■A Special Aloha Shirt Featuring a Masterpiece of Japanese Art
Sun Surf × Japanese Design | Utagawa Kuniyoshi, “The Sanuki-in’s Retainers Rescuing Tamechika”
・A recreation of a masterpiece representing Japanese art history as an aloha shirt
・The powerful composition of a large-format triptych condensed into a single aloha shirt
・A highly artistic piece that treats the aloha shirt as a canvas
・Collector’s edition complete with a special tag and case
“National Treasure of Japan” is a series by the long-established aloha shirt brand Sun Surf that focuses on Edo-period painters, recreating the works of these masters on the canvas of the aloha shirt.
The motif for this piece is Utagawa Kuniyoshi’s renowned masterpiece, “The Depiction of the Sanuki-in Retainers Rescuing Tame-tomo.”
This work depicts a scene from Kyokutei Bakin’s popular storybook *Tsubaki-setsu Yumi-hiki-zuki*, and is highly acclaimed for its bold composition and powerful depiction—hallmarks of Utagawa Kuniyoshi’s style.
■ About the Brand | SUN SURF
SUN SURF is a brand that analyzes its vast collection of vintage aloha shirts and pours a strong commitment to technique and craftsmanship into every single piece.
SUN SURF’s aloha shirts are renowned as masterpieces that appeal to a wide range of people—from American casual fashion enthusiasts to aloha shirt collectors—because they faithfully recreate the charm of vintage aloha shirts in every detail, from the design to the fabric and stitching.
Minamoto no Tamechika’s ship, en route to subdue Taira no Kiyomori, was caught in a storm, and his wife, Shirahori, threw herself into the sea in an attempt to calm the waters.
However, the storm did not subside, and just as a despairing Tamechika was about to commit seppuku, a tengu sent by the spirit of Sanuki-in appeared and saved his life.
Meanwhile, Tamechika’s eldest son, Shuntenmaru, and his retainer, Ki Heiji, were saved by a massive shark.
The overwhelming impact of this design—which skillfully incorporates these three scenes, boldly composed across three large panels, onto a single aloha shirt—is its greatest appeal.
This work strongly reflects Kuniyoshi’s innovative style, which incorporated ideas and techniques from Western painting—such as the ethereal depiction of tengu, which do not exist in reality, using light ink; the portrayal of the “wani-zame,” inspired by crocodiles seen in books; and the generous use of the “blue” pigment, which had only recently been introduced to Japan at the time.
■ Special Features Unique to a Collector’s Item
A label exclusive to this series is placed on the back of the collar.
It also comes with a special case, making for a finish worthy of a collector’s item.
■ Textures That Enhance the Work’s Charm
The fabric is Rayon Fujiett, which combines the suppleness reminiscent of Fuji silk with the soft drape characteristic of rayon.
Its slightly worn appearance, such as slight pilling, further enhances the atmosphere of this work, which is based on Japanese art.
■ Reproducing the Details of a Vintage Aloha Shirt
The neckline features the classic open collar design typical of aloha shirts.
・Made in Japan
・100% Rayon
Size Chart(cm)
Size/Back Length/Chest/Shoulder/Sleeve
M(38)/66.5/54/46.5/22.5
L(40)/70/57/50/23.5
XL(42)/72/60/54/24.5
