Napoli’s Samurai Spirit: A Jersey That Weaves Neapolitan Baroque with Japanese Myth
Napoli unveils a jersey that holds hands across oceans. Their new Japan-inspired third shirt, crafted by EA7, goes beyond fabric and fashion—it’s a bridge, a memory, and a shared spirit from Naples to Kagoshima. Debuting against Atalanta, the kit was a vision of art, resilience, and duality.
This is not just another jersey; it’s Napoli’s homage to Kagoshima, its 1960 twin from across the world. The shared identities of these two port cities—both shadowed by volcanoes, both known for their indomitable spirit—find their way into every stitch, every color choice, every pattern. In a nod to their shared landscapes, Kagoshima named a street “Napoli-dori,” while Naples reciprocated with “Via Kagoshima,” symbols of a bond made tangible.
The jersey, like armor, drapes its wearer with Samurai resolve, melding the Neapolitan baroque with details of the kabuto and katana—a respectful tribute to the warrior spirit. This fusion, a dance between the bold and the delicate, is unmistakably Napoli, a club grounded in tradition but always pushing boundaries. Waves flow across the fabric in homage to Japanese artistry, with a collar that boasts intricate Baroque accents—a reminder that Naples is never far, even when it's wandering.
Seven virtues from the Samurai code, Bushido, grace the shirt’s side—Righteousness, Respect, Courage, Honour, Compassion, Honesty, and Loyalty—values not confined to Japan but beating in the heart of every Neapolitan fan.
Tommaso Bianchini, Napoli’s Chief Revenue Officer, captures this moment:
"The third kit perfectly places itself at the heart of our project ‘From Napoli to the World’. Starting in Naples, we arrive at the Japanese city of Kagoshima to tell the story of the relationship between these two distant cultures that are linked by a warrior’s spirit. With this shirt, we celebrate strength, respect and loyalty, which are values that we proudly bring onto the pitch. We chose to present the kit in Kagoshima in honour of the historic twinning of our two cities. At the same time, we went to discover a hidden corner of Japan in Naples, the Ten Shin Zen Temple in Fuorigrotta where we filmed part of the launch video with students from the Samurai Academy Naples.
“This is only the start of a process of developing projects linked to Japan and is part of a bigger strategic plan to widen our global fan base.”
Worn on the pitch, it’s a jersey that holds stories—like the Ten Shin Zen Temple, where Napoli’s Samurai Academy gathered in silent ritual, embodying their link to Kagoshima. And while this release marks one chapter, Napoli’s “From Naples to the World” promises many more tales in the making.
The third kit is now available in Napoli’s online store, set to grace shops from November 3 and local resellers the day after. For those ready to wear their own piece of cultural reverie, it awaits.
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