日本の謎 / Mysteries in Japan #3: The Ubiquitous T-Shirt

Last summer my aunt gave a very similar shirt to my mum. Which means...clearly this shirt design already has been around for over 16 months, right?

でも、このデザインの Tシャツって、やたらと色んな所で見るんですけど。どこに行っても、いつも視界の中に最低一人はこういう感じのシャツ着てるんですよね。時々色違いだったり、もっと丈が長かったり、シマシマが違う太さだったり······これって、もしかして「定番」っつー奴ですか？

It's not that I don't like the design, it's just...I guess I haven't caught on to what makes it so darn popular. Somebody, please tell me. Is it the boatneck? Is it the unexpected contrast between the stripes and the upper white space?? DAH!! I can't stand the mystery!!!

きっといつか分かります。でもその時にはもう遅い····