SHŌWA 昭和

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Miso Rāmen 味噌らーめん Sapporo ramen shop navy T-shirt by 5C5V, back print worn by a model Miso Rāmen 味噌らーめん Sapporo ramen shop navy T-shirt by 5C5V, front with chest mark worn by a model

Miso Rāmen 味噌らーめん Sapporo Ramen Shop T-Shirt

£39.95
Kensetsu-chū 建設中 Tokyo 1958 vintage white T-shirt by 5C5V, back print worn by a model Kensetsu-chū 建設中 Tokyo 1958 vintage white T-shirt by 5C5V, front with chest mark worn by a model

Kensetsu-chū 建設中 Tokyo 1958 Showa Retro T-Shirt

£39.95
Ikkai Jōshaken 一回乗車券 Kyoto tram ticket blue T-shirt by 5C5V, back print worn by a model Ikkai Jōshaken 一回乗車券 Kyoto tram ticket blue T-shirt by 5C5V, front with chest mark worn by a model

Ikkai Jōshaken 一回乗車券 Kyoto Tram Ticket T-Shirt

£39.95
Hōrō Kanban 琺瑯看板 Osaka tiger enamel sign black T-shirt by 5C5V, back print worn by a model Hōrō Kanban 琺瑯看板 Osaka tiger enamel sign black T-shirt by 5C5V, front with chest mark worn by a model

Hōrō Kanban 琺瑯看板 Osaka Tiger Enamel Sign T-Shirt

£39.95
Tegata 手形 Osaka sumo handprint black T-shirt by 5C5V, back print worn by a model Tegata 手形 Osaka sumo handprint black T-shirt by 5C5V, front with chest mark worn by a model

Tegata 手形 Osaka Sumo Handprint T-Shirt

£39.95
Jazu Kissa ジャズ喫茶 Yokohama matchbox espresso T-shirt by 5C5V, back print worn by a model Jazu Kissa ジャズ喫茶 Yokohama matchbox espresso T-shirt by 5C5V, front with chest mark worn by a model

Jazu Kissa ジャズ喫茶 Yokohama Matchbox T-Shirt

£39.95

Shōwa 昭和 is the Japanese era that ran from 1926 to 1989: the years Japan rebuilt itself after the war, one ramen counter, jazz café, tram line and shop sign at a time. On 25 December 2026 it will be 100 years since the era began.

The SHŌWA line takes one piece of everyday Shōwa paper or tin from each of our five cities and redraws it as a back print, in a few flat inks the way the old print shops did it. Sapporo 希 Hope, a miso ramen counter card. Tokyo 夢 Dream, a 1958 newspaper ad for a tower still being built. Kyoto 和 Harmony, a single-ride tram ticket. Osaka 力 Strength, an enamel tonic sign and a sumo tegata. Yokohama 信 Trust, a jazz café matchbox.

The true stories behind each one are in The Shōwa Archive 昭和資料室.