Offered by Over The Blue Horizon and recently obtained in Tokyo is a MINT, BRAND-NEW copy of “SUKA JACKET”. The roots of the Souvenir Jacket, or Sukajan in Japanese, can be traced back to American soldiers stationed in the Pacific Theater following the end of World War II. During the post-war occupation, American troops began getting traditional Japanese designs hand-stitched into the backs of their jackets to commemorate their tour in Japan. Popular designs included Japanese (and Chinese) style dragons, cherry blossoms and trees. Other soldiers chose local artwork that ranged from traditional maps to Geisha girls. These jackets would often incorporate rayon and silk and, in some cases, were actually constructed from excess silk salvaged from military parachutes. These jackets were brought back to the United States as literal souvenirs and sometimes were purchased as gifts for family members and close friends. Other than the embroidered designs themselves, this style of jacket is defined by its cut, which is similar to a classic American baseball jacket. They often incorporated bold colors and contrasting sleeves. The origin of the term ‘Sukajan’ is contested with some believing the word was an amalgamation of Sky Dragon Jumper in Japanese. Others trace the origins of the name to Yokosuka, an area where American soldiers were stationed; simply combine the words ‘Yokosuka’ and Japanese-accented ‘Jumper’ and you get ‘Sukajan.’ The style was adopted by the working class youth, and it became a symbol of rebellion in post-war Japan. The 1960′s saw the incorporation of American trends and styles within Japanese society. Many Japanese youth at the time loved the American preppy look and chose to wear classic American pieces like Oxford button downs and blue jeans. While souvenir jackets started out as something made for American soldiers, they ironically became co-opted by a Japanese audience themselves. The style was adopted by the working class youth, and it became a symbol of rebellion in post-war Japan. To the greater society, the jacket carried quite negative connotations – namely as a symbol of gang ties and juvenile delinquency. While this reputation may be fading, the image of the Sukajan is still very prevalent in Yakuza films; the jacket is featured primarily as one of the criminal underworld’s favorite styles. New conflicts in Korea and Vietnam saw the style extend outside of Japan. The souvenir jacket became ingrained as a popular style for soldiers and were offered at any city where American GIs were stationed. The brutality of the Vietnam War was especially reflected in the designs of these Souvenir Jackets: often, these had a darker, more morbid outlook and featured political or anti-war sentiments. Many jackets from this era, for example, were embroidered with the phrase “When I Die, I’m Going to Heaven Because I Served My Time in Hell.” These new conflicts brought the jacket outside of just Japan and made it a part of military culture across Asia. These fabulous jackets are presented in this superbly executed pictorial; this publication is literally hundreds of pages of color photographs of stunning jackets. Chapters include: Eagle, Tiger, Dragon; Japan Map and Landscape; Other Countries (Made in Japan); Military; Hand Printed; Rare Pattern and Custom Order; Kimono Cloth; Other Souvenirs of Japan; and Souvenirs of Other Countries (Not Made in Japan). Text accompanying each jacket is in both ENGLISH and Japanese. This very well-illustrated, 258 page, 8.5 x 11.25 inch softcover was published in 2016; condition is absolutely BRAND NEW. Note that Over the Blue Horizon ships from the USA with FREE United States Postal Service (USPS) PRIORITY shipping to USA buyers! eBay charges sales tax for certain states; Over the Blue Horizon charges Hawaii residents state general excise tax. Your purchase will be carefully wrapped to ensure that it arrives in the same condition as described in the eBay listing. If you are not happy with your purchase for whatever reason, we will work something out -- your satisfaction is GUARANTEED. Regardless of where you are in the world, buy with confidence from a well-established eBay merchant with a sterling reputation and an exceptionally high customer satisfaction rate.
