Flag my great uncle passed on to me from WW2

[Garry E]

 

[Garry E]

Hoping someone can translate /verify authenticity of this flag and if genuine how do i begin to track down the family it belongs to so i can get it back to them,any advice appreciated.

 

[johnnyG]

Good grief, guy.

Are your eyes open? Did you think to scan over some things a little, or do a search?

Good luck wwII soldier flag | Japan Forum

 

[Garry E]

Good grief, guy.

Are your eyes open? Did you think to scan over some things a little, or do a search?

Good luck wwII soldier flag | Japan Forum

Have searched plenty had two japanese friends give me totally different opinions, one said ww2 the other russo-japanese war.

 

[Mike Cash]

Have searched plenty had two japanese friends give me totally different opinions, one said ww2 the other russo-japanese war.

I think the part I have clipped reads, "Born Aug. 12, 1878" which would make the Russo-Japanese War the more plausible.

Were these Japanese friends you asked Japanese friends from Japan or were they just people of Japanese ancestry from your own country? The ability to read Japanese isn't passed on genetically.

 

[Majestic]

It is commemorating one of the survivors of the siege of Port Arthur, particularly the Shiro-Tasukitai (白襷隊). The survivor being commemorated is Yamada Rō, born in 1878 as Mike mentioned. It is not WW2-related, but it could have been presented (coincidentally) during WW2. There is no presentation date on it.

There is an organization called the Obon Society, or something like that. They try to repatriate flags such as this to Japan. If you search for it, you should find it (here on this site, or elsewhere).

 

[Garry E]

I think the part I have clipped reads, "Born Aug. 12, 1878" which would make the Russo-Japanese War the more plausible.

View attachment 25249

Were these Japanese friends you asked Japanese friends from Japan or were they just people of Japanese ancestry from your own country? The ability to read Japanese isn't passed on genetically.

Thank you for you help,one friend japanese born,he translated it being the russ-japan war,my other friend was japanese born but has grown up here.

 

[Garry E]

It is commemorating one of the survivors of the siege of Port Arthur, particularly the Shiro-Tasukitai (白襷隊). The survivor being commemorated is Yamada Rō, born in 1878 as Mike mentioned. It is not WW2-related, but it could have been presented (coincidentally) during WW2. There is no presentation date on it.

There is an organization called the Obon Society, or something like that. They try to repatriate flags such as this to Japan. If you search for it, you should find it (here on this site, or elsewhere).

Thank you so much you're help is appreciated,i will send a photo to the Obon Society and go from there.

 

[Majestic]

I recommend orienting it so that the four large characters are on the top of the flag. They say 盡忠報國 (something like "loyalty to country"). They are oriented right to left, as is normal for something predating the middle of last century. So when taking a photo, the kanji should be aligned at the top of the flag like this:
國 報 忠 盡

 

[Garry E]

I recommend orienting it so that the four large characters are on the top of the flag. They say 盡忠報國 (something like "loyalty to country"). They are oriented right to left, as is normal for something predating the middle of last century. So when taking a photo, the kanji should be aligned at the top of the flag like this:
國 報 忠 盡

Cheers mate thanks for your help!

 

[Toritoribe]

The one who was born on August 12, 1878 is the presenter 児玉喜八 Kodama Kihachi, who was one of the survivors of 白襷隊, and a recipient of the 8th Order and 7th Grade of Merit (勲八等功七級). 祝征途 congratulation for the departure for the front shows that the recipient of the flag Yamada is going to war. I think it's during WW2.