Vintage Reversible Sukajan Jacket Koi Fish Camellia Sakura Goldfish Embroidery Japanese Souvenir Bomber Size L

Midnight-Navy Koi and Camellia Jacket Reversing to a Deep-Teal Goldfish and Sakura Garden

A beautifully composed reversible Japanese sukajan featuring two contrasting aquatic worlds in one garment.

The midnight-navy face presents three red, white and black koi swimming through long silver currents beneath blooming red-and-white camellias. Reverse the jacket to reveal a deep teal satin garden populated by elegant goldfish, aquatic plants, rippling water and a flowering sakura branch shedding pale petals.

One side is graphic and architectural. The other feels tranquil and painterly. Together, they transform the classic Yokosuka bomber into a richly embroidered piece of wearable Japanese art.

A Reversible Tale of Koi and Kingyo

The navy face carries the bolder composition.

Three large koi move diagonally across the back through embroidered water currents, surrounded by camellia blossoms, buds and blue-green leaves. The artwork continues across the front with flowing water lines and asymmetrically placed flowers, creating visual movement even when the jacket is worn open.

The reverse side changes the mood completely. Deep teal satin forms the background for a quiet pond scene of ornamental goldfish beneath a flowering branch. Scattered petals drift downward toward fish swimming among stylized aquatic plants and concentric ripples.

Rather than offering a simple lining, the reverse is a fully realized second jacket with its own collar, pockets, color palette and embroidered narrative.

Identification

Object Type: Reversible embroidered sukajan
Style: Japanese Yokosuka souvenir bomber jacket
Primary Motifs: Koi carp, goldfish, camellia, sakura, water currents and aquatic plants
Tagged Size: L
Approximate Fit: Vintage Japanese L; may fit closer than a contemporary Western L
Color Palette: Midnight navy, ivory, coral red, white, teal, lavender, green and gold
Origin: Japan
Closure: Reversible central zipper
Construction: Raglan sleeves with rib-knit collar, cuffs and waistband

Navy Koi and Camellia Side

The navy side features a dramatic full-back composition of three koi swimming among elongated silver-white water lines.

The fish are embroidered in coral red, white and black, with carefully repeated scales, fins and facial details. Their arrangement creates a circular rhythm suggesting continuous movement through water.

Large red-and-white camellias anchor the upper and lower corners. Blue-green foliage, reddish buds and dark branches provide a softer botanical counterpoint to the graphic fish.

The front continues the design with:

• Long embroidered water currents crossing the body
• Camellia flowers and foliage placed asymmetrically
• Ivory sleeves framed by navy shoulder panels
• Fine red piping along the raglan seams
• Black-and-ivory striped ribbing

Teal Goldfish and Sakura Side

The reverse face is rendered in deep peacock teal with champagne-ivory sleeves.

A flowering sakura branch spreads across the upper back, embroidered with dense lavender blossoms, green leaves and drifting petals. Below, several ornamental goldfish move through embroidered ripples and clusters of aquatic plants.

The kingyo are smaller and more delicate than the koi on the opposite face, with rounded bodies and flowing fins worked in bronze, cream, amber and muted rose thread.

This side has a quieter, almost moonlit character and works beautifully as an elegant alternative to the more energetic navy composition.

Japanese Symbolism

Koi Carp

Koi are enduring symbols of perseverance, ambition and the strength to move against adversity. Their association with transformation makes them especially fitting for a reversible garment offering two distinct identities.

Kingyo Goldfish

Goldfish, or kingyo, are associated with prosperity, beauty and refined summer imagery in Japanese decorative culture. Their flowing tails and ornamental shapes bring softness and grace to the teal side.

Camellia

The camellia, or tsubaki, has long been admired in Japan for its elegant form, glossy leaves and vivid seasonal color. Here, the blossoms add a bold graphic quality to the koi composition.

Sakura

The flowering branch and falling petals evoke renewal, fleeting beauty and the passage of the seasons. Their delicate lavender coloring creates a striking contrast against the deep teal satin.

Materials and Construction

The jacket is fashioned from smooth satin-finish fabric with extensive multicolored machine embroidery.

Notable details include:

• Fully reversible construction
• Embroidery across the front and back of both faces
• Contrasting satin raglan sleeves
• Decorative shoulder piping
• Rib-knit collar, cuffs and waistband
• Functional pockets on both sides
• Central reversible zipper
• Lightweight traditional bomber silhouette

The embroidery is especially effective because each face uses a different scale. The navy side is dominated by large koi and broad currents, while the teal side relies on smaller goldfish, falling petals and delicate pond vegetation.

Period Assessment

The materials, embroidery style and fashion-oriented reversible construction appear consistent with a late twentieth-century to early twenty-first-century Japanese sukajan, likely from the Heisei-era revival of elaborate souvenir-jacket fashion.

Condition

Vintage pre-owned condition with visible age-related wear.

The ivory sleeves on the navy side display noticeable discoloration, brownish marks and uneven tonal patina, particularly around the forearms and lower sleeve areas. Additional signs of use may include:

• Surface creasing and wrinkling
• Minor marks and faint spotting
• Light wear around the rib-knit trims
• Natural rippling around dense embroidery
• Minor thread irregularities
• General softening of the satin finish
• Age-related variation in color and sheen

The embroidered imagery remains visually strong and detailed. The deep teal side presents beautifully and offers a darker alternative that naturally disguises much of the jacket’s age patina.

Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an essential part of the condition description.

Size and Fit

Manufacturer’s Tag Size: L

Vintage Japanese sizing frequently fits closer than contemporary Western sizing. The jacket is best evaluated against the measurements of a similar bomber already owned, allowing additional room for movement and layering.

The raglan sleeves and ribbed waistband create the compact, slightly rounded silhouette traditionally associated with sukajan jackets.

Styling and Display

The navy koi face pairs naturally with:

• Dark denim
• Black trousers
• Boots or retro sneakers
• Japanese streetwear
• Tattoo-inspired styling
• Rockabilly and vintage Americana

The deep teal face complements:

• Cream trousers
• Washed denim
• Neutral knitwear
• Minimalist Japanese styling
• Romantic or botanical wardrobes
• Statement evening layering

When not worn, either embroidered back can be displayed as textile art in a dressing room, studio, boutique or Japanese-inspired interior.

Why Collect This Jacket?

• Two fully developed wearable faces
• Large koi and camellia embroidery
• Deep-teal goldfish and sakura garden
• Extensive front-and-back decoration
• Striking navy, ivory and teal color architecture
• Tagged Japanese size L
• Strong unisex styling potential
• Rare combination of koi and kingyo imagery
• Decorative appeal from every angle
• A highly distinctive alternative to conventional tiger and dragon sukajan

Additional Photographs and Offers

Additional photographs may be available upon request for buyers wishing to inspect the embroidery, zipper, cuffs, pockets, ribbing or visible vintage patina in greater detail.

Reasonable offers are welcome and will be considered thoughtfully. Some pieces have greater pricing flexibility than others, but serious proposals are always appreciated.

Product Representation and Questions

Every effort has been made to represent this vintage jacket accurately through the photographs and description.

Colors, sheen and textile depth may vary slightly according to lighting and screen settings. Please review the complete image set and ask any important questions before purchasing.

Condition and Sales Policy

This vintage garment is sold as is and as photographed.

Age-related discoloration, creasing, patina, marks, thread variation and previous wear are inherent parts of the jacket’s history and character.

All sales are final. Returns, exchanges, refunds and post-purchase condition claims are not accepted.

Worldwide Shipping

Worldwide shipping is available through Japan Post EMS wherever service is offered.

Shipping and handling charges are calculated according to destination. Tracking details are generally provided approximately three to five business days after shipment.

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

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Material Tags

satin-finish fabric, rayon blend, polyester blend, embroidery thread, rib-knit trim, metal zipper, reversible construction