Embroidered Jacket “SKULL”

DJ-1214 Embroidered Jacket “SKULL”
SKULL / Cotton velveteen 100%、HAWK / Rayon 100%

サイズ表 / Size Chart

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This piece was developed based on a "Sukajan" (souvenir jacket) featuring a skull motif from the 1950s.
In the 1950s, Yokosuka, Japan, was home to a large number of U.S. troops deploying to and returning from the Korean War.
After completing their duties in the war zone, it was customary for them to buy souvenirs for family and friends back home. Consequently, numerous souvenir shops lined the street near the Yokosuka Naval Base known as "Dobuita Street."
Among the offerings, the "Sukajan" stood out as a unique local souvenir of the era. Many jackets were sold featuring dazzling satin or the velveteen fabric typically used for kimono collars, adorned with Oriental-style embroidery of dragons and tigers.
The "snake emerging from a skull's eye" embroidery featured here is one such design.
The skull motif was a type of "decadent kimono pattern" that gained popularity around the end of the Edo period. Within that context, ceramic ornaments depicting a snake emerging from a skull's eye were displayed as talismans to ward off misfortune—specifically, to protect against venereal diseases.
This jacket reproduces that specific embroidered design.
Originally, the skull motif carried a counter-cultural connotation in the West, often viewed as a taboo design.
This jacket was born from a unique blend of war, red-light districts, and Orientalism—a truly fascinating design.
I decided to revive this piece after acquiring an original vintage version.
The raglan sleeves feature a center seam, creating a two-tone pattern.
We utilized that same pattern to faithfully reproduce the solid-colored, seamed velveteen sleeves.
The reversible quilted side features an embroidery of a silvery-white hawk that complements the base color.
This design was popular among U.S. troops, as the hawk evoked the image of the American national bird.
If you were to try and acquire this vintage piece today in the 21st century, it would cost several million yen (though it rarely appears on the market). This is a reproduction that even recreates the original size label—now is the time to get your hands on it.