The Charm of Sukajan: Originating in Yokosuka

Yokosuka has long been a port town visited by foreign ships, giving it an exotic atmosphere. Before the war, it was a base for the Imperial Japanese Navy, and today it serves as a base for the Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. Navy in Japan. The enterprising spirit of the Imperial Japanese Navy has given birth to a variety of traditions and cultures in Yokosuka.

Yokosuka Navy Burger, Yokosuka Navy Curry, Yokosuka Cherry Cheesecake...
The world's three largest memorial ships, Mikasa, Sarushima, Uraga Dock...

And of course, there's the Yokosuka jumper, commonly known as the "Sukajan"!

This time, we spoke with Hitomoto from MIKASA, a sukajan specialty store founded in 1950 on Yokosuka Dobuita Street that sells Tailor Toyo sukajan, Minatosho sukajan, original and custom-made sukajan, and kanjan (60th birthday sukajan).

Please tell me about Sukajan.

Ippon-san : Sukajan is an abbreviation of "Yokosuka jumper." It's called "Sukajan" because it's a combination of "Suka" from Yokosuka and "Jan" from jumper.
Sukajan jackets are made from shiny satin or velvet, which is called "velveteen" in the case of sukajan, and are decorated with embroidery of eagles, tigers, dragons, and other designs.

Please tell me about the history of the Sukajan.

Ippon-san : The history of the Sukajan dates back to after the war, when it was first introduced as a souvenir for American soldiers. Originally, it was called a "souvenir jacket." It was apparently a very popular item for American soldiers to take home as souvenirs. The eagle, tiger, and dragon designs were popular in the United States because they evoked images of the Orient and Asia.

What do you think is the appeal of the Sukajan jacket?

Ippon-san : It's a fashion that can be worn by a wide range of people, regardless of gender or age.

Please tell us about Yokosuka Dobuita Street, the birthplace of the Sukajan jacket.

Ippon-san : Yes.
Dobuita Street flourished as a shipyard during the Edo period, a former naval town during the Meiji period, and as a US naval town after the war. The name Dobuita Street is said to have come from the fact that a dirty river flows through the middle of the road, and the town received an iron plate from the navy to cover the dirty river.

Of all the Sukajan jackets you have made so far, is there any design that has left an impression on you?

Hitotsumoto-san: When it comes to custom-made items, many of them are made with the thoughts and feelings of the person who placed the order. One recent example that really made an impression on me was a husband and wife who ordered a sukajan jacket embroidered with the design of a vintage sports car that the customer owned.

Sukajan is a fashion item that is extremely popular not only in Japan but all over the world.

The Yokosuka Museum of Art is currently hosting the "15th Anniversary PRIDE OF YOKOSUKA Sukajan Exhibition."
The exhibition features approximately 140 pieces of sukajan jackets from around the world, centered around the precious vintage collection of Tailor Toyo (Toyo Enterprise Co., Ltd.), as well as works by contemporary artists.
The exhibition also introduces a glimpse of the "base culture" that developed around U.S. military bases around the country, including photographs and documents of Dobuita Street after the war, and products that were actually sold to American soldiers. Visitors will be able to learn about the charm of Yokosuka through the Sukajan jacket and American culture.

15th Anniversary Pride of Yokosuka Sukajan Exhibition

[Store Information]
MIKASA
[Address] 2-7 Honmachi, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, 238-0041
[TEL] 046-823-0312
[Business hours] 11:00-18:00
[Nearest station] 5 minutes walk from Keikyu Shioiri Station
10 minutes walk from Keikyu Yokosuka Chuo Station
15 minutes walk from JR Yokosuka Station
[Homepage] https://sukajyan.com/#about