[2] The jackets were produced in the nearby towns of Kiryū and Ashikaga by skilled artisans from Japan's traditional kimono industry, which had been disrupted by the war.

[2][3] Unlike the embroidered kimonos that American servicemen purchased as souvenirs for women back home—which exclusively featured traditionally feminine motives like Japanese flowers, especially wisteria, chrysanthemums, and cherry blossoms—sukajan were designed specifically for the servicemen themselves, a fact reflected in their bolder imagery, which typically included:[4] The embroidered designs were typically prominently displayed on the back, with additional motifs appearing on the chest and sleeves.

The fusion of Eastern and Western elements reflected the garment's transcultural origins and was a deliberate form of self-orientalism, enacted as a marketing strategy in the context of Japan's difficult post-war economic recovery.

It was more common for those soldiers to commission embroidery directly on their military-issued clothing, and they featured more serious, vulgar, and somber designs, like battle maps, personal details of service, or mottos like "When I die I’ll go to heaven because I’ve served my time in hell".

To this day, traditional manufacturers like TOYO Enterprise continue to reproduce sukajan using historical designs and techniques, while many fashion brands have created their own interpretations.