Kamakura Shirts was founded in 1993 by husband-and-wife team Yoshio and Tamiko Sadasue. The company emerged in direct response to the concerns of Kensuke Ishizu, the influential proprietor of VAN Jacket, the brand responsible for introducing Ivy League style to Japan during the 1960s. Following VAN’s dissolution in the 1980s, Ishizu famously lamented that “no one has come forward to take over my vision.” Determined to preserve that legacy, Yoshio and Tamiko, both former VAN employees, set out to create a shirt company that would continue the principles VAN had championed: uncompromising quality, thoughtful construction, and a deep respect for the traditions of American Ivy League style, or as it is often referred to in Japan “American Traditional”. Kamakura Shirts was conceived not as a revival, but as a continuation; carrying forward Ishizu’s ideals through garments made with care and integrity.
Founded in the historic coastal city of Kamakura, a place celebrated for its natural beauty and deep spiritual heritage, the brand was originally named Maker’s Shirt Kamakura and later changed to Kamakura Shirts upon opening their New York flagship store. The name itself was a deliberate nod both to its place of origin and to Brooks Brothers’ iconic Maker’s line, a benchmark of American shirting. It is this lineage that most clearly surfaces in the Ametora range, shorthand for “American Traditional”, which comes as close as possible to the spirit of the original Brooks Brothers Maker’s shirts. Hallmark details remain firmly in place, including a two-button collar with generous 3.5-inch points designed for a proper roll, a box pleat at the back, the omission of a placket button and a classic six-button front. Additionally, the shirts feature a looser, billowier fit to other Kamakura offerings.
Kamakura places a strong emphasis on meticulous construction. The majority of their shirts are made from 100% cotton, woven from 80s two-ply yarns or finer, and finished with natural shell buttons such as Takase or mother-of-pearl. These materials are complemented by traditional Japanese manufacturing techniques, including fine, high-density stitching, flat-felled seams, narrow rolled hems, and an exceptionally precise stitch count of 21 stitches per 3 centimetres.
At John Simons, we are proud to be the first UK stockists of Kamakura’s Ametora line, bringing together the Japanese interpretation of American Traditional style with a distinctly British modernist perspective.
