Thanks againIt's a slogan and a name.
It reads from right to left, but nowadays it would be written as 祈武運長久 岩佐常雄君
Pray for good luck in war. To: Iwasa Tsuneo
Perfect, thank you againIWASA is the recipient. MURAKAMI is the (or one of the) givers/presenters.
It is unusual to see this phrase represented twice in large letters, but it is by far the most common phrase seen on these flags, so I don't find it outrageous that it appears twice. Actually, it appears four times on your flag. The other two instances are written smaller on the left side of the flag. It's possible that the signers were encouraged to write a patriotic phrase along with their signature, and "good luck in battle" is just one fairly benign phrase that most people know. Its relatively neutral, and doesn't hint at any ultra far-right militarism, and isn't hard-coded with any sort of death wish fanaticism.
Yes, it's strange because it's upside down.Hello everyone, I'm bothering you again. I wanted to ask for an opinion on this other flag. Unfortunately the one I was interested in had already been sold and now I found this one. What do you think? Honestly, it seems a little strange to me, but if possible, I would also like to have some other opinions.
Oh ok. Thanks. For you, is the flags authentic? The seller said that the first flag is related to the battle of Shangai.Yes, it's strange because it's upside down.I see the year 1937 on it.
I'm not an expert. I can only pick out obvious things. Let's wait for @Majestic 's take on it.Oh ok. Thanks. For you, is the flags authentic? The seller said that the first flag is related to the battle of Shangai.
Ok,thanks againNo, that one doesn't look authentic to me. In the first place, it isn't a "yosegaki". It's just a flag with some phrases and dates written on it. No signatures from any well-wishers or relatives. In the second place, I don't like the looks of the phrases. They seem to have been written by a Chinese-speaking person trying to approximate Japanese words and phrases. Well, I don't know if such a flag would have even been presented to soldier from anyone. Anyway, it doesn't feel authentic to me.
Typically you will find the phrase "Praying for Good Luck in Battle" across the top or down the side, and then the well-wishers would sign the flag, and sometimes add patriotic phrases. Often a mayor or factory boss or school headmaster will sign his name in large letters to indicate the flag was officially presented by the town or the factory. This flag above has none of that. So who gave it? Why was it given? Did all of the soldiers get it? If so, why didn't the commanding officer sign it? Why didn't they use standard Japanese language?
It looks like someone tried to create a flag that somehow is connected to the Nanking Massacre, in order to appeal to collectors who seek out such things.
Of the other two, the one with the four large characters 武 運 長 久 at the four corners of the flag looks the best to me.