletic, clean at the ankle | Structured, drapes and moves |
| Pick it if | You want room to move and a clean line over trainers | You want the statement silhouette |
Colours and sizing
Both come in ETERNAL, STORM and ESPRESSO, plus anime colourways like GOKU (Tobi), SHENRON and GOTEI THIRTEEN (Hakama). Check the Tobi and Hakama size charts before you order, or browse every cut in Pants and Sweats.
Scaffold crews climbed in them. Samurai lived in them. Now it's your session.
FAQ
What is Japanese gym wear?
Training clothes built on Japanese work and martial-arts silhouettes, mainly tobi pants (construction workwear) and hakama (samurai and martial-arts trousers). Both were designed for movement.
What are tobi pants?
The work trousers of Japan's tobi shokunin, the construction workers who build at height. Baggy to below the knee, then tight at the calf so they tuck into boots.
What is a hakama?
Wide Japanese trousers tied at the waist and worn to the ankle. Samurai wore them, and martial arts like kendo, iaido, aikido and kyudo still do.
What's the difference between tobi and hakama pants?
Tobi are roomy through the thigh and tapered at the ankle. Hakama are wide the whole way down. Tobi came from the jobsite, hakama from the samurai.
Are tobi pants good for the gym?
The cut was made for deep knee bends and high steps, so yes. Ours add heavyweight brushed terry cotton and an athletic taper.