A Wardrobe of Sporty Style: Both Nostalgic and New

The new brand, "Jackman," was born inheriting the solid manufacturing technology and spirit of Tanabe Meriyasu Seisakusho, the predecessor of Hit Union.

"Jack" means "home run" or "to hit high," derived from American baseball, which the founder admired. The brand's concept is a wardrobe for American sports enthusiasts. Its meticulously crafted products, primarily Made in Japan and Made in USA, are cherished and collected by passionate American sports fans, who complete their look by adding new pieces to their existing favorites.—This is the kind of wardrobe they aim for.

The theme for the debut 2011 Autumn/Winter collection is "WELCOME BASEBALL MAN." Inspired by the brand's roots and goodwill baseball games between Japan and the US, the lineup features carefully curated items influenced by the lifestyle wear of San Francisco Seals players and spectators of that era.

The collection includes jackets recreating early 1940s-50s award jackets and tailored jackets based on 1950s baseball ceremony jackets, characterized by their robust Made in USA construction and Jackman's original reinforced leather pocket details.

Also featured are soft-textured sweatwear made on old-fashioned loopwheel machines, new-feeling cut-and-sew items using a blend of acrylic, cotton, wool, and polyester, and unique socks that evoke the brand's origins—all embodying a sense of nostalgic newness.

Tanabe Meriyasu | TANABE Meias
March 1949. Mitsugu Tanabe founded Tanabe Meriyasu Seisakusho in Takefu City, Fukui Prefecture. The business began modestly with three flat knitting machines in an eight-tatami mat room.
In the same year, the first post-war goodwill baseball game between Japan and the US was held, with the San Francisco Seals, a Triple-A team, visiting Japan. While watching the game, Mitsugu was captivated by the footwear of the Seals players.

In 1950, Tanabe Meriyasu Seisakusho began manufacturing Japan's first integrated, foot-strapped baseball stockings. Mitsugu, a natural innovator, developed custom sewing machines and new sewing techniques to perfect his unique designs.
In 1954, his stockings received the Governor of Fukui Prefecture Award, and the following year, they won a special prize from the Kinki District Invention Association. For ten consecutive years, he donated stockings to all teams and players participating in the National High School Baseball Championship (Koshien), establishing the reputation of "Tanabe Meriyasu products = high quality."
After receiving the National Invention Award from His Imperial Highness Prince Takamatsu in 1962, the company expanded to develop a full range of sports apparel, growing to provide training wear for the Japanese team at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.