Suka-jan| Off Base Housing Yokosuka | IINO REAL ESTATE is for rental housing in Yokosuka Japan...Civilian, Military house agency
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There is a popular & iconic clothing item in Japan which has its roots in late-1940s Yokosuka. It is called the "Suka-jan" bomber jacket, and more on that later. During the early post-World War II years, after the U.S. military took control of the large Japanese navy base complex, many American sailors and other service members came to live and work in Yokosuka. An old shopping street located right across from the main gate of the navy base quickly adjusted retail strategies and started selling goods & services to the "new customers" from the U.S. The name of the shopping street was "Dobu-ita Dori" but came to be known at "The Honch" (see link below for more background). One line of products which quickly became popular were patches, embroidery, and clothing items which could be taken back home as souvenirs. Skilled Japanese tailors in The Honch used excess parachute silk and old kimono fabrics to develop a garment which became a top-seller. Using the basic American baseball jacket (also called: varsity or letterman jacket) design, they produced the colorful silk/satin "Yokosuka Jumper" with custom embroidery added. The hand-produced embroidery included Japanese and Oriental designs such as dragons, tigers, cherry blossoms, Mount Fuji, and even maps which portrayed naval ship "WESTPAC" deployments and cruises. Basically, a sailor could take a picture or drawing of desired images/themes to the Japanese tailor, who would thereafter custom produce the art and jacket. Of note, among Japanese people, the Yokosuka Jumpers came to be called "Suka-Jan", and they became popular with teenagers during the 1960s as symbols of rebellion. Nowadays Suka-jan jackets have some to be recognized as a cultural symbol of Yokosuka and both Japanese and foreign customers regularly visit the specialty stores in Dobu-ita Dori to buy them.
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LINKS:
The "Honch" -- Dobu-ita Shopping Street
"Suka-Jan" in depth
“Sukajan”: Yokosuka and the Roots of Japan’s Dazzling Bomber Jackets | Nippon.com
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2-1-7, Honcho, Yokosuka city
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