{"product_id":"1950s-reversible-sukajan-dragon-and-tiger-over-black-gold-satin-japan-korea-map-on-green-p-95217","title":"1950s Reversible Sukajan, Dragon and Tiger over Black-Gold Satin, Japan–Korea Map on Green, Padded","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"jp-product\" data-world=\"Japan Luxury Archive\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"jp-lede\"\u003eAn original 1950s reversible souvenir jacket: dragon and tiger on black satin with golden sleeves on one side, an embroidered map of Japan and Korea on quilted green satin on the other.\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\u003eMaps of Japan and Korea\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMap jackets are the clearest witnesses to the Korean War among souvenir jackets. Japan was the staging post for the United Nations effort, and men on leave from the peninsula carried home jackets embroidered with the outline of both countries and the names of the ports and bases they had passed through: Sasebo, Kobe, Yokosuka, Pusan, Seoul. Collectors value them for that direct link to the 1950s, and because each workshop drew its own slightly idiosyncratic map.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Piece\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a true 1950s souvenir jacket, padded and reversible, with the full vocabulary of the Korean War era. The black side, with saturated golden-yellow raglan sleeves, carries a red dragon in the clouds facing a tiger beneath Mount Fuji on the back, and a pair of dragons coiled around Fuji on the chest. Gold piping runs along the sleeves and edges the slanted pockets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReversed, the jacket turns to a diamond-quilted emerald satin with silver sleeves. The back is a map of Japan and the Korean peninsula outlined in gold chain embroidery, the cities stitched in red and white: Seoul and Pusan on the peninsula, Sasebo, Kobe, Osaka, Tokyo and Hakodate in Japan, with cherry blossom and Fuji at its heart and a phoenix in the lower corner. Map jackets of this kind were made for servicemen passing through Japan during and after the war in Korea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe knit trims are striped in navy and cream on one face and burgundy and cream on the other. The jacket has no maker's label, as is usual for jackets made by small tailoring workshops of the period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeasured flat: chest 53 cm, length 62 cm, sleeve from centre back 87 cm, roughly 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 Japanese 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 padded 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 and gold \/ green and silver\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMade in:\u003c\/strong\u003e Japan\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) 53 cm · Sleeve from centre back 87 cm · Length 62 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\u003eOverall soiling, most visible on the golden sleeves and cuffs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEmbroidery on both faces full and well preserved.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSatin intact; no major tears noted.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRetail tag from Japan attached.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition grade \u003cstrong\u003eB\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. Entrust it to a specialist cleaner for vintage satin, or simply air it; keep it out of direct sun to protect the colour.\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\"\u003eKorean War Era Pieces\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLooking for a 1950s souvenir jacket with a particular map or motif? Our Hunting Salon can search Japan for you. 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: 1950s sukajan · vintage souvenir jacket Korea map · Japan Korea map sukajan · original 50s souvenir jacket · reversible vintage sukajan dragon tiger · Korean War souvenir jacket · vintage Japan map jacket · 1950s yokosuka jacket\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Vintage Japan","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54060450709797,"sku":"JP-DP-l1195495217","price":2450.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0758\/8829\/6229\/files\/japonista-1950s-reversible-sukajan-dragon-and-tiger-over-bla-95217-01.jpg?v=1791970312","url":"https:\/\/japonista.com\/de\/products\/1950s-reversible-sukajan-dragon-and-tiger-over-black-gold-satin-japan-korea-map-on-green-p-95217","provider":"Japonista","version":"1.0","type":"link"}