Vintage Clover Leaf Reversible Sukajan Jacket Dragon Skull Embroidery Yokosuka Japanese Souvenir Bomber Black Blue Red Gold Approx M

Rare Japanese-Market Clover Leaf Satin Souvenir Jacket with Flaming Dragon, Skull & Crossbones Embroidery and Minimalist Red-Gold Reverse

A fierce vintage sukajan that shifts from mythic Yokosuka spectacle to sleek color-blocked minimalism with a single turn of the zipper. This reversible Clover Leaf souvenir jacket pairs a heavily embroidered black-and-electric-blue side with a dramatically contrasting crimson-and-gold reverse, creating two completely different jackets within one compact bomber silhouette.

The principal side is dominated by a large dragon composition embroidered across the back in olive green, ivory, scarlet and blazing orange. A wild-maned dragon confronts a serpentine companion amid curling flames, while a skull and crossbones anchors the lower portion of the artwork. The word “Yokosuka” sweeps across the shoulders in flowing green script, directly connecting the design to the visual mythology of Japan’s celebrated souvenir-jacket culture.

Collector’s Hook

This is not the polite, restrained side of Japanese embroidery.

It is a collision of dragon fire, pirate-bone symbolism, saturated cobalt satin and rockabilly rebellion, balanced by an unexpectedly clean red-and-gold reverse. The result is a jacket that can move from maximalist Japanese streetwear to understated vintage sportswear without losing its identity.

Identification

Object Type: Reversible sukajan / Japanese souvenir bomber jacket
Brand: Clover Leaf
Label Line: International Collection
Product Code: GI0283
Marked Motif: Yokosuka
Primary Colorway: Black, electric blue, red, olive green, ivory and orange
Reverse Colorway: Crimson red and golden yellow
Material: 100% polyester outer and reverse fabrics
Estimated Fit: Approximately Japanese Medium
Origin: Japanese-market garment

The Clover Leaf label and Japanese-language care tag remain present inside the jacket.

Embroidered Dragon and Skull Side

The embroidered side uses a black satin body framed by vivid blue raglan sleeves and narrow red piping. The color architecture recalls vintage racing jackets and custom-car club uniforms, giving the traditional sukajan form an unmistakable late-century streetwear pulse.

Across the back, the composition includes:

• Flowing “Yokosuka” script
• A green dragon with an ivory mane
• A red-and-green serpentine dragon figure
• Orange and scarlet flame embroidery
• Skull and crossbones motif
• Dense multicolor satin-stitch detailing
• Contrasting black and cobalt-blue panel construction

The embroidery carries strong dimensional relief, especially through the mane, scales, teeth, flames and skull contours. Different thread directions catch the light independently, allowing the design to shift between matte shadow and metallic brightness as the jacket moves.

Skull and Crossbones Chest

The front presents two large mirrored skull-and-crossbones emblems embroidered in warm ivory and black. Scarlet cloud or flame accents curl around the skulls, creating a symmetrical heraldic effect.

The chest design is bold without becoming overcrowded. It gives the front enough visual authority to stand alone while reserving the full narrative impact for the back.

Angled hand pockets are finished with blue arrow-shaped piping, echoing the blue sleeves and reinforcing the jacket’s athletic bomber construction.

Red and Gold Reversible Side

Turn the jacket inside out and the entire character changes.

The reverse is intentionally restrained, featuring:

• Crimson satin body
• Golden-yellow raglan sleeves
• Matching red sleeve stripes
• Fine dark piping
• Arrow-trimmed hand pockets
• Striped rib-knit collar, cuffs and waistband
• No large-scale embroidery

This cleaner side allows the unusual color combination and vintage silhouette to take center stage. The red-and-gold palette feels part varsity jacket, part racing blouson and part theatrical stagewear.

Its simplicity is one of the garment’s strongest features. One side tells a complete embroidered legend; the other becomes a sharply colored everyday bomber.

Symbolism and Cultural Resonance

The dragon is one of the most enduring motifs in East Asian visual culture, associated with force, authority, natural energy and command over the elements. Here it appears not as a delicate decorative creature but as an untamed guardian surrounded by fire.

The skull introduces a Western memento mori and outlaw-fashion vocabulary, evoking mortality, rebellion, pirate imagery, tattoo art and postwar rock culture. Combined with the Yokosuka inscription, the composition becomes a vivid meeting point between Japanese dragon iconography and American-influenced custom fashion.

That cultural crossover lies at the heart of the sukajan tradition. These satin bombers developed in postwar Yokosuka as embroidered souvenirs that combined Japanese craft imagery with American military, varsity and bomber-jacket forms.

Craftsmanship and Construction

The jacket is constructed in a classic reversible sukajan format with both sides finished for exterior wear.

Design Details

• Fully reversible construction
• Smooth satin-finish polyester
• Raglan sleeves
• Extensive multicolor machine embroidery
• Full-length metal zipper
• Hand pockets on both sides
• Striped rib-knit collar
• Matching rib-knit cuffs and waistband
• Contrasting sleeve stripes and piping
• Compact vintage bomber cut

The 100% polyester construction provides a fluid sheen while making the jacket somewhat more resilient than delicate rayon examples. The satin surface still benefits from careful handling, particularly around embroidery, pocket openings and rib-knit edges.

Period Assessment

The label style, compact cut, saturated color blocking, skull-and-dragon imagery and polyester reversible construction appear consistent with a late-1990s to early-2000s Japanese fashion sukajan.

The design captures the moment when souvenir jackets moved beyond traditional tiger, eagle and Mount Fuji imagery and entered the worlds of Y2K streetwear, tattoo graphics, rockabilly fashion and Japanese revival Americana.

Condition

Vintage pre-owned condition with visible signs of age, wear and previous use.

The satin surfaces show natural creasing, handling marks and gentle age-related variation. The rib-knit trim displays vintage softness and wear. Loose threads and minor construction wear may be present.

One pocket opening on the embroidered black-and-blue side shows a separated and frayed upper corner with blue binding visible, as photographed. This is an important part of the condition and should be reviewed carefully before purchase.

The jacket remains visually striking and highly displayable, with the major embroidery retaining strong color and presence.

All photographs form an essential part of the condition description.

Approximate Measurements

Measurements are taken flat in centimeters following our Sukajan Sizing Guide:

A, Body Length: approximately 58 cm
B, Pit-to-Pit Width: approximately 48 cm
C, Sleeve Length from Collar: approximately 77 cm
D, Underarm Sleeve Length: approximately 50 cm

The approximately 48 cm pit-to-pit measurement gives an estimated chest circumference of around 96 cm before allowing for movement and layering.

This jacket is expected to fit approximately like a Japanese Medium, potentially closer to a Western men’s XS to Small or a women’s Medium depending on body shape and preferred silhouette.

Please compare these measurements with a well-fitting jacket rather than relying only on the estimated size category.

Why You’ll Love It

• Genuine vintage Clover Leaf sukajan
• Rare dragon, skull and flame composition
• Large embroidered Yokosuka back design
• Mirrored skull-and-crossbones chest embroidery
• Fully reversible construction
• Electric blue, black and red embroidered side
• Minimalist crimson-and-gold reverse
• Strong Y2K, rockabilly and tattoo-art character
• Compact unisex bomber silhouette
• Highly photogenic statement garment
• Collectible Japanese streetwear with visible age and individuality
• Two dramatically different styling options in one jacket

Styling and Display

Wear the embroidered side with black denim, boots and a plain tee to let the dragon artwork dominate. The blue sleeves also pair especially well with washed denim, silver accessories and vintage sneakers.

The red-and-gold side works as a cleaner retro bomber over black trousers, neutral knitwear or a monochrome streetwear base.

For display, the embroidered back can be presented flat or mounted on a broad padded hanger, allowing the dragon, flames and Yokosuka script to read as a single textile composition.

Shipping

This jacket will be carefully folded, protected and securely packaged for international transit.

Worldwide shipping is available through Japan Post EMS wherever service is offered. Shipping charges are calculated according to destination.

Tracking information is generally activated approximately 3–5 business days after dispatch.

Additional photographs may be available upon request.

Offers

Reasonable offers are welcome.

Some pieces in our collection have room for negotiation, while others carry firmer collector pricing based on rarity, condition, design and availability. Every serious proposal will be considered thoughtfully.

Product Representation and Questions

We aim to represent each garment accurately through detailed photographs and written descriptions.

Because this is a vintage textile, signs of age, previous wear, storage and production irregularities should be expected. Questions are warmly welcomed before purchase so that condition, measurements and expectations can be clarified in advance.

Condition and Sales Policy

This jacket is sold as is and as photographed.

Vintage and pre-owned garments are not factory-new items. Natural wear, textile variation, loose threads, creasing, marks, fading and age-related characteristics are part of their individual history.

All sales are final. We maintain a strict policy of no returns, no exchanges and no post-purchase claims.

Completion of payment confirms acceptance of the photographs, measurements, condition description and store policies.

Hashtags

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Material Tags

100% polyester satin, polyester lining, polyester embroidery thread, rib knit trim, metal zipper