The "Japanese Design" series depicts masterpieces on the canvas of an aloha shirt.
Sun Surf focuses on artists from the Edo period, a time when Japanese culture and arts flourished, and recreates the works of these masters on the canvas of an aloha shirt.
This product, "Turtle," is the 2025 model of the "Japanese Design" National Treasure of Japan series, which revives the passion infused in Japan's world-renowned design.
This piece features "Turtle" from a work by Katsushika Hokusai, a representative ukiyo-e artist of the Edo period and a familiar face in the "Japanese Design" series.
"Turtle" is part of Hokusai's series of auspicious flower and bird paintings, which includes last year's popular "Cherry Blossoms and a Hawk," as well as "Carp Climbing a Waterfall," "Crane on a Snow-Clad Pine Tree," and "Pasture Horse."
A diagonally sloping blue blur evokes the flow of rippling water, and the three turtles are depicted floating in the water as if peered at from above.
The bottom-most "Minogame" (minogame), with algae growing on its shell, is a symbol of longevity, and by depicting the parent turtle along with its offspring and grandchildren, it represents the prosperity of descendants.
This flower and bird painting series is in a vertically long format known as a "cho-oban" (long, large format), and was created as a substitute for auspicious hanging scrolls.
In the original, indigo pigment was used for the blue parts of the water's surface, and so this work was also printed using indigo pigment, a meticulous detail. Furthermore, while silver was originally used for the turtle's head, this was not suitable for shirts, so a silver pigment closer to the actual hue was used instead, bringing out the full charm of the original.
The fabric is rayon Fujiet, which combines the suppleness of Fuji silk with the texture unique to rayon.
The fuzziness gives it a vintage feel, which complements the design well.
The neck has the classic open collar of an aloha shirt, but you can enjoy a different style by fastening the top button below the collar with the loop.
On this model, the patterns on the left chest pocket and body are matched, allowing you to enjoy the design directly.
Matching patterns requires advanced sewing techniques and is a careful, luxurious construction that uses a large amount of fabric, resulting in a finish that is unique to Sun Surf, a long-established aloha shirt manufacturer.
The buttons are made of white mother-of-pearl, a natural material carved from shells.
They reflect beautifully depending on the angle of the light, and are an elegant material that highlights the main design.
The shoulders have a yoke design with an additional piece of fabric attached to the inside.
Tucks in two places also reduce tightness when moving around the shoulders.
The hem is cut in a straight line, creating a boxy silhouette that is well-balanced when worn on its own.
Sun Surf aloha shirts vary in sizing depending on the fabric and model, but this model has a slightly slimmer fit.
made in Japan
100% rayon
Size Chart(cm)
Size/Back Length/Chest/Shoulder/Sleeve
M(38)/66/56/46.5/22
L(40)/69.5/58/50/23
XL(42)/71/61/52/23.5
