Japanese for "jacket" is: Jan-ba .... So, the "suka" from Yokosuka + "jan" from jan-ba, became the name for the iconic jackets which are still sold today...
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A jacket with deep roots in both Japanese and American culture, the suka-jan has made a stylish comeback in recent years, with modern versions being sported by everyone from Kanye West to Zayn Malik. But where did it originate?
Fashionistas can thank the American soldiers who were stationed in Yokosuka south of Tokyo after World War II. They were the first ones to start embellishing their army wear with local symbols as a memento – or souvenir – of their time stationed in Japan.
From there, the trend continued and soon jackets made from leftover parachute silk were being embellished with stereotyped symbols of Japanese culture, from geishas and dragons to cherry blossoms, tigers and even the maps of military campaigns in Japan.
Come the ’60s, cultural revolution in Japan saw the suka-jan adopted by teenagers as an act of defiance against mainstream society. Back then, the jacket was often seen as a symbol of rebellion – and its notoriety was secured when filmmakers started using suka-jan as the outfit of choice of screen gang members and the yakuza.
But those questionable associations are all but gone today and the jacket has been brought back to the mainstream – copied by everyone from Gucci and Saint Laurent to Zara and H&M. For shoppers serious about investing in a quality souvenir jacket, it’s probably best to steer away from fast fashion copies and instead look into the genuine article.
Some of the original shops in Yokosuka still allow you to customize your jacket, from the fabric colors to picking your pattern and embroidery. They don’t come cheap – a good suka-jan will set you back at least ¥13,000 – but this is one souvenir you’ll be showing off for years to come.
