History of the Japanese Souvenir Jacket - From Yokosuka to the World
The story of the sukajan begins in post-war Japan, in the port city of Yokosuka home to a major US military base. Japanese tailors and embroiderers began creating custom souvenir jackets for American servicemen, combining the Western bomber jacket silhouette with traditional Japanese embroidery art. Dragons coiled across backs. Tigers prowled across shoulders. Cranes soared across chests.
By the 1950s and 60s, these jackets had found their way back to the United States, where they became prized possessions. By the 1980s and 90s, the sukajan was adopted by Japanese youth subcultures from the bosozoku biker gangs to Harajuku street fashion. Today, the sukajan is worn by celebrities, collected by fashion enthusiasts, and recognized globally as one of the most culturally significant garments ever made.