2026 Japan Shopping Experience: A-2, G-1, B-10 or other Heritage

[Aceman]

I’m sharing some recent insights from my shopping trip to Japan. Japan is a mecca for American Casual (Amekaji) brands. My primary targets were A-2, G-1, and B-10 flight jackets, as well as Single Riders leather jackets. The brands I focused on included: The Real McCoy’s, Toys McCoy, Freewheelers, The Flat Head, Rainbow Country, and Buzz Rickson’s.

Shopping Areas & Tax-Free Realities​

In the Tokyo Ueno district, you can find Toys McCoy, Freewheelers, Rainbow Country, and Buzz Rickson’s.

• General Garden: Stocks Toys McCoy, Freewheelers, and Rainbow Country, but notably, they do not offer tax-free shopping.
• HINOYA: Located right next door, they carry Buzz Rickson’s and do offer tax-free services.

In Tokyo Shibuya, there are flagship stores for The Real McCoy’s, Desolation Row(Freewheelers), and The Flat Head.

• The Real McCoy’s, Freewheelers, and Toys McCoy: Generally do not offer tax-free shopping.
• The Flat Head: One of the few high-end brands that does offer tax-free services.

I also inquired via email with other retailers like McFly (Osaka), Realmoon, and Mirror Ball. It seems that most shops carrying Freewheelers, Rainbow Country, or Toys McCoy do not offer tax refunds. It feels like a brand-level policy; these high-end labels may view tax-free shopping as a "favor" to foreign tourists that they aren't interested in providing, or perhaps they simply don't want foreigners buying their goods cheaper than local Japanese customers.

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Product Reviews & Comparisons​

1. A-2 Jackets​

Brands: Real McCoy’s, Toys McCoy, Rainbow Country, Buzz Rickson’s.

• Leather Quality Ranking: Real McCoy’s > Toys McCoy > Rainbow Country >= Buzz Rickson’s.
• The Real McCoy’s: Their leather selection is incredibly uniform with very few wrinkles from the belly area. The collars are the stiffest and most upright. Cons: They are expensive (prices rose 13% this year) and the fit is tricky. The shoulders are relate wide. I bought one because I loved the leather, but after two wears, I realized the cut didn't suit me. I eventually compromised on the leather and bought a Rainbow Country A-2 for the better fit for me. (My Heigh 6’2 ft , 177lb )
• Toys McCoy: Second best in leather and stiffness, but the body and sleeve lengths are short (similar to Buzz Rickson’s), which didn't work for me.
• Rainbow Country: Offers the most slim-fit/modern silhouette with longer body and sleeves. However, the leather uniformity is only slightly better than Buzz Rickson’s.

2. B-10 Jackets​

Brands: Freewheelers, Real McCoy’s, Toys McCoy, Buzz Rickson’s.

• Ranking: Freewheelers >= Real McCoy’s >> Toys McCoy > Buzz Rickson’s.
• Freewheelers & Real McCoy’s: These two are superior due to the full alpaca lining and the fine, soft wool mouton collars.
• Key Difference: Freewheelers uses a heavy, rugged Jungle Cloth for the outer shell, while Real McCoy’s uses a softer, more refined cotton. Both are excellent. Toys McCoy and Buzz Rickson’s mouton quality feels a tier below.

3. G-1 Jackets​

Brands: Real McCoy’s, Rainbow Country.

• Ranking: Real McCoy’s > Rainbow Country.
• Insights: The difference is most obvious in the wool mouton collar—Real McCoy’s is denser and softer. The overall construction is also sturdier. In terms of the Goatskin, it’s harder to distinguish quality compared to Horsehide A-2s. Real McCoy’s biggest issue is the price; it crazy jumped nearly 30% this year, making it very hard to pull the trigger.

4. Single Riders (J-100, 30s Sport Jackets)​

• Leather Quality Ranking: Real McCoy’s >= The Flat Head > Rainbow Country.
• Real McCoy’s: Still the king of leather selection—very few wrinkles and extremely uniform.
• The Flat Head: Very stiff and holds a great shape.
• Rainbow Country: Disappointing leather selection; belly-hide wrinkles were quite visible.

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Final Brand Tier List (Overall)​

• Tier 1: Freewheelers, The Real McCoy’s, The Flat Head. (Freewheelers stands out for its innovative approach to product development without compromising on top-tier materials. Their Winter Aviator series are unique highlights that showcase the brand's exceptional design language. It's a shame they haven't released any new leather jackets recently. According to the shop staff, they've been unable to secure a stable supply of high-quality leather that meets their standards.)
• Tier 2: Toys McCoy, Rainbow Country (Note: Toys McCoy excels at hand-painted custom art, which wasn't factored into this ranking).,Buzz Rickson’s.

 

[looping]

Thank you for this very comprehensive analysis.

The only goatskins I have touched were from cheap brands.
May I ask your opinion on Rainbow country goatskin (thickness/flexibility and aesthetics) compared to horsehide?

 

[Aceman]

Thank you for this very comprehensive analysis.

The only goatskins I have touched were from cheap brands.
May I ask your opinion on Rainbow country goatskin (thickness/flexibility and aesthetics) compared to horsehide?

I’ve been looking into G-1 jackets lately, and I’ve personally tried on goat skin versions from three brands: The Real McCoy’s (RMC), Rainbow Country, and Colimbo.

In my experience, the leather thickness and softness of the first two (RMC and Rainbow Country) were very similar. Colimbo’s hide felt thicker, but it was also significantly stiffer. Since goatskin naturally has a pronounced grain, the texture differences aren't as drastic as you’d find with horsehide—though you can still spot the heavier wrinkling on the belly cuts if you look closely.

Ultimately, my decision came down to the fit. I am 6’2” and 175 lbs with relatively narrow shoulders. I tried a size 42 in all three:

• The Real McCoy’s was the only one that fit me properly.
• Rainbow Country was too short in the body.
• Colimbo had notably short sleeves and felt stiff and uncomfortable during the try-on.

The price gap between these three is massive now:

1. The Real McCoy’s: Prices jumped 28% this year, landing at 396,000 JPY. When I asked the staff about the hike, they explained that the cost of mouton has skyrocketed, which has affected all mouton-collared items like the B-10 as well.
2. Rainbow Country: Around 254,000 JPY, which feels relatively reasonable.
3. Colimbo: The lowest at 217,000 JPY.

If it weren’t for the fit issues, I probably would have gone with Rainbow Country. RMC has simply become incredibly expensive.

The Real McCoys Size 42

Rainbow Country

Colimbo

 

[looping]

Indeed too bad the prices of RMC went that high.

Perhaps the RC would look better with high-waisted jeans...

By the way, I'm not an expert, more of a newbie, but when you talk about wrinkles in RC (whether horsehide or goatskin), are you simply referring to marks like those found on horse leather (Eastman Warhorse)?

Or are you referring to areas where, in addition to wrinkles, the leather lacks firmness and is less dense?

 

[Aceman]

Indeed too bad the prices of RMC went that high.

Perhaps the RC would look better with high-waisted jeans...

By the way, I'm not an expert, more of a newbie, but when you talk about wrinkles in RC (whether horsehide or goatskin), are you simply referring to marks like those found on horse leather (Eastman Warhorse)?

Or are you referring to areas where, in addition to wrinkles, the leather lacks firmness and is less dense?

By 'wrinkling' I am specifically referring to the natural grain and texture of the leather—for instance, the heavy graining or 'growth marks' often found in the belly area of the hide.

 

[looping]

Not great for such expensive jackets.
Well, I don't think it reduces the lifespan of the jacket...