Geisha & Oiran Shunga Sukajan, Kanzashi and Kimono Tattoo-Art Embroidery, Vintage Souvenir Jacket, Size XL

The sukajan began as an embroidered souvenir of Yokosuka's postwar bases, usually carrying dragons, tigers and eagles. This one turns instead to the floating world: geisha, oiran and maiko adorned with kanzashi and kushi, drawn in the bold line of tattoo art and touching the erotic imagery of shunga.

The Piece

Sukajan, the satin souvenir jackets first embroidered for servicemen near the Yokosuka naval base after the Second World War, became one of Japan's most recognizable exports in wearable form.

Here the iconography belongs to the pleasure quarters rather than the battlefield: geisha, oiran and maiko figures in kimono, crowned with kanzashi hairpins and kushi combs, rendered in the idiom of Japanese tattoo art and the shunga tradition. It is a manufacturer's size XL, measuring 66 cm in height and 53 cm in width, and it is shown on a model 164 cm (5 ft 4 in) tall.

Details

• Size: XL (manufacturer's size)
• Measurements: Height 66 cm · Width 53 cm · Arm length (top) 74 cm · Arm length (bottom) 52 cm
• Motifs: Geisha, oiran and maiko; kanzashi and kushi hair ornaments; kimono; tattoo-art embroidery
• Fit Reference: Shown on a model 164 cm (5 ft 4 in) tall

Condition

No specific wear, repairs or flaws are recorded; condition is documented through the photographs.

Authenticity & Care

Every piece is examined and documented in Japan before dispatch and is offered with the Japonista authenticity guarantee.

Delivery from Japan

Packed 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. Returns follow our published policy.

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