It appears that the Europeans, especially the French dominated the lingerie scene for decades.  It should be mentioned here though that French designs are still very popular in Japan and some of the Japanese designers have borrowed heavily from them.  The last thing that Japanese designers would do, however, is to borrow from the United States.  After all, a country that dominates the world in so many cultural areas has only a few American-inspired brands.  And these designs, while comfortable, are not necessarily what is traditionally the image women have of "lingerie."  All other brands are so cheap and tasteless that they can be described only as cheap underwear rather than lingerie.  The situation is similar in other Asian countries where women typically do not believe in spending large sums of money on lingerie since it is an item of clothing that is not to be seen in public any way.     

Many of you would probably not be able to think of a Japanese brand as some of the other brands from Europe.  However, among discerning women, Wacoal and Triumph are well respected brands.  The most important role that Japanese fashion has played is in its influence on design rather than penetration of Japanese brands themselves.  As all female readers will be able to testify, lingerie design has to take into consideration not only local preferences but also typical body shapes of women.  Thus, Japanese-made lingerie will simply not be suitable for women in other parts, except say, in some Asian countries.  (Related article:  Japan inspired lingerie fashion)

While European lingerie is about being bold, what distinguishes Japanese lingerie is the attention to detail.  The amount of effort that goes into selection of fabric, development of a design that guarantees comfort and preparation of a clothing item that not only makes the wearer feel great but also create a powerful visual appeal to the lucky one who get a chance to see it.   (Related article:  Popularity of Japanese fashion in Asia)

Another major influence of Japanese designs has been in how bold the approach is.   Several experts believe that thongs may have been revived simply because Japanese women continue to use them and Japanese designers have made them comfortable to wear.  Similarly, fishnet stockings are still controversial in many countries but in Japan these are just a little bit bolder than regular tights but definitely not scandalous.  

Recommended links:  Japanese lingerie store    Japanese lingerie shopping    

Lingerie fashion in Japan   Lingerie and romance for couples    Adventures of a French girl in Japan