- Source:
- PR Times
- Tags:
- Clothes / Deck Jackets / Fashion / Jackets / Japan / Japanese fashion / My Neighbor Totoro / Porco Rosso / Princess Mononoke / Skyajan / Studio Ghibli / Sukajan / Vintage
Related Article
-
7-11 Japan’s Hydrangea-colored parfait is a fitting rainy season treat
-
Enjoy A Rich And Elegant Snack With Sakura And Champagne-Flavored Pocky
-
Ramen-ize Your Room With This Mouth-Watering Ramen Poster!
-
Japan Self-Defense Force To Open More Positions To Women
-
Let mischief loose with these bubbly Gongitsune double walled glass tumblers
-
Gundam vs. Hello Kitty Collaboration Continues With Hello Kitty Gundam And Haro Modeling Figures
Update: Japan Trend Online Shop has the jackets now available for pre-order.
Whether it's a No-Face Piggy Bank that gobbles up coins and plays music from Spirited Away, or a tea collection inspired by their classic films, there's been some really interesting Studio Ghibli merchandise released over the past year. Some of which we imagine will be available at the recently announced Studio Ghibli theme park. Now the beloved animation studio is lending the charm of its famous films and characters to one of Japan's most interesting fashion trends--"sukajan" vintage jackets.
Source: PR Times
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 online shop (not currently working).
Spirited Away--Bath House
Source: PR Times
Source: PR Times
The Spirited Away version shows off a vintage sukajan color scheme on a soft satin fabric, and features the stone statue deity on the front, with No-Face and the Aburaya Bath House on the back. It's priced at 29,800 yen ($272.62 USD), and is available for order from the middle of July with delivery expected in September.
Princess Mononoke--Forest of the Boar God
Source: PR Times
Source: PR Times
On the front you can see the snarling face of the wolf god Moro, while boar gods line the sleeves. The dark jacket sports the Forest Spirit and a deep forest on the back. It's priced at 29,800 yen ($272.62 USD), and is available for order from the middle of July with delivery expected in September.
Porco Rosso Deck Jacket--Mamma Aiuto Gang (Khaki/Navy)
Source: PR Times
Finally, in a departure from the vintage sukajan is a N-1 deck jacket modeled in the theme of Porco Rosso's Mamma Aiuto Gang, waterproof and tailored for strong and cold weather. The gang's skull logo and simple text on the back make it one of the more subtler jackets. Priced at 35,000 yen ($320.37 USD), it's available for order mid-August and will ship in October.
The jackets will likely be available at the (at the time of writing, not functioning website above) as well as at Donguri's online shop once the jackets become available. While they will likely be hard to get outside of Japan as they are a reservation item, it's possible a proxy service like Japan Trends will carry them.