Journal

Crane and wave haori kimono jacket worn by a model
Japanese Streetwear Guide: 6 Classic Pieces and How to Style Them
From the sukajan to tabi socks: the six traditional Japanese pieces behind modern Japanese streetwear, and simple ways to combine them. Read more...
Indigo noragi-style jacket with tie closures and patch pockets
Noragi vs Haori: What Is the Difference?
Noragi and haori are both open-front Japanese jackets, but one was made for farm work and the other for wearing over a kimono. Here is how to tell them apart... Read more...
Tiger and dragon embroidered satin sukajan jacket
Japanese Dragon and Tiger Meaning: Ryu, Tora and the Ryuko Pair
The dragon and the tiger are the two most iconic sukajan motifs. Here is what each one means in Japanese art and why they are so often shown together. Read more...
Nine-tailed fox embroidered on the back of a sukajan jacket
Kitsune Meaning: The Nine-Tailed Fox in Japanese Folklore
Kitsune are the clever, shape-shifting foxes of Japanese folklore. Learn what kitsune symbolize, why some have nine tails, and their link to the god Inari. Read more...
Golden koi embroidered on the back of a yellow sukajan jacket
Koi Fish Meaning in Japanese Culture: Legend, Colors and Symbolism
In Japan the koi stands for perseverance, strength and good fortune. Learn the legend of the koi that became a dragon, what koi colors mean, and why koi appear on... Read more...
Cotton tabi split-toe socks worn with black shorts
Tabi Socks: What They Are, Why the Split Toe and How to Wear Them
Tabi are Japanese socks with a split between the big toe and the other toes. Here is where they come from, why they are split, and how to wear tabi... Read more...
White kimono cardigan haori with Great Wave and koi print
What Is a Haori? Haori vs Kimono and How to Style One
A haori is the open-front jacket worn over a kimono. Here is how it differs from a kimono and how to wear a haori jacket today. Read more...
Black cropped wide-leg hakama pants worn with a black t-shirt
What Are Hakama Pants? A Guide to Samurai Trousers
Hakama are the wide, pleated trousers of the samurai. Learn their history, the different types and how to wear modern hakama pants every day. Read more...
Red sukajan souvenir jacket with an embroidered dragon on the back
What Is a Sukajan? History, Meaning and How to Wear One
A sukajan is an embroidered Japanese souvenir jacket born in Yokosuka after 1945. Here is where it comes from, what the motifs mean and how to wear one today. Read more...