Fireman’s Quilted Coat with Design of a Sino-Japanese War Naval Battle Scene

The inner surface of this fireman’s coat features a dramatic design of a Japanese naval craft bombarding a Chinese ship during the Sino-Japanese War. Two Chinese navy sailors can be seen tumbling into the sea as explosions rock the ship from which they have fallen.

The jacket is made from layers of cotton stitched together using a technique called sashiko. Before tackling a blaze, a fireman would be drenched in water; the quilting of the jacket allowed for maximum absorption. Wearing the soaking wet garment for protection, the fireman would go into action. The jacket is reversible; during a fire, the garment would be worn with the plain side revealed. On festival days, the dynamic image would be shown.