The SUKA JACKET, or SUKAJAN, derives its name from the Japanese port town of Yokosuka, located south of Tokyo. Yokosuka has historically hosted a significant American GI presence during times of conflict. Major shopping districts like Ginza offered Sukajan jackets as souvenirs for soldiers to take home, including sizes for children. These jackets were often personalized with embroidered motifs such as naval emblems, maps of visited destinations, and local designs like dragons, scenic views, and floral patterns. They served not only as souvenirs but also as a means for soldiers to share their wartime experiences.

Sukajan jackets gained popularity after World War II, with their peak occurring during the Korean War. By the 1960s, they had become fashionable among Japanese youth, leading to the widespread adoption of the term “Sukajan.”

The SOUVENIR SUKA JACKET / TIGER AND EAGLE is made from cotton velveteen, a pile fabric originally produced in Europe but now exclusively made in Japan's Enshu region. The production process starts with warping cotton warp threads onto a beam and preparing the weft threads. The warp threads are starched and sized to prevent pilling and enhance durability, then woven into a basic fabric that is inspected for defects and assigned a serial number.

The fabric undergoes shearing to create its distinctive pile and shine, with skilled craftsmen using specialized blades to cut the weft threads. Following shearing, the fabric pieces are joined and desized to remove adhesives, washed in natural starch yeast to improve texture, and singed to remove burnt fibers. The fabric is then washed multiple times, dried, and inspected for quality. This meticulous process, taking about six months, ensures that only the finest velveteen, known as "Kanpachi Velvet," meets strict standards.