Defense & Security

Koizumi Presents Custom-Made Sukajan Jacket to Hegseth

From the X account of Pete Hegseth
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi pose for a photo wearing sukajan jackets.

The Yomiuri Shimbun

13:07 JST, October 30, 2025

Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi presented Hegseth with a custom-made sukajan jacket during a meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday, helping foster a bilateral friendly atmosphere.

The sukajan, literally Yokosuka jumper, was born in Koizumi’s native city of Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. It dates back to the post-World War II days, when U.S. soldiers stationed at the base in the city took parachute cloth to a local tailor to have jackets made and embroidered with tigers and the like.

Hegseth posted a photo of himself and Koizumi wearing sukajan jackets on his X account, writing, “Great meeting with Defense Minister Koizumi today.”