Great Wave Japan Aircraft Shoulder Patches

Product Information

This is a 3" patch, with hook & loop.

Product Description

Custom "Great Wave" Japan-deployed aircraft commemorative shoulder patch set.

Hokusai's wave, U.S. aircraft — forward-deployed in Japan.

The Great Wave off Kanagawa — Katsushika Hokusai's iconic 1831 woodblock print of a towering wave cresting over Mount Fuji — is one of the most recognized images in art history, and a favorite design motif for U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aviation units forward-deployed to Japan. This commemorative shoulder patch set folds Hokusai's classic composition into a flight-suit-ready aviation design: the wave, the mountain, and a U.S. aircraft profile stitched into the foreground — F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, F-35B Lightning II, P-8A Poseidon, MV-22B Osprey, EA-18G Growler, MH-60R/S Seahawk, or whichever airframe carried you across the pond. U.S. Naval Air Forces Japan covers a deep footprint: NAF Atsugi (legacy CVW-5), MCAS Iwakuni (now CVW-5 fixed-wing plus VMFA-242, VMFA-121, VAQ-141, and the Marine fighter community), MCAS Futenma (VMM-262 "Flying Tigers" and the III MEF rotary lift), Misawa AB (P-8A and EA-18G detachments), and NAS Yokosuka / Yokota AB joint operations — all of them standing the Indo-Pacific watch. The Great Wave patch captures forward-deployed pride in a design that everyone in Japan recognizes and every aviator who's flown out of Atsugi or Iwakuni at sunrise will smile at. Cherry blossoms next, Mount Fuji forever.

Perfect For: U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aviators forward-deployed to Japan, MCAS Iwakuni and NAF Atsugi station personnel, USS Ronald Reagan and CVW-5 aviators, VMFA-242, VMFA-121, VMM-262, VAQ-141 squadron members, MCAS Futenma Marines, P-8A Poseidon and EA-18G aircrew at Misawa, and Hokusai / Japanese-art admirers.

Great Wave — Hokusai meets the flight line, Japan forward-deployed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I choose the right backing?

If you want to swap patches on/off gear, choose hook & loop (velcro). If you’re attaching permanently to uniforms or fabric, choose sew-on. If you want quick application on compatible fabric, choose iron-on / heat seal (when offered). Backing options are shown on the page and update based on the variant you select.

What size is this item?

Size is shown on the product page and updates with the variant you select (example: 3"). If you’re mounting on a hat or small panel, choose smaller sizes; for plate carriers and display boards, larger sizes fit better.

Are these Officially Licensed?

If the product is officially licensed, it will say “Officially Licensed” in the title and/or in the product details. If it doesn’t, it’s still a legitimate product—just not part of a licensed program.

Do you offer bulk or reruns for units/squadrons?

Yes. If you see a note like “bulk reruns available,” that means we can support group orders or reruns. If you don’t see it, contact us with the unit/squadron and quantity and we’ll confirm options.

Can you make a custom patch / name tag / lanyard / apparel?

Yes—custom solutions are available (patches, name tags, lanyards, apparel). Use the custom request page and include artwork, size, backing preference, and quantity.