{"product_id":"1950s-okinawa-reversible-souvenir-jacket-roaring-tiger-on-black-satin-eagles-across-silver-32516","title":"1950s Okinawa Reversible Souvenir Jacket, Roaring Tiger on Black Satin, Eagles across Silver Quilting, YKK","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"jp-product\" data-world=\"Japan Luxury Archive\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"jp-lede\"\u003eA 1950s Okinawa souvenir jacket: a roaring tiger under OKINAWA on black satin with tiger heads on the chest, turning to quilted silver satin with eagles in flight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrom Occupation Bases to Collector Cabinets\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe souvenir jacket was born in the years after 1945, when American servicemen stationed in Japan began commissioning embroidered satin jackets from local tailors near the bases, Yokosuka above all, which gave the garment its Japanese nickname, sukajan, from Yokosuka and jumper. The motifs were chosen for an American eye: tigers, eagles, dragons, Mount Fuji and the word Japan in looping script, stitched by craftsmen who had worked on kimono and obi embroidery before the war.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Korean War of 1950 to 1953 turned the souvenir jacket into a record of service. Men on rest and recuperation leave in Japan ordered jackets with maps of Japan and Korea, city names and unit details, and the jackets went home as keepsakes. Original 1950s examples survive in far smaller numbers than the reproductions that followed, and collectors read them by their details: reversible construction, hand-guided embroidery, rayon or acetate satin and velveteen, and the zip makers of the period, TTS among the most sought after.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOkinawa Jackets\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOkinawa was administered by the United States from 1945 to 1972, and its bases supported a local embroidery trade that made jackets naming the islands. Black satin with a tiger was one of the most popular combinations, and surviving examples are prized for their place in that particular chapter of post-war history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Piece\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a straightforward and characterful Okinawa jacket. The black satin side carries OKINAWA in white capitals above a tiger rearing among bamboo, its stripes worked in gold and cream, with two roaring tiger heads in orange and gold on the chest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReversed, the jacket is diamond-quilted silver-white satin, with an eagle among pine on the back and a pair of eagles on the chest. The cream rib knits serve both faces. The brass zip is a YKK type.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe jacket has been mended in several places, with visible hand repairs including along one sleeve, and there are small holes in the black satin, one beside the chest tiger. These are part of its honest history and are shown in the photographs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeasured flat: chest 55 cm, length 55 cm, sleeve from centre back 74 cm. It is short and wide, a boxy fit for a modern small to medium.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDetails\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"jp-details\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDesigner:\u003c\/strong\u003e Unlabelled Okinawa workshop\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSeason:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1950s\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eModel \/ ref:\u003c\/strong\u003e Reversible satin souvenir jacket\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rayon or acetate satin; padded lining; knit rib\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColour:\u003c\/strong\u003e Black \/ silver-white\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMade in:\u003c\/strong\u003e Okinawa, Japan (US administration era)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTagged size:\u003c\/strong\u003e No size label\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMeasurements:\u003c\/strong\u003e Chest (pit to pit) 55 cm · Sleeve from centre back 74 cm · Length 55 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIncluded:\u003c\/strong\u003e Jacket only\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCondition\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeveral old repairs, including hand stitching along a sleeve.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSmall holes in the black satin, one beside the chest tiger.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFading and wear to the satin; embroidery bright.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYKK zip working.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition grade \u003cstrong\u003eBC\u003c\/strong\u003e on the Japanese scale; see \u003ca href=\"\/de\/blogs\/news\/japanese-condition-ranks-explained\"\u003eJapanese condition ranks, explained\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAuthenticity \u0026amp; Care\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe labels, materials, stitching, hardware and construction are examined together and documented in Japan before dispatch; anything that cannot be confirmed is stated plainly in the description. Every piece carries the Japonista authenticity guarantee. Avoid washing; air it and store it on a padded hanger.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDelivery from Japan\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePacked by hand in Japan and shipped insured and tracked by EMS or an equivalent express service. Import duties and taxes, where applicable, are payable on arrival. Every sale is final; please ask anything before you buy, and see our \u003ca href=\"\/de\/policies\/refund-policy\"\u003epublished policy\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"jp-closing\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConsidered offers are welcome through Send an Offer, and each one is reviewed personally. Pieces over $1,000 may be reserved over several payments with \u003ca href=\"\/de\/pages\/japonista-layaway-privilege-program\"\u003eLayaway Privilege™\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eContinue browsing: \u003ca href=\"\/de\/collections\/collections-luxury-archive-designer-treasures\"\u003eJapan Luxury Archive\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"jp-cta\" data-world=\"Japan Luxury Archive\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"jp-cta-eyebrow\"\u003eIsland Base Requests\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you are looking for another Okinawa souvenir jacket, our Hunting Salon can search Japan for it. Our Hunting Salon™ locates a specific reference across Japan’s private collector circles, then inspects, documents and delivers it to you. \u003ca href=\"\/de\/pages\/hunting-salon%E2%84%A2\"\u003eBegin a Hunting Salon™ request →\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"jp-search\"\u003eCollectors also search: Okinawa souvenir jacket tiger · 1950s Okinawa sukajan · black satin tiger sukajan vintage · vintage Okinawa jacket · reversible eagle sukajan · YKK zip souvenir jacket · original 50s sukajan · vintage tiger souvenir jacket black\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Vintage Japan","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54060458213669,"sku":"JP-DP-s1246332516","price":1090.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0758\/8829\/6229\/files\/japonista-1950s-okinawa-reversible-souvenir-jacket-roaring-t-32516-02.jpg?v=1791970488","url":"https:\/\/japonista.com\/de\/products\/1950s-okinawa-reversible-souvenir-jacket-roaring-tiger-on-black-satin-eagles-across-silver-32516","provider":"Japonista","version":"1.0","type":"link"}