- Source:
- PR Times
- Tags:
- Anime / Cat Bus / Clothes / Fashion / Film / Hayao Miyazaki / Jackets / Japan / Movies / My Neighbor Totoro / Ponyo on the Cliff / Studio Ghibli / Sukajan / Vintage
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While some may prefer to show their love for celebrated animation giant Studio Ghibli with cool souvenirs such as the No-Face Piggy Bank that gobbles up coins and plays music from Spirited Away or charming Totoro-themed traditional Japanese pottery, last year longtime Ghibli fans worked themselves into a fever over the release of a vintage Japanese sukajan jackets embroidered with Studio Ghibli characters. Two new jackets give beloved characters Ponyo and the Cat Bus an old school look.
If you're not familiar with sukajan, just looking at some may jog your memory. Sukajan resemble vintage Letterman jackets or even baseball jackets, and are typically embroidered with imagery such as tigers, dragons, or even cherry blossoms. Following World War II, American soldiers stationed in Japan would embroider their jackets with these types of images to commemorate their time in Japan. Their are several theories as to why they are referred to as sukajan. One is a shortening of the term "Souvenir Jacket", another is a shortening of "Yokosuka (where soldiers were stationed) Jumper", and another is a shortening of "Sky Dragon"--a common image embroidered on jackets.
Whatever the reason, nowadays sukajan are more commonly seen in popular fiction, worn by low-level gangsters, rebellious youth, and rough-and-tough old timers. There is a bit of a vintage fashion trend for them, however, and now Studio Ghibli fans can try that out with a lineup of Studio Ghibli sukajan called the GBL series from Japan's Donguri Kyowakoku stores and GBL online shop. The two new designs feature the iconic Cat Bus from My Neighbor Totoro running like the wind, and a giant wave announcing the arrival of Ponyo.
Neko Bus Vintage Jacket
Ponyo Vintage Jacket
Both jackets are priced at 29,800 yen ($270 USD) and can be ordered starting August 23rd with a September delivery date from Donguri Kyowakoku online shops. While delivery is limited to Japan, proxy sites such as Japan Trends Shop have shipped the vintage jackets internationally in the past, so keep an eye out for availability.