wow, what a shitshow! i'm gonna chalk this up to the holidays being right around the corner and it being a friday afernoon, but that place is completely mental and the staff are so harrowed they can't even think straight and properly help you!
but, to answer some ?s
the "japan raw denim" as well as the new "UJ" denim are both available in many different sizes EXCEPT 30 (I think i got the last one in reg fit, blue). judging by the craziness of yesterday though, i doubt it stays that way.
i would suggest avoiding this place until next year if possible, seriously.
as far as the fit goes. i am 31-32 in "normal" jeans and the "japan raw denim" were pretty true to size. i ended up going with a 30 (just a bit tight) to compensate for stretching, but a 31 would have fit comfortably walking out of the store. if you're also concerned with stretching (which i was advised there'd be little, if any, with these) i would only size down 1. if not concerned, you can stay true to size.
conversely, i was also concerned with any possible shrinkage after the first wash. talking with the in-store "men's denim expert", i asked him if they were sanforized (i've read on this site that they are, but have no confirmation, anyone?). he wasn't familiar with that term. troubling. the same person advised me there wouldn't be any stretching. because i beleive that all jeans stretch to a degree and all jeans shrink to a degree, i went with a size that i could comfortably wear going in each direction. so if my 30's end up a half-inch or an inch bigger after stretching, that's fine. if they then shrink back down a half-inch, inch or inch and a half, that's fine as well.
