BRM Tedman Vintage Japanese Japan KINTARO Shishi Dragon Ryu Tattoo Art Design Embroidered Yokosuka Jumper Bomber Sukajan Souvenir Jacket M

Burgundy Satin Kintaro Serpent Jacket Reversing to Black Velvet Karajishi and Peony Embroidery

COLLECTOR’S OVERVIEW

A richly embroidered reversible sukajan from BRM / Ted Company, built around two dramatically different interpretations of Japanese folklore and auspicious symbolism.

The burgundy satin face depicts Kintarō, Japan’s legendary golden boy, wrestling a massive coiling serpent beneath bold “Bakuretsu Randan-Otokogumi” lettering. Reverse the jacket and the mood changes completely: deep black velvet becomes the ground for a silver-white karajishi guardian lion surrounded by blooming peonies.

The contrast is the jacket’s great strength. One face is energetic, colorful, and narrative-driven; the other is restrained, monochromatic, and almost heraldic. Together they create a substantial piece of Japanese streetwear that functions as both collectible embroidered art and highly wearable vintage outerwear.

IDENTIFICATION AND CONSTRUCTION

Maker

BRM / Ted Company

Associated with the Japanese souvenir-jacket tradition and the bold folklore, tattoo-art, and Americana-inspired graphics commonly found in Japanese heritage streetwear.

Object Type

Vintage reversible Japanese sukajan.

Also known as a:

Yokosuka jumper
Japanese souvenir jacket
Embroidered bomber jacket
Tour jacket
Amekaji outerwear
Reversible satin and velvet jacket

Tagged Size

Medium.

Construction Details

The jacket features:

Reversible two-face construction
Burgundy satin-finish body with cream sleeves
Black velvet-finish alternate face
Raglan sleeve construction
Full reversible metal zipper
Angled welt pockets on both sides
Striped rib-knit collar, cuffs, and waistband
Gold piping along the burgundy sleeve seams
Large front and back machine embroidery
Traditional compact souvenir-bomber silhouette

BURGUNDY KINTARO FACE

Kintaro and the Serpent

The principal back embroidery shows Kintarō, the immensely strong child hero of Japanese folklore, locked in combat with a large serpent.

Kintarō is rendered with a muscular body, determined expression, blue garments, patterned armor-like textile details, and a raised weapon. The serpent coils dynamically around his body, creating a circular composition filled with movement and tension.

Kintarō is traditionally associated with:

Exceptional strength
Fearlessness
Childhood vitality
Loyalty
Heroic potential
Triumph over adversity

The scene translates folkloric heroism into the visual language of Japanese tattoo art and postwar souvenir-jacket embroidery.

Decorative Lettering

Large orange, cream, and brown embroidered lettering reads:

“Bakuretsu Randan-Otokogumi”

The phrasework is treated as a graphic element, framing the action with the exaggerated typography frequently used in Japanese streetwear and sukajan design.

Smaller lettering beneath the figure identifies him as the Japanese hero Kintaro.

Front Radish Motif

One chest panel displays a stylized forked Japanese radish with embroidered English wording describing it as a good-luck article.

Daikon and unusually shaped root vegetables have long appeared in humorous folk imagery and popular talismanic culture. The image introduces a playful, earthy counterpoint to the heroic back composition.

Graphic Crest

The opposite chest carries an angular crest containing a large stylized kanji character in orange, black, cream, and burgundy.

The geometric framing gives the front a balanced emblematic appearance while connecting visually with the large lettering on the back.

BLACK VELVET KARAJISHI FACE

Karajishi and Peonies

The reverse centers on a large silver-white karajishi, the stylized Chinese guardian lion adopted into Japanese art.

The animal is shown with a powerful body, clawed feet, tightly curled mane, cloud-like tail, and layered circular markings. Its pale embroidery stands dramatically against the deep black velvet ground.

The karajishi traditionally symbolizes:

Protective power
Courage
Authority
Dignity
The warding away of harmful forces

It appears among large white peonies with green leaves. The pairing of karajishi and botan, or guardian lion and peony, is a celebrated combination in Japanese painting, carving, tattooing, textiles, and decorative art.

The lion represents strength, while the peony represents beauty, prosperity, honor, and cultivated magnificence. Together they express the classical balance between power and refinement.

Black-Face Front Embroidery

The black velvet front carries a white peony on one chest and a smaller karajishi on the other.

Decorative English lettering accompanies both motifs, reinforcing the Japanese streetwear character of the garment. The embroidery is restrained compared with the back, allowing the velvet texture and monochrome palette to remain dominant.

COLOR, TEXTILE, AND HARDWARE

Burgundy Face

The first side combines:

Deep wine burgundy
Warm ivory sleeves
Gold piping
Orange and cream lettering
Blue garment accents
Brown, silver, and white serpent embroidery
Brown and tan striped ribbing

The satin-finish textile responds strongly to light, shifting between wine, plum, and dark burgundy according to angle and fold.

Black Face

The alternate side uses:

Deep black velvet-finish textile
Silver, white, and gray guardian-lion embroidery
Ivory peonies
Muted green foliage
Cream-and-black striped ribbing

The velvet creates a softer, deeper surface than the satin face, giving the jacket two genuinely different visual personalities.

Closure and Pockets

A central reversible metal zipper allows either face to be worn externally.

Both sides include angled hand pockets integrated into the lower front panels.

PERIOD AND STYLE ASSESSMENT

Likely Era

The embroidery density, reversible construction, typography, color palette, and fusion of folklore with tattoo-art graphics appear consistent with late-1990s to 2000s Japanese heritage-streetwear production.

Cultural Design Language

This jacket belongs to the modern Japanese sukajan tradition rather than the earliest postwar souvenir-jacket period.

It combines the classic Yokosuka bomber structure with contemporary Japanese visual culture:

Folklore heroes
Karajishi guardian imagery
Peony symbolism
Bold English lettering
Tattoo-inspired composition
Amekaji construction
Two-sided statement styling

CONDITION

Overall Condition

Vintage pre-owned condition with age-appropriate wear, textile creasing, surface variation, storage folds, and gentle softening throughout.

The jacket retains strong color contrast and substantial visual impact. The principal Kintarō, serpent, karajishi, peony, radish, crest, and lettering embroidery remains clearly defined.

Burgundy Satin Face

The burgundy and cream textiles show natural wrinkling, folding, directional sheen, and light surface variation associated with vintage satin-finish garments.

A loose thread is visible near the upper shoulder area. Minor isolated thread ends or gentle embroidery fuzzing may also be present.

Black Velvet Face

The velvet shows light lint, pressure variation, and changes in tone according to the direction of the pile.

Small surface marks, dust attraction, and flattened areas are natural characteristics of pre-owned velvet and may become more or less visible under different lighting.

Ribbing and Hardware

The striped collar, cuffs, and waistband show gentle relaxation, waviness, and age-related tonal variation.

The reversible zipper, pockets, body panels, and principal seams appear present and structurally cohesive in the photographed areas.

This is a vintage garment rather than a factory-new reproduction. Its creasing, softened ribbing, minor loose threads, and textile character form part of its present history.

DIMENSIONS AND SIZING

Manufacturer’s Tagged Size

Medium.

Approximate Western Fit

Approximately a contemporary Western Small to slim Medium, depending on body proportions, layering, and preferred ease.

Approximate Flat Measurements

A: Body Length

62 cm (24.4 in)

B: Body Width

50 cm (19.7 in)

Approximate doubled chest circumference: 100 cm (39.4 in).

C: Sleeve Length from Neck

75 cm (29.5 in)

Measured from the neckline along the raglan sleeve to the cuff.

D: Underarm Sleeve Length

52 cm (20.5 in)

E: Relaxed Waist Width

37 cm (14.6 in)

For the most reliable fit, compare these measurements with a similar jacket that already fits comfortably.

COLLECTING AND STYLING

Collector Appeal

This piece is especially desirable for its combination of:

BRM and Ted Company heritage
True reversible construction
Kintarō folklore embroidery
Large serpent battle composition
Karajishi and peony symbolism
Contrasting satin and velvet surfaces
Strong tattoo-art influence
Japanese tagged Medium sizing
Two complete front-and-back designs

Styling the Burgundy Face

The burgundy side pairs naturally with black denim, faded jeans, military trousers, engineer boots, leather shoes, or understated sneakers.

Its cream sleeves and gold piping create the classic souvenir-jacket contrast, while the Kintarō embroidery provides a powerful central statement.

Styling the Black Face

The black velvet side offers a more restrained presentation and works well with monochrome tailoring, wide-leg trousers, dark denim, boots, or minimalist Japanese streetwear.

The silver karajishi and white peonies remain dramatic without the brighter color saturation of the burgundy face.

Display Value

Displayed on a broad padded hanger, either side functions as embroidered textile art.

The Kintarō side emphasizes narrative action and folklore. The karajishi side emphasizes symmetry, symbolic authority, and the traditional lion-and-peony pairing.

CARE AND PRESERVATION

Professional cleaning by a specialist experienced with vintage embroidered jackets, satin-finish textiles, velvet, rib-knit trim, and reversible garments is recommended.

Do not machine wash, bleach, soak, scrub, wring, or tumble dry.

Avoid ironing directly over embroidery, velvet, piping, or ribbing. Gentle steaming from a safe distance may help relax light creasing.

The velvet side should be protected from lint, rough bags, hook-and-loop fasteners, jewelry, and abrasive surfaces.

When reversing the jacket, support the sleeves and body evenly rather than pulling forcefully through the cuffs.

Store on a broad padded hanger inside a breathable garment cover, away from direct sunlight, excess humidity, smoke, perfume, and prolonged compression.

SHIPPING, OFFERS, AND FINAL-SALE POLICIES

Worldwide tracked shipping is available from Japan, generally through Japan Post EMS or another suitable tracked international service.

The jacket will be carefully folded with protective material placed between the embroidery, velvet, satin, zipper, and rib-knit surfaces.

Tracking information is normally provided approximately 3–5 business days after dispatch.

Additional photographs may be available for closer examination of the embroidery, reversible construction, zipper, pockets, ribbing, textile condition, and measurements.

Reasonable offers may be considered. Some collectible pieces are held more firmly according to maker, design, condition, and demand, but serious proposals are welcome.

The jacket is sold in its present vintage condition as photographed and described.

All sales are final. No returns, claims, cancellations, or exchanges are accepted for accurately disclosed vintage wear, sizing, textile variation, creasing, velvet-pile variation, embroidery character, ribbing relaxation, patina, or age-related characteristics, subject to applicable Etsy rules and consumer law.

#Tedman #TedCompany #BRMJapan #VintageSukajan #KintaroJacket #Karajishi #PeonyEmbroidery #ReversibleSukajan #JapaneseSouvenirJacket #YokosukaJumper #JapaneseBomber #JapaneseFolklore #TattooArtJacket #VelvetSukajan #SatinBomber #Amekaji #JapaneseStreetwear #VintageJapaneseFashion #EmbroideredJacket #GuardianLion #BotanPeony #MythologyFashion #JapanVintage #WearableArt #ArchiveStreetwear #Y2KJapaneseFashion #CollectorJacket #UnisexVintage #StatementOuterwear #SouvenirBomber

MATERIAL TAGS

satin-finish textile, velvet-finish textile, embroidery thread, rib-knit trim, metal zipper, decorative piping